As I was writing yesterday’s post about the calorie count for Maggiano’s baked ziti, I also e-mailed Maggiano’s asking if it had nutritional information available for its menu items.
I received a reply Monday which told me the chain, owned by Brinker International, does not have such information available because “we have a scratch kitchen that works with fresh ingredients rather than utilizing pre-made items, portions and exact measurements could potentially vary for each individual dish served. Fortunately, that also means we have the ability to customize our food to accommodate each guest’s health and wellness needs.”
My Maggiano's baked ziti
The letter went on to suggest I ask the chef at my local Maggiano’s for recommendations on items such as grilled fish and salads “because these items will use less butter and oils.”
I had planned to reprint the letter here, but it comes with confidentiality language at the bottom which made me think I could only quote parts of it in keeping with journalism fair comment and privilege legal precedents which allow using part of documents to comment upon them.
I found the response disappointing and the implication that I could not eat most items at a Maggiano’s equally disappointing. If McDonald’s and scores of other chains can post nutrition information, then Brinker should be doing the same for the various restaurant chains it owns which include Chili’s and the Macaroni Grill.
I actually found it does do it for Chili’s and the Macaroni Grill. That makes the Maggiano’s response all the more unreasonable.
John
