Pescara is a thoroughly modern city with miles of beaches and typical Italian beach resorts. However, it is also home to fascinating culinary delights and some of the best coffee in Italy.
One of the most unique pasta shapes in Italy is Maccheroni alla Chitarra, aka Spaghetti all Chitarra. The pasta is named for tool used to cut it, a Chitarra, or Guitar. The shape, and the method for making it originated in nearby Chieti (or Teramo, no one knows for sure) about 150 years ago.
To make Maccheroni alla Chitarra, a dough of eggs and flour is rolled out into sheets. Then, the dough is cut using the Chitarra, a wooden frame with metal wires strung across it, resembling a guitar. Sheets of pasta dough are pressed through the Chitarra, giving the pasta its distinct square, rather than round, shape.
Maccheroni alla Chitarra is especially good at soaking up sauce, so it is often paired with a meat ragu or marinara.
There’s a little restaurant in Pescara that makes fresh pasta, including Chitarra. At…
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink, including several in Italy. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.
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