Olive Garden names winner of its essay contest

Nation's Restaurant News, July 27, 1998

MINNEAPOLIS -- A writer's inspiration can come in countless shapes and sizes or, as evidenced in the case of 12-year-old Claire Joseph, flavors. A student from St. Paul, she won the grand prize in The Olive Garden Pasta Tales national essay contest for the chain's s new "Grand Slam Gorgonzola Ravioli" dish.

In the winning essay selected from more than 1,500 entries, she corn pared the entree to former Minnesota Twins baseball star Kirby Puckett. "Gorgonzola cheese is very strongly flavored," she wrote, "much like blue cheese. Kirby Puckett is strong, also. Even now, after suffering from glaucoma, an eye disease that stopped him from playing baseball, he still works on behalf of his team and has the courage to go on with his life."

At a ceremony here Joseph fulfilled her dream of meeting her hero and received a $1,000 savings bond and a trip to New York City. A $5,000 donation was made in her name to the University of Minnesota Foundation's Puckett Scholar Program.

The Pasta Tales promotion involved young writers 7 to 16 years old, who were asked to write 250 words on a person whom they would name a dish after and why. Winners in each age group received a savings bond and dinner at The Olive Garden.