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WELCOME TO THE NEVER ENDING PASTA THREAD. Now that it's active, I'll be chronicling my Never Ending Pasta Pass journey here in case you wanna follow along. I'll be posting pictures, any fun little anecdotes or happenings along the way, plus cumulative totals each day I go to Olive Garden & partake.

For those unfamiliar, here's how Never Ending Pasta Bowl works: You start with soup or salad, plus breadsticks. Then you pick a pasta, sauce, and optional protein for your first regular-sized bowl. Whenever you're ready, you put in smaller refill orders (same combo if you'd like, or something new).

The Never Ending Pasta Pass, specifically, allows me to get Never Ending Pasta Bowl as many times as I want during the 13-week promo period (8/24-11/22). I just pay for any drinks or additional food I order. It also includes a Pasta Passport with several combos to try and mark with a "breadsticker".

DAY 1 Started with some classics today. I opted for a first course of salad, followed by my favorite NEPB combo: angel hair, creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy chicken fritta. Afterward, I chose to try something from my Pasta Passport so I could apply my first breadsticker: fettucine with meat sauce

Bonus little video of me applying my first breadsticker to my Pasta Passport! DAY 1 (and in this case, cumulative) TOTALS: 1 salad 1 main, 1 refill 1 Pasta Passport entry

DAY 2 Sticking with the classic theme this week. Starting with salad again (I'll swap in some soup eventually), then for my first bowl: spaghetti, marinara, and meatballs. Doesn't get much more classic than that. Plus, a refill of angel hair and creamy mushroom because I can never get enough of it.

DAY 2 TOTALS: 1 salad 1 bowl, 1 refill CUMULATIVE TOTALS: 2 salads 2 bowls, 2 refills 1 Pasta Passport entry

DAY 3 Took a break from the OG yesterday because I'm trying to pace myself, but I had to head back for lunch again today. Once again started with salad, then another classic: fettucine alfredo with the new grilled chicken. Outstanding combo. For today's refill, I went with rigatoni with meat sauce.

Bonus picture: last night's dinner, where I made my own soup, salad, and breadsticks. Used leftover salad and breadsticks, plus some ramen with hot dogs. Because I also love to eat garbage. DAY 3 TOTALS: 1 salad 1 bowl, 1 refill CUMULATIVE TOTALS: 3 salads 3 bowls, 3 refills 1 Pasta Passport entry

Since soup is a heavier starter than salad (and I tend to eat more breadsticks that way), I'm also experimenting with protein-only refills. Today, got some classic meatballs. This presentation makes me think they're used to this kind of thing. I mean, you can normally get a side of meatballs anyway.

And with that, the first visit of week 2/13 is complete. Let's see the updated totals now that I'm trying some more varied options. DAY 4 TOTALS: 1 soup 1 bowl, 1 refill (protein only) CUMULATIVE TOTALS: 3 salads 1 soup (chicken & gnocchi) 4 bowls, 4 refills (1 protein only) 1 Pasta Passport entry

DAY 5 (Friday) A little late, but here it is! Another soup starter: minestrone, a very vegetable rich, lighter option. Then a new combo consisting of fettuccine, new spicy alfredo, and new fried shrimp. Very tasty! Finished up with another no-pasta refill: Italian sausage with five cheese marinara.