Macadoozy

     Macadoozy is the term that the Center for Science in the Public Interest's Nutrition Action Health Letter created to describe the Deep Dish Macaroni & 3-Cheese item on the menu at Uno Chicago Grill.  It's billed as "Penne with Cabot Aged Cheddar, Parmesan & Romano.  Sprinkled with buttery crumb topping and baked in a deep dish pan" according to their web site.

     Sounds like a classy upgrade of a classic comfort food.  But in their restaurant confidential Extreme Eating 2013 CSPI says, "It's an upgrade, all right.  The calories shoot up to 1,980 (you're done for the day!), the saturated fat hits 71 grams (3 1/2 days worth), and the sodium reaches 3,110 milligrams (a two day dose).

     "The Mac & 3-Cheese has more calories than any individual pizza on Uno's menu except the sausage-laden Chicago Classic (which squeezes by with 2,300 calories).  But it makes the Classic's sat fat (53 grams) look prudent.

     "It's not just the three cheeses.  There's the Alfredo sauce, which is made with heavy cream, cheese, rendered chicken fat, and butter.  And the four cups of pasta plus the crushed Ritz Cracker crumbs also do their share to boost the calorie (and white flour) load.

     "Each Deep dish Macaroni & 3-Cheese is like a Family Size box of Stouffer's Macaroni & Cheese (which serves five) with half a stick of butter melted on top.  Some comfort."