Afeltra Cavaliere Olimpio Formati Speciali

Afeltra Cavaliere Olimpio Formati Speciali is the special-shapes line of the Afeltra pasta factory in Gragnano, sold under the Cavalier Olimpio Afeltra mark. The company describes it as Gragnano pasta typical of Campanian tradition and links the quality of local pasta to the spring water and a climate that favours natural drying. The shapes in the line are labelled Pasta di Gragnano IGP.

The ingredients are the same as in Afeltra's other lines: semolina from 100% Italian durum wheat and Lattari Mountains water, with no additives. The dough is extruded through bronze dies and dried slowly in static cells.

The line has eight shapes, mostly long and large: candela and zito lungo, thick long tubes that are broken by hand in the Gragnano tradition; spaghettone lungo con curva, a long thick spaghetti bent from drying over a cane; super spaghettone; mafalda with wavy edges; fusillo con buco, a long fusillo with a hole; antichi fusilli; and lasagne sheets.

These shapes are meant for festive Neapolitan cooking: rich ragù, baked pasta, lasagne and dishes in which large pieces of pasta hold a thick sauce well.