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Meet the Man Who Conquered Olive Garden

by Abby Johnston

When Olive Garden announced that it would sell what is essentially a seven-week never-ending pasta bowl in September, I wondered what kind of person would buy the $100 pass. What would they look like? Would they slurp spaghetti with family, or alone? Would the pasta pass also give them unlimited after-dinner mints, and would they take advantage of them? At least one of my questions has been answered: Meet Alan Martin, the man who has used his "Never Ending Pasta Pass" twice a day for the last six weeks. He is absolutely fantastic.

The Burlington, North Carolina preacher (it is yet to be confirmed if he is a Pastafarian) and father of two was one of the 1,000 people who bought the limited-edition pass. For $100, diners got seven weeks to gorge on unlimited pasta, soup, salad, and breadsticks. If that sounds horrifying to you, you're not alone. The Internet had a field day with the announcement, collectively speculating why anyone would subject themselves to nearly two months of chain Italian food.

Martin's explanation? He likes a good deal. And — apparently — pasta. When the soft-spoken man invited Fox affiliate WGHP to join him, he still seemed awestruck by the culinary treat, despite having eaten at Olive Garden an astounding 95 times since the promotion started on Sept. 8.

I can't believe I get to eat like this every day. This is great.

The promotion expires on Nov. 9, which gives Martin five more days to stuff himself with pasta. By adding up the receipts, which Martin has kept, he says that he has eaten $1,510 worth of food as of Nov. 3. He plans on continuing to eat at the restaurant twice a day until the pass expires.

I would love to be the person that ate the most of the 1,000 people. That would be a good contest to win. Because that means I got the most value out of the card of anyone in the United States.

Listen, I understand that you gourmets out there are dying a little with each bowl of fettuccine alfredo that Martin takes down, but I can hardly fault someone who is so enthusiastic about life. And saving money. And pasta. Don't we all share in those loves at least a little bit? So "salute" to you, Alan Martin (but only with Coca Cola products included with the pass).

Images: Yalldontknowcb/Instagram; Screenshots/WGHP (2)