Malton-based fresh pasta business Passione Della Pasta is the creation of Aldo Valerio – the son of Italian parents who moved to the UK in the 1950s and began making cheese and meats as well as importing Italian food and wines. Being brought up by people with such a passion, it seems only natural that Aldo would dedicate his life to incredible, authentic Italian food.
Aldo’s parents’ business was the first in the UK to make Mozzarella cheese and Pepperoni sausage, and they were the chosen supplier for these products when Pizza Express opened its first ever restaurant in Soho in London (a relationship which lasted 40 years). After 30 years of managing cheese production for the family business, Aldo felt it was time for a change and moved to Malton. When asked why he chose this part of the world to start his new venture, his answer is simple: “I really like North Yorkshire!”
Pasta has always been a big part of Aldo’s life, and so setting up a business to specialise in artisan fresh pasta has allowed him to create delicious long, short and filled pasta using the finest quality durum wheat flour. Passione Della Pasta (‘Passion for Pasta’) has been open for business since early 2016, supplying to farm shops, delicatessens, restaurants and specialist suppliers. Aldo also has his own range of authentic Italian sauces.
Of all of the different types of pasta Aldo makes, he particularly likes the speciality filled pasta: “I like to create something you can’t buy anywhere else”. He is apparently best known for his mouthwatering ravioli – in particular spinach and ricotta or artichoke and ricotta. In late 2016 Passione Della Pasta opened their second premises – a new shop – in the pretty North Yorkshire village of Thornton-le-Dale, where customers can eat in as well as buy the fabulous products.
