Panettone

This week feature coffee pairing is Panettone an Italian styled sweet bread. This bread is acidic containing candied orange, lemon zest and raisins. This process is undertaken over more than a week with curing the dough then proofing to give a uniquely fluffy texture. It is consumed in multiple ways, a few slices with coffee around Christmas either by itself or with other food as part of a breakfast can be dipped into coffee or served warm by itself. To give some background, Panettone originates in Milan though is common throughout southern Europe and to a lesser extent western nation. Panettone’s historical significance is through its association to Christmas and it is was seen as a luxury item. Moreover, the name is a derived from Panetto in Italian that means small loaf cake. Not traditional apart from southern Europe, where it would be eaten with coffee for breakfast. Outside of southern Europe, Panettone is paired with hot chocolate or liquor as an after dinner sweet around Christmas. Interestingly, the role and importance of Panettone in the national identity of Milan. Over time the expense and abundance of core ingredients like raisins and honey made this cake more available and spread around the globe. In contrast, this sentiment has a flip side as Italian bureaucrats attempt to certify this type of cake at the World Trade Organisation. This development in authenticity is evident in Amy Trubek, Kolleen M. Guy and Sarah Bowen’s article on a transnational future for authentic European dishes. Nevertheless, this authentic Italian cake is ideal at anytime of the year with a cup of coffee.