CHIAVARI, Italy – The countdown to Christmas has started and
grocery stores shelves are filled cookies and cakes and holiday goodies of
every type.
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| In Milan, Panettone is King of the Christmas Cakes |
Every region has its own particular Christmas specialty like struffoli
in Naples and panforte in Sienna, but in the north Christmas
is not Christmas without panettone, that big pillow of a bread studded with
juicy raisins and other good stuff.
Legend has it that panettone was developed in Milan in the 1400’s.
That’s probably true. For the rest of the story, that it was first made by a
baker named Tony to impress his girlfriend - well, that's more fiction than
fact. What’s is true though is you'd be hard pressed to find a Christmas Day
meal in northern Italy that will not end with a slice of the raisin rich eggy
bread and a flute of sparkling Prosecco wine.
Because panettone tastes so good,
Italians tend to forgive it for being such a plain Jane. There's not much you
can do to glam up this humble sweet bread, but you have to give the fashion
conscious Milanese credit for trying.
Here's a collection of photos showing some of the
more elegant panettone offerings on the market during the holiday season.
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| It Starts Out Like This |
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| There Can Never Be Too Many Panettone |
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| And Babbo Natale Too! |
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| Panettone All Dressed Up |
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The Kids Will Love This
|
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| Grandma's Favorite |
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| This is Special |
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| Let's Get This Party Started |
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| Panettone and Prosecco - Perfect! |
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| Auguri! |
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