Here you eat the best panettone in the world
Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi, as they say in Italy. Loosely translated: you celebrate Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want. And different kinds of bread are served during the various holidays too. Panettone is the number one Christmas tradition in Italy. And here you’ll find the very best.
Panettone-baking World Cup
The baking of this silky-soft sourdough and raisin Christmas bread is taken very seriously there, as evidenced by the fact that an annual panettone-baking World Cup takes place. And rightly so, we and our colleagues at Italiamo think, because a real panettone takes 48 hours to make and the average Italian doesn’t bake one themselves. In 2022, Milan, the birthplace of the baked good, was the epicentre of the festivities, and the big winner was—as it should be—an Italian.
The best panettone in the world
Earlier this month, professional bakers from all over the world took part in the panettone-baking World Cup. A nine-member jury of panettone experts and bakers smelled, tasted and inspected the entries under the strict supervision of a notary. During the 2022 Coppa del Mondo del Panettone, master pastry chef Giuseppe Mascolo took home the prize for best traditional panettone.
Mr Mascolo also happens to be a panettone ambassador and has been baking his way to the top for years. In addition to becoming world champion, he has also been crowned panettone king and Mastro panettone. Want to taste it? Pasticceria Mascolo is located in Visciano, around forty kilometres from Naples. Second place went to Claudio Colombo of Pasticceria Colombo, which has locations in Comerio and Barasso, two villages near Milan. Third place went to a Swiss baker.
The chocolate panettone champion
There was also a less traditional prize to be won; the Italians took all three spots on the podium for the best chocolate panettone. Taking the top step was Annibale Memmolo of Pasticceria Memmolo Mirabella Eclano (in Avellino, also near Naples), second place went to Bruno Andreoletti of Pasticceria Andreoletti in Brescia, and third place to Marcio A. Orellana M. of Nima Srl di Gorle in Bergamo.
Source: Italiamo
Also read:
- The tastiest dishes in Italy (and here’s where to eat them!)
- 5 tips for the ultimate scroppino
- 5 things not to do when you go to Italy
