Writer of viral Olive Garden review grateful for Bourdain

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A North Dakota newspaper columnist says she’s grateful Anthony Bourdain stood up for her when she was being criticized online for her glowing review of the Grand Forks Olive Garden.

Marilyn Hagerty’s 2012 review of the town’s hottest new Italian restaurant marveled at the chicken Alfredo and the warm breadsticks and went viral. Bourdain defended her on Twitter and ended up publishing a book of her work.

The celebrity chef and TV host wrote in the foreword anyone who wasn’t charmed by Hagerty had a “heart of stone.”

Hagerty says she’s sad Bourdain died. She says she enjoyed meeting with him and he was very personable. She said Saturday he was a warm person and talking with him was like talking to a friend.

Bourdain died Friday in France in an apparent suicide.