Strozzapreti

[Irenaeus]

Ciao. I was in Italy for two weeks - just a few hours in Rome (I've been to Rome before and hope to return before long), then about one week in Florence, about five days in Ravenna, and not quite two days in Milan. While in Ravenna, I encountered a sign mentioning strozzapreti pasta. I didn't eat any, but strozzapreti means "priest stranglers" or "priest chokers." There are various explanations for the name, many suggesting anti-clerical sentiment, but none I've found so far sounds very convincing. The current Wikipedia entry says "the pasta resembles a clerical collar, commonly referred to as a 'priest choker'." That, at least, doesn't sound sentimentally anti-clerical.

[anawim]

I've heard of it. Only heard the urban legend. I like your assessment better.