Spaghetti guitar

The heritage of master confectioners

This chitarra perpetuates a tradition that originated in Chieti, in the Abruzzo region, around the beginning of the 19th century. Local craftsmen, the maccarunàre, had developed this ingenious device for cutting dough into perfectly even strips. The name comes from its resemblance to a musical instrument: strings stretched over a wooden frame.

Traditional design

This model combines a solid beech frame with stainless steel strings, faithfully reproducing the original tool. Beech is a dense, stable wood that withstands repeated stress. The perfectly aligned stainless steel strings offer two spacings: 3mm on one side for spaghetti, and 5mm on the other for fettuccine.

A sloping board makes it easy to drop the cut pasta, preventing it from sticking or tangling. The principle remains remarkably simple: roll out the dough, place it on the strings, then pass the roller over again, pressing firmly. The strings shear cleanly, creating spaghetti with a square cross-section, rougher than industrially stretched pasta.

Use and care

This natural roughness is what makes this method so interesting: the porous texture allows the sauces to adhere remarkably well. To be successful, the dough must be neither too dry nor too wet, and above all of uniform thickness. It's a skill you'll learn quickly.

Maintenance requires a few precautions: as wood is porous, avoid aggressive detergents. Simply clean with white vinegar or lemon juice, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. Store in an airy place to preserve the wood.