Papadeli catering & hampers

Papadeli catering & hampers
Papadeli - delicious food in Bristol

Tuesday 29 September 2009

panettone puzzler

Having spent many years thinking panettone was an overrated bit of stuff that people felt they should eat at Christmas time, I can say with confidence now that I LOVE panettone. What has changed? I have become more adventurous in the world of the high rise, vanilla scented Italian treat and have left behind me those that were mass produced mountains of dryness. Gosh, I even think I have reached a climax with some of this year's samples - with the king of the cakes being the Loison cherry panettone. Made with real butter (you can taste it) it smells delightful - buttery, vanilla fragranced, fruity and well, cosy - if you can smell like that? It is moist, but not as a wet fruit cake can be, it is light - but not without substance... It takes me to a warm corner in a festive room and fills me with comfort. All that in a cake. Amazing.

What is challenging this year, is that with the EURO being so strong, and general prices being higher, we are finding it difficult to accept the prices - maybe we've been out of touch and refusing to face reality - but we're looking at £20 for a good panettone. I think as a centre piece for any Christmas table or tea, it will pay its way as the taste justifies the price. We have managed to persuade ourselves - but will we persuade our customers? I think so. I can imagine giving it to friends and family as a lovely gift that can be shared - and gifts like that, that give a warm feeling, are generally difficult to come by.