for pastry:
2 cups flour
1/4 tspn salt
6 oz. extra sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
2/3 cup butter, cold and cut into cubes
1 Tbspn tabasco sauce
5 Tbspn ice water
*
for filling and topping:
seven deep-fried mac'n'cheese balls
bacon
*
for mac'n'cheese
1 lb macaroni
2 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 Tbspn butter, plus more for buttering pan
1 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup flour
1/4 lb sharp cheddar, grated
1/4 lb fontina, grated
salt
freshly ground black pepper
Tabasco or Sriracha
freshly ground nutmeg
panko bread crumbs
1/4 lb cave-aged gruyere, grated