American tourists sometimes forget that food in Italy isn’t the same as in the United States. A recent TikTok video shows just how wrong one man’s expectation was when he tried to order an Italian‑American classic in a local restaurant.
The man, who was on holiday in Italy, carried a phone with a photo of Olive Garden’s famous breaded chicken cutlet on top of pasta. He showed the picture to a waiter in a small town and asked if he could get something similar. The waiter stared at the image, shook his head, and said, “Only in the States. It doesn’t exist in Italy.”
The woman watching the conversation posted the clip to TikTok, adding the caption, “My Boston Irish father trying to order a Google image of the Olive Garden chicken parm in Italy.” The video has since racked up more than 7 million views and sparked a wave of comments from people who’ve had their own food‑related travel mishaps.
Olive Garden is known for heavy breaded chicken, creamy tomato sauce, and melted cheese—a combination that isn’t part of traditional Italian cuisine. Restaurants in Italy serve local versions of chicken parmesan, but the dish the visitor was looking for is a distinctly American creation. The post’s creator explained that her father had no idea the image would cause a pause at the counter, and she learned that the name “chicken parm” can mean different things depending on where you are.
The situation reminded many travelers of another funny mistake: a pair of friends who booked a flight to “Nice” only to find out they were headed for Tunis, Tunisia. Over TikTok, Brittney Dzialo shared a series of clips that went viral, explaining how the airline employee mis‑heard “Nice” for “Tunis.”
The two destinations sound alike in English, but Arab and French speakers sort of treat them differently. After realizing the mix‑up only after taking off, the duo had to negotiate with flight attendants to fly to the right country. In the end, they reached Nice, France—a reminder that both food and flight plans can trip up the unwary.
These stories illustrate that when you travel, it’s smart to:
- Ask for local equivalents – Instead of “chicken parm,” order “parmigiana di pollo” or “parmigiana di melanzane.”
- Learn local names – Knowing the difference between “Nice” (the French city) and “Tunis” (the capital of Tunisia) avoids surprise transits.
- Share on social media – TikTok trends are a great way to warn fellow travelers and keep the conversation lively.
If you’re planning a trip abroad, double‑check your menu translations and flight details before you go. And remember: an Italian kitchen won’t know the Olive Garden recipe, but it will happily whip up a flavor that’s just as delicious.
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