There’s an AP article that originated in Grand Forks, North Dakota that’s taken the Internet by storm. The Grand Forks Herald says, “Herald columnist Marilyn Hagerty has gone viral. To be more specific, her Wednesday restaurant review of Olive Garden has gone viral. In the nearly 56 hours since her Eatbeat column was posted on GrandForksHerald.com, it has received nearly 300,000 article views.”

Here’s that story with a link to her review

The image shows a sampling of the coverage about Marilyn Hagerty and her Wednesday Eatbeat review of the Grand Forks Olive Garden, which also is part of the image. – Grand Forks Herald

By Ryan Bakken, Grand Forks Herald

“Herald columnist Marilyn Hagerty has gone viral. To be more specific, her Wednesday restaurant review of Olive Garden has gone viral.

“Since it was posted GrandForksHerald.com early Wednesday, her review received more than 290,000 views as of 7:30 a.m. today.

“In fact, five of the website’s top seven articles during that period were either written by or about Hagerty. The top article with no connection to the columnist – an article about the UND Fighting Sioux nickname – had about 5,700 views.

“‘I don’t get it,’ The 85-year-old said Thursday. ‘I’ve been doing this for 30 to 40 years. Why all of a sudden now?’

“Internet sharing is the reason. Popular websites such as Fark, Gawker and Boingboing posted the story, setting off a barrage of comments via Twitter and Facebook.

“The website postings were because residents of more metropolitan areas found it amusing that a chain restaurant would be reviewed. In larger markets, newspaper reviews are reserved for exclusive, high-end eateries that offer fine dining.

“For instance, Fark’s summary of the story was this: ‘Residents of Grand Forks, N.D., are lining up for blocks to enjoy a one-of-a-kind European dining experience that finally puts the city on the culinary map with its unique brand of Tuscany refinery. It’s called The Olive Garden.’

“Defenders

“But others have leaped to her defense, such as Jayvie Canono of Annapolis, Md., who wrote on his Twitter feed: ‘She singlehandedly makes me want to visit Grand Forks.’

“‘I find her tone awesome,’ he said in a telephone interview. ‘I don’t want to use the word “quaint,’ but it’s very earnest.

“’In the coastal United States, restaurant reviews try to be as uptight as possible. I hate it when they try to be so pretentious. You can never please food critics.’

“Canono said he initially wondered if the review was sincere, but was assured by reading an earlier Hagerty review on the Italian Moon buffet.”

To continue reading the article, click here.

Marilyn Hagerty’s Olive Garden Review.

And a link to Olive Garden Restaurants.