Friday, December 19, 2008

Panettone

Here is a tower of panettone, a type of Italian Christmas bread, at Whole Foods Supermarket in Union Square. The festive confection is becoming increasing popular in the US and frequently given as gifts. The quality of the photo isn't the best because I snapped it with my cell phone.

So have you ever had a panettone?

17 comments:

Wayne said...

I don't know if I've had it or not, can't recall.

We have many similar products on sale here during the holidays. I'm guessing this stuff is shipped from Italy. For years I never gave this a second thought and now it bugs the daylights out of me. Why do we buy cake that was made months ago, over-packaged and shipped half way around the world? The only way these products can survive is if they are loaded with preservatives.

Why don't the Italians support their local bakers and we support our local bakers? If we are going to get a handle on climate change one thing we better start getting used to is buying locally produced goods. I'm ok with shipping oranges to places that can't grow them, but shipping cakes and cookies is just plain idiotic.

Sorry Ming, I'm sure you didn't expect to trigger a bizarre rant with a simple pic of a grocery display. I'd have taken that pic too.

Virginia said...

What the heck is Pannetone? I guess I need to expand my horizons past southern pound cake but do I really need to? Looks like Whole Foods overstocked a little but hey,maybe it's a door buster in NYC.
V

Paul said...

Thanks for the link to the Wikipedia article. I've never seen this bread before. I'm sure we'd be able to get it from a specialised bakery, but supermarkets in Cape Town don't appear to stock it.

As the Wikipedia article says; it must be really good with Mascarpone. Yum!

Babzy.B said...

I have never seen such a big tower of panettone !!! yes ,i had tasted it ,it's a Italian brioche ,it's not my favourite bit it is good :)

Messy Karen said...

yes indeed. it's always packaged pretty so a nice gift. or if you have unexpected guests it can be served with coffee. if you have too much after the holidays. once it gets a little stale you can make french toast with it. we've always bought them at our local italian bakeries.

Anonymous said...

So much in stock. LOL! I guess from experience, they have a lot of customers who buy them.

Paz

annulla said...

How funny, I was in the Whole Foods in Union Square looking at the panettone last night! I didn't buy theirs, but I do have panettone every year, and seeing the boxes piling up in the shops is the sign that makes me realize that Christmas is really drawing near.

A couple of years ago I was buying a panettone when the woman behind me told me a wonderful, simple way to turn it into a great dessert. In case you want to try it (very easy, even for a non-cook), the recipe is here: Eggnog-Panettone Bread Pudding.

GMG said...

Hi Ming! With a 48h day I would have time to enjoy your blog more often; shame on the time controller… ;))
So, preparing for getting some more weight and to ruin a diet? OK, mine is already ruined anyhow... ;)
Loved to re-visit that 9 sculpture!!
Meanwhile Blogtrotter is departing Tunisia 2007, but managed to keep the delay in posting on twelve (12) months only. Great achievement… ;)) Enjoy, comment and have a great weekend!

kuanyin333 said...

What a graphic photo! Luv it! Happy Holidays!

sonia a. mascaro said...

Hummm! Love panettone! Since I was a kid we have in Christmas panettone. It's a Brazilian tradition.

Virginia said...

I hesitate to go with my friend Wayne , but he may have a point. Why buy something baked months ago and shipped around the world? Buy local. I would rather have pound cake baked right here in Birmingham than some dry cake baked months ago. Wayne , you and I are on the same page for once! tee hee.
V

Anonymous said...

Towers of panettone...intersting shot. I've never tasted it, but have seen it on display in gourmet grocery stores in LA area like Whole Food and Gelson's. I've never seen as large a display as this one.

Doris

Sally said...

Yep, had it many times, here in Austrlai and in Italy.

Are you sure these ones are made in Italy? There's certainly a large enough Italian-descended population in NYC to be able to support local manufacture!

valeria said...

Mmmmh, I love Panettone, although I prefer the Pandoro,both typical Christmas cakes. It's funny though, I have never seen that box. What brand is it?

Chuck Pefley said...

Yes, I've had panettone, but much prefer panforte. Panforte is a Sienese fruitcake ... far superior to most of what is passed off as fruitcake in this country. I suspect you can find a good selection at the market on the corner of Grand and Mulberry :)

thwany said...

no, but i def want to try this.

Chris said...

I had to comment on this. . .

I have had real panettone since my maternal grandparents came here from Italy. The stuff that is in these boxes scares the bejesus out of me. First of all, how the heck many do these companies make? And, secondly, how the heck long have they been around in order for them to be made, packaged, boxed, shipped, unboxed, displayed and bought? Ugh. :-)