Milano hosts the Panettone World Cup: a triumph of tradition and creativity

From November 8th to 10th, tastings and events celebrate the leavened symbol of Italian pastry art: Panettone, with the participation of masters from all over the world.

Di Sarah Vaccari il 31 Ott, 2024

Milano hosts the Panettone World Cup: a triumph of tradition and creativity.

All ready, at Milano, to the final of the Panettone World Cup, the great event entirely dedicated to the leavened product par excellence that returns to its homeland.

From 8 to 10 November 2024, at Castiglioni Palace in Milano, three days open to the public including events, presentations and workshops, with the possibility of tasting the best panettone in the world.

"The Panettone World Cup - highlights the Councilor for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry of the Lombardy Region, Alessandro Beduschi - It is a triumph of craftsmanship, an event that celebrates one of our most authentic traditions, linked to a dessert that can tell the story and culture of a territory. This event represents Italian excellence and attracts master pastry chefs from all over the world, who with passion and skill honor a product that is a symbol of our roots".

"Ssupport initiatives like this - keep it going - means promoting not only our gastronomic heritage, but also the know-how that makes Lombardy unique, a point of reference for quality and creativity. It is an invitation to rediscover the value of traditions that are handed down and that, with the innovation and dedication of our artisans, continue to give emotions all over the world".

THE PANETTONE WORLD CUP

The Panettone World Cup was born to celebrate the history and processing of a product capable of crossing the borders of origin to establish itself on the global confectionery scene. The patron and creator of the event is Maestro Giuseppe Piffaretti. The first edition took place in Lugano in November 2019, the second in November 2021, the third in Milano in November 2022.

"We have reached the fourth edition of the Panettone World Cup - Explains Giuseppe Pifaretti - after meeting thousands of pastry chefs in the selections in different countries. The artisanal product has surpassed, as a byproduct, the numbers of large-scale distribution. Our aim is to spread Made in Italy, taking around the world the real artisanal Milanese panettone, protagonist of a global success, but which must be protected so as not to distort its identity".

The public will be able to participate in tastings, follow the workshops, watch the jury's voting live, and purchase the products at the stands. An area will also be dedicated to workshops for children. Admission is free. It is also possible to purchase a tasting card that allows you to taste dozens of panettoni. Special guests and jury presidents Iginio Massari (Iginio Massari high pastry shop) for the traditional Panettone and Ernst Knam (Pastry Chef & Maître Chocolatier) for the chocolate Panettone.

The program of meetings includes, for the first time, a focus entirely dedicated to gluten-free panettone with Francesco Favorito. Then, the meeting with Julien Alvarez, Chef Ladurée of Paris, the pastry shop that invented the macaron. Markus Bohr, executive chef of Harrods, will propose a tasting of the famous chocolates produced and sold in the London department store. Rogerio Shimura, iconic Brazilian Maestro, will present a typical dessert that is found on all the tables of Brazil at Christmas, while Juan Carlos Lopez, from Peru, presents the only bombon de ceviche awarded with the gold medal at the International Chocolate Award.

Special attention is paid to the training of young future pastry chefs thanks to the active participation of the students of the IAL Lombardia higher education school. Appointment with the champions of the Summer Edition which, in the two editions of 2023 and 2024, for the first time combined the sweetness of panettone with the creaminess of gelato. Thanks to the collaboration of Coppa del Mondo del Panettone with Italian Open Water Tour, the dessert was the protagonist of the Italian beaches that hosted the stages of the amateur open water race. During the event, the award ceremony for the northern and Carruggi triptychs will take place, on Saturday 9 November, at 17 pm.

After a year of national selections in different states, for the 2024 edition, 24 pastry chefs reached the finals for the traditional Panettone category and 18 for the chocolate Panettone category. The finalists come from Europe, Asia, Latin America and the United States but also Australia with the presence of 17 nations. A demonstration of the increasingly international appeal of this project.

Italy is represented for the Traditional Panettone category: Pompilio Giardino, Pompilio Bakery, Adriano Irpino (AV); Pasquale Fish, Pesce 1896 Pastry Shop, Avella (AV); Damiano Pagani, Pagani Pastry Shop, Dello (BS); Musumeci Antonino, Musumeci Pastry Shop, Misterbianco (CT); Maurizio Sarioli, Il Pane Bakery of Brescia, winner of 'Panettone without Borders 2023'.

For the Chocolate Panettone category: Armando Pascarella, Armando Pascarella Pastry Shop, San Felice a Cancello (CE); Alessandro Slama, Dar Slama, Ischia (NA); Pasquale Marigliano, Marigliano Pastry Shop, Nola (NA); Pasquale Marigliano, Marigliano Pastry Shop, Nola (NA); Pasquale Iannelli, Casa Mastroianni, Lamezia Terme (CZ), Roberto Moreschi, Roberto Pastry & Bakery, Chiavenna (SO).