Just in time for the big game, Olive Garden’s newest appetizer is “Loaded Pasta Chips.” What looks like lasagna noodles are cut chip-sized, then fried and topped with Italian cheeses, meat sauce, cherry peppers, and an alfredo drizzle. It weighs in at 1,520 calories, 102 grams of fat, and 2,740 milligrams of sodium.

Twitter declared mixed feelings about the new dish, with some users expressing joy for the Italian treat, and others horrified by the cultural mashup. Italian grandmothers, report many Twitter users, are rolling over in their graves.

But this shouldn’t be so unexpected. Right now at Olive Garden, you can also pick out a meatball pizza bowl (Yep, a pizza crust bowl, loaded with cheese, sauce, and meatballs) or a selection of breadstick sandwiches. And just this summer the brand released a spaghetti pie entree option. Olive Garden has never been a place for Italian grandmothers. Read more about the menu item here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casual Dining, Chain Restaurants, Industry News, Menu Innovations, Olive Garden