Olive Garden manager from south Fort Myers store takes course in Tuscany

Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany, located in Tuscany, Italy, is where Olive Garden's chefs learn the secrets of great Italian cooking.

South Fort Myers recently sent manager Joseph Brooks to participate in a weeklong Olive Garden course that focuses on food, wine and creating the right atmosphere for guests.

"The experience was awesome. Being able to go to Italy and see the culture there ...," said Brooks, who has worked as a manager for a year and a half at the restaurant on U.S. 41. "I got to see how some of the things we think about Italian cuisine are true and what has been Americanized."

Brooks was invited to participate in the program because under his leadership, the restaurant was in the top 35 percent in its division. He was the first manager ever selected to participate in the culinary institute program.

"We create dishes over there that eventually are tested and end up on our menus," said Brooks, who spent many days sampling Italian wines and pairing them with certain dishes. "We really learned about the recipes and how to layer flavors in the right combination of steps and temperatures."

Brooks also had a chance to visit small Italian restaurants.

"It was very different when you go out to eat there and everything is at a very slow pace," said Brooks, noting that a typical lunch lasts two hours and dinner can last three hours. "It's real time to connect and engage with the others at the table and you go through several courses in one sitting.

"I now have a stronger passion and caring about how every guest is impacted by our experience," Brooks said. "A meal out should be about family, wine and conversation."