National Breadstick Day

Breadsticks are celebrated and eaten today on National Breadstick Day! The day has been embraced and celebrated by national chains known for their breadsticks, such as Fazoli's and Olive Garden, both of which acknowledged the day at least by 2016. Little Caesars offered a Crazy Bread promotion on the day in 2019, giving out free Crazy Bread with the purchase of a pizza. In 2020, Fazoli's gave out six complimentary breadsticks on National Breadstick Day and on the two days following it, no purchase necessary. Fazoli's gave away six complimentary breadsticks with any purchase in 2023, and did the same in 2025, but expanded the promotion to six days.

Grissini, or Italian breadsticks, are the original breadsticks. Skinny and long, hard and crunchy, they are usually slightly chewier than a cracker. They are a thin and crisp piece of bread, whereas crackers are a type of biscuit. Breadsticks originated in Turin (Torino) in Piedmont, Italy, in the seventeenth century. According to legend, they were created by Antonio Brunero, the Savoy Court baker, in around 1679, after the court physician requested him to make bread "long, light, and thin" for Victor Amadeus II, the Duke of Savoy, who was suffering from digestive issues and couldn't eat traditional bread. The breadsticks aided in his recovery, and then gained in popularity because they were easy to digest and store. They first became popular with the nobility of Turin, then with the European courts and wider Italy. Artisanal and industrial production of breadsticks is still important in Turin and Italy today.

Breadsticks are served as an appetizer or meal accompaniment. Hand-rolled (rubatà grissini) and hand-stretched (stirato grissini) breadsticks are the traditional breadsticks of Italy. There, bread is often kept until the end of a meal to be used to mop up leftover sauce. The Italian word for this is scarpetta, meaning "little shoe." There are other types of breadsticks, which vary in size and flavor. Modern breadsticks are often soft and somewhat chewy. These breadsticks were created and then popularized by Italian-American restaurants such as Olive Garden. The first Olive Garden opened in Orlando, Florida, in 1982. Blaine Sweatt, a cofounder and general manager, created the breadsticks and came up with the idea of using them to keep customers satisfied while they were waiting for their entrees. This type of breadstick continues to be popular in chain restaurants like Olive Garden and Fazoli's. Common seasonings, herbs, and toppings on breadsticks include salt, rosemary, chives, Italian seasoning, garlic, and cheese, often Parmesan or cheddar.

How to Observe National Breadstick Day

• Enjoy some breadsticks at a restaurant known for them, such as Olive Garden, Fazoli's, Little Caesars, Pizza Hut, or Sbarro. Check if these or other establishments have promotions in honor of the day.
• Make your own rubatà grissini or stirato grissini.
• Make soft breadsticks similar to those served at Olive Garden.
• Pick up some breadsticks from a store to enjoy.
• Post photos of your breadsticks and about how you are celebrating on social media.

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