Chiavennna – and when there’s any mention of pasta – one name immediately springs to mind – that of MORO. The story of the family and pasta factory are inextricably intertwined within the social and economic fabric of the little town.
Ever since 1867, the year in which Moro established the Mill in Bottonera, the industrial quarter of Chiavenna, the company flourished and evolved quite naturally by recognising developing dietary habits over a period which of
course was to take in two world wars along the way. Marco Scuffi’s book, “Pastificio di Chiavenna”, expertly traces the many phases throughout the first 145 years of the pasta factory.
The Family
As the historian Guido Scaramellini duly points out in the book’s preface: “A century and a half of a business, run by the same family. It’s not the stuff of everyday life!” And perhaps this represents the great strength of the company.
One which provides for the daily needs of a population and which recognised how to become one of the major players on a national stage in terms of the production of pasta, with specialities both for the very young, and also gluten-free for celiac sufferers. What might have appeared to be courageous decisions at the time, turned out to be well-considered and fundamental to the survival and success of the business. Throughout the generations, the Pastificio Moro has shrewdly anticipated market changes whilst remaining firmly rooted in local traditions.
Fidelin e segalin
Of all types and qualities of pasta of pasta the Moro company produces, these two are not to be overlooked. Fidelinis a long thin pasta made with buckwheat flour. Ideal for use with savoury sauces, it’s a pasta which has gained ever more admirers including top Chefs. Nowadays there are countless recipes circulating on websites, all proposing highly
creative ways and means of using fidelini. Segalin on the other hand is spaghetti made from rye, which took to the grand stage at EXPO in Milan. With a very distinctive flavour, it’s a pasta much appreciated for its digestibility and low calorie content.
