The Panettone Day final took place in the splendid Sala Mengoni at Cracco in Galleria in Milan. The expert jury, chaired by Maestro Gino Fabbri, named Italy's best artisanal panettoni for 2023. Congusto Institute, a technical partner of the prestigious competition now in its eleventh edition, hosted the initial selection phase of the contest.
The Panettone Day Jury
The leavened products from the winning artisans in each category stood out among the 25 finalists in the competition and were evaluated with professionalism and in total anonymity by the expert jury led by Maestro Gino Fabbri, together with Marco Pedron, Pastry Chef and Didactic Director of the pastry department at Congusto Institute, Michelin-starred Chef Carlo Cracco, Marta Boccanera, a Pastry Chef awarded Three Torte in the Gambero Rosso Pasticceri&Pasticcerie 2023 guide, Adriano Del Mastro, one of Italy's most compelling master bakers awarded Three Pani by the Gambero Rosso Guide; as well as the winner of the Traditional category for the 2022 edition, Giordano Berettini. The artisans put themselves to the test by taking on the challenge of competing against the 158 participants of the 2023 edition, hailing from all over the Peninsula, who achieved the highest scores across all of the competition's evaluation criteria: from appearance to baking, and from crumb structure to aroma and taste.
The Panettone Day Winners
The names of the winners in the competing categories: Domenico Napoleone of Pasticceria F.lli Napoleone in Rieti (RI), Bartolo Carbè of Antico Forno Carbè in Syracuse (SR), Francesco Bertolini of Pasticceria Bertolini&Figli in San Bonifacio (VR), respectively for the Traditional, Creative Sweet, and Gold Chocolate categories. Furthermore, the special "Best Cubed Leavened Product" award goes to Santo Giarrusso of Pasticceria Pasubio in Catania (CT), and Bartolo Carbè of Antico Forno Carbè in Syracuse (SR) takes home the "Best Panettone for Breakfast" award.
The Temporary Store from October 3rd to 28th
The Panettone Day includes the opening of a Temporary Store at Corso Garibaldi 50 (corner of Via Palermo 21) from October 3rd to 28th. In the heart of Brera, all the Panettone Day finalists will have the opportunity to sell their creations and introduce themselves to the public. A series of events and appointments to celebrate Italian excellence is on the calendar. Given the increasingly common habit among Italian consumers of pairing panettone with coffee, as shown by research from Panettone Day in collaboration with Nielsen IQ, visitors to the Temporary Store will also be able to purchase a selection of 1895 Specialty Coffee by Lavazza.
The competition, the longest-running and one of the most recognized in the world of Artisanal Panettone, is promoted by two leading companies in excellent pastry-making: Braims – which is part of the CSM Ingredients group – and Novacart. With the participation of sponsors Callebaut, Vitalfood, and 1895 Coffee Designers by Lavazza.
Edited by the editorial staff
