When Italian Waiters Meet American Menu Items: The Chicken Parmesan Chronicles

In a viral TikTok moment, Gabby Donahue captures her Boston Irish father attempting to order chicken parmesan in Italy, showcasing a classic clash of culinary cultures. Armed with a photo from Olive Garden, he confidently shows the waiter this dish that left the Italian baffled—turns out, in Italy, chicken parmesan is as foreign as deep-fried Twinkies! The waiter’s reaction is priceless, as he struggles to understand how a dish that’s basically a cheese-laden chicken breast ever made it into the Italian food lexicon, ultimately calling it“horrible.”

This scenario isn’t just an amusing cultural faux pas; it’s a reflection of how food traditions transform once they travel across borders. Chicken parmesan, widely loved in the U.S., actually originated from Italian-American kitchens, where immigrant cooks adapted traditional recipes to match available ingredients. It’s a tasty example of how diverse culinary heritage can be—but it also shows the gap that can form between American expectations of“Italian”food and the authentic dishes they originate from—who would’ve thought a dish could spark such laughter?