ORLANDO Fla. Olive Garden has added three items to its menu inspired by the chain's annual chefs' trip to Italy.
The new items include two appetizers, a Caprese Flatbread and a Grilled Chicken Flatbread, and one entree, Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara.
Olive Garden officials said the new appetizers are based on the Piadina flat bread of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The Caprese Flatbread is topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and a garlic aioli. The Grill Chicken Flatbread features grilled chicken, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, basil, alfredo sauce and garlic aioli.
The Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara is made with chicken, shrimp and bucatini pasta tossed in a pancetta and parmesan cream sauce and then baked and topped with bread crumbs. Olive Garden said the dish is inspired by a cream-based carbonara dish made on Sardinia, an island off the central coast of Italy.
Olive Garden posted pictures and videos from the chefs' trip to Italy online at www.olivegardennewfavorites.com.
The 653-unit Olive Garden is a division of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc.