While for the Chocolate Panettone category the 5 Italian finalists were classified as follows:
1st place – Armando Pascarella, Armando Pascarella Pastry Shop, San Felice a Cancello (CE)
2nd place – Alessandro Slama, Dar Slama, Ischia (NA)
3rd place – Andrea Marzo, La Dolce Sicilia, Rivoli (TO)
4th place – Michele Somma, Pasticceria La Delizia, Santa Maria la Carità (NA)
5th place – Pasquale Iannelli, Casa Mastroianni, Lamezia Terme (CZ).
With this important selection, the shortlist of candidates from all over the world who will compete in the world final is made up. After the selections in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and France, Brazil and the United States, the anticipation is growing for those in Peru, Japan and Australia which will take place between February and May.
The evaluation criteria
The work of the international jury in recent days has been intense and demanding thanks to the very high quality of the product. The evaluation took into consideration:
- the external appearance (shape, volume and color)
- the appearance when cut (alveolation, fruit distribution and softness)
- sensory appreciation such as scent, flavor and aroma.
The Judges
Here are the judges who took turns in the two days of selections:
Traditional Panettone Jury: Tuesday 23 January
Mirko Zenatti, President Ambassadeur du pain Italia
Gianbattista Montanari, Maestro and consultant Corman Italy
Damiano Rizzo, Apei master pastry chef
Francesca Morandin, Consultant and Food Technologist Italy
Emanuele Valsecchi, Apei master pastry chef
Fabrizio Galla, best cake at the 2007 Pastry World Cup in Lyon
Matteo Cunsolo, President Richemont Club Italia
Daniel Künhe, Bakery Manager Richemont School Lucerne Switzerland
Chocolate Panettone Jury: Wednesday 24 January
Mirko Zenatti, President Ambassadeur du pain Italia
Gianbattista Montanari, Maestro and consultant Corman Italy
Gastone Pegoraro, Master Pastry Chef Director of Gustar Pistoia
Francesca Morandin, Consultant and Food Technologist Italy
Julien Alvarez, Executive pastry chef Laduree, Pastry World Champion
Juan Carlos Lopez, Director of the El Dulce Hecho Arte Peru pastry school
Daniel Künhe Bakery Manager Richemont School Lucerne Switzerland
Salvatore Tortora, 2021 World Champion of the Panettone World Cup.
What is the Panettone World Cup?
The Panettone World Cup is the international competition that involves pastry chefs from all continents in the creation of the original recipe for artisanal Milanese panettone. The recipe for artisanal Milanese panettone involves the use of wheat flour, sugar, butter, egg yolks, salt, orange paste, orange zest, lemon zest, honey, vanilla, malt-malt extract-malt flour, grapes sultana, candied orange cubes and candied citron cubes.
Born from the idea of maestro Giuseppe Piffaretti, for years the competition has been promoting the culture of Italian desserts around the world and organizing masterclasses and training courses in various countries, enjoying increasing success. Indeed, among the project’s missions is the valorization and knowledge of the leavened dessert par excellence as well as the deseasonalization of the product, as already happens in some countries such as Brazil and Peru where panettone is consumed all year round.
The competition regulations provide for the creation of panettone with the original artisan recipe by all competitors, including foreigners. The domed dessert is increasingly known and appreciated abroad where it is often customized with local raw materials, in fact there are many versions: from the one with dates, to the papaya up to the savory one. In 2024 the Competition reaches its fourth edition, after the finals of 2009, 2021, 2022 and thanks to constant commitment, the knowledge of panettone and its processing has managed to cross the boundaries of origin and seasonality to establish itself on the world confectionery scene.
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