Panettone

Looking for an Italian Bakery in the area that makes GOOD Panettone.
Used to buy fresh from Pasticceria Natalina. She was located at 5200 N. Clark. At one point she was voted the best bakery in Chicago.
She used quality ingredients along with skill. Unfortunately her bakery never caught on.

Any suggestions???

Thanks,

Wally Wade

Not freshly made, but I did notice that El Mercado (next to Tango Sur on Southport) had a large variety of boxed ones today.

I'm still fairly new to Chicago, so don't know what's available locally. I do know that the absolute best panettone I have ever tasted is made by Flamigni. (Having been force-fed more cheap panettone than I'd care to mention by over-enthusiastic nonni and other assorted parenti in Italy, it took a lot to convince me this was actually an edible foodstuff at all, let alone love it.)

Flamigni is imported from Italy, but a quick look revealed it online: http://www.gourmetitalian.com/flamigni- ... /t3916.htm. Don't bother with the 'special' ones with chocolate, cherries, etc., but if you ever find the Pandoro, buy all they've got!

Be warned: it's not cheap and you will never be able to go back, but if you're serious about panettone...

I must say...when I really need a fix, I actually buy the one at whole foods and it does the trick.

My nephew currently lives in Boston. A lot of Italians in the North End. He called many bakeries and I decided to try Maria's.
Had good reviews and she makes panattone on her premise. She also had gooe reviews. Many people liked her pasteries better than Mike's, which is a gold mine. He brings his Panattone in. I tried Mike's when I was there. Lines out the door & down the block in the dead of winter. His pasteries were OK. I could not see the reason for all the hype.

I ordered 6 small, 1 lb. $ 6.00 each + delivery from Maria's.

Also talked to the Sicillan Bakery on north Cumberland. They make panattone in their store. Will drive over & get a small.

Want to be realistic, Natalina's were outstanding. BUT, time to move on.

Will let all know.
Thanks,

Wally Wade

Wally please post and let us know how you liked the Pannetone you bought. thx.

My Panattone Quest!!!!!!

Maria's in Boston. Waste of money. Very dry. I assume no preservatives. Light on the fruit. Also when I cut one, there were big holes in the middle of the Panattone. I called to complain. Maria herself said " that's how we do it". Make French Toast or Bread Pudding!!
I said I bought for gifts not Toast or Pudding. I deserve a refund ( $ 30.00). I got the Boston Italian 'Fickle Finger of Fate" for a reply.

Sicilian Bakery on north Cumberland Chicago. Very good. Somewhat drier than I want. No preservatives. Very tasty, generous fruit filling & right amount of sugar. Much better than any box from Italy. I will buy again.

Wally Wade

The Other Dr. Gale and I usually mail order our panettone from Ferrara's in NYC. Her Long Island family has been buying them at the store for decades. I've had the chance to taste them both on site and as delivered at our friends' place in Alton. I recommend them highly.

Geo

Just spotted a moist appearing panettone at GNR Pastoral. They don't know who makes it but they assured me it was made by Italians, after I asked them if they were certain it wasn't made by the Welsh.

Good to know Wally. Given how fast yeast bread stales I am always surprised at the stollen or Pannetone sold in boxes or prewrapped. Mostly stale. I have given up buying xmas bread...its not really that hard to make. To get the right form for Pannetone you have to buy or know how to make the paper collars so it looks right. On the other hand, just make a stollen. Not as pretty a shape but darn good.

I recently attended a Panettone Party at Convito Cafe and Market, Plaza Del Logo. (1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette) The owners discussed the history, and then we sampled a bunch of appetizers featuring Panettone, made up by their very creative chef. The shop had the most beautiful selection of brands and flavors, I would guess there had to be at least 20 varieties, from maybe $9 to one that sold for $65. I bought one of these but am saving it for our Christmas morning, so I can't report on it yet, but I expect it to be super delicious! The owners are a lovely mother & daughter team, making this the independent shop that lets you feel really good about spending your money here.

When I was at TJ Maxx today they were doing Xmas clearance and they marked down Panettone. I have never bought any being very suspicious of the cardboard box and not being able to feel or see it. This one was wrapped in fancy fabric and I could squeeze it and tell it was still fresh at least to feel so I bought it. I tore it open when I got home and sliced it. It is very soft and delicious. I toasted and buttered it and pronounce it very good. It almost needs to stale a bit for toast because it wanted to fall apart. This is much better than the stollen I have purchased which tends to be stale and hard unless you make it at home. This was kind of like a challah like rich dough with some orange peel or fruits in it. Very nice. The brand was Properzi. It was wrapped in gorgeous fabric and ribbon and was a beautiful site to behold.

By the way Panettone can be very expensive. Upwards of thirty of forty dollars. Some less some more. The label said compare at 28.00. It was marked 19.99 and then marked to 13.00. Lots of stuff on sale at TJ's.

toria wrote:When I was at TJ Maxx today they were doing Xmas clearance and they marked down Panettone. I have never bought any being very suspicious of the cardboard box and not being able to feel or see it. This one was wrapped in fancy fabric and I could squeeze it and tell it was still fresh at least to feel so I bought it. I tore it open when I got home and sliced it. It is very soft and delicious. I toasted and buttered it and pronounce it very good. It almost needs to stale a bit for toast because it wanted to fall apart. This is much better than the stollen I have purchased which tends to be stale and hard unless you make it at home. This was kind of like a challah like rich dough with some orange peel or fruits in it. Very nice. The brand was Properzi. It was wrapped in gorgeous fabric and ribbon and was a beautiful site to behold.

I have always bought my panettone at either TJ Maxx on clearance or at neighborhood Italian markets where I have lived. I have rarely been disappointed and rarely spent more than $10.

I like the older ones as they make a really fine bread pudding.

I used to see boxes stacked at Produce World in Morton Grove but it did not seem to go on sale post holiday.

I went back and swooped up four panettones and one pandoro. The pandora was four dollars and the rest were marked down to five or seven dollars. will put in zip locks and freeze and eat as a breakfast bread.

Macey's has it on sale 75% off of 25$ in the basement candy section.

That seems like a good price. I did try the Pandoro today and its not my favorite. Too plain for my taste as it lacks nuts, raisins and peel. Its good probably with some butter and jam but I do not think I would buy it again. I will stick with the Panettone.

toria wrote:By the way Panettone can be very expensive. Upwards of thirty of forty dollars. Some less some more. The label said compare at 28.00. It was marked 19.99 and then marked to 13.00. Lots of stuff on sale at TJ's.

I'm curious - why does it tend to be so expensive? Is it the size, the fruit? I made panettone once out of curiosity (I had never had an opportunity to try it); it was delicious, not difficult to make, and the ingredients were not costly. It did take some time, but not any more than making regular bread.

I'm curious - why does it tend to be so expensive? Is it the size, the fruit?

It' because it's a limited item just for Christmas, a time of year that people are willing to spend more for something special, especially if it's nicely packaged for gifting. And the manufacturers know this and price accordingly.

A $30-40 panettone is in the "super luxury" class. You can easily find basic ones for half that price or less, even before Christmas.

Also most of the Panettone you see in stores is imported from Italy. I think that is what makes it expensive. I did get some good prices on it after xmas though.