Which Panettone are the Best at the Panettone Maximo 2021?

A busy and challenging day dedicated totally to the Italian Christmas cake, panettone, was held at Boscolo Circo Massimo Hotel in Rome yesterday, 5 December 2021. At the Panettone Maximo, 21 talented pastry chefs from the capital and other cities of the Lazio region took out their best artisan leavened products for tasting, selling and awaiting the challenging grand finalè of the day - which panettone has captured the attention of the jury of pastry chefs and food critics?

Pasticceria Barberini won the Best Traditional Artisan Panettone, along with co-winner Bonfitt – Cattive Compagnie (not in picture)

Bonfitt - Cattive Compagnie of Santa Severa and Pasticceria Barberini of Rome share the same title as the Best Traditional Artisan Panettone of the 3rd Edition of Panettone Maximo. Third place goes to Cakao of Cisterna di Latina, fourth place is Officina Dolciaria Woods of Rome and fifth to Vizio of Rome, which also received the foreign press award. As for the Best Chocolate Panettone, the first position goes to Pasticceria Patrizi of Fiumicino, followed by Casa Manfredi of Rome as second, Cakao of Cisterna di Latina as third, Zest of Ardea as fourth and the fifth to Un Sacco Goloso of Pontinia, Latina. 

Three special prizes were also awarded:

Best Packaging went to Pasticceria D'Antoni da 1974 of Rome, Le Levain of Rome got the second prize, Casa Manfredi of Rome received the third, Panificio Nazzareno of Rome for the fourth and Con.Tro Contemporary Bistrot of Rome received the fifth position.

Best Digital Communication was received by Casa Manfredi of Rome, followed by Le Levain of Rome as second, third went to Pasticceria D'Antoni da 1974 of Rome, Max Pasticceria of Rome received the fourth and Cocco Sweet Lab of Rieti was awarded the fifth.

Lastly, the Audience Award was given to Le Levain of Rome, Maciste of Cori as the second; Pasticceria D'Antoni da 1974 for third, Max Pasticceria of Rome as fourth and Casa del Dolce of San Felice

The panettone festival of Rome and Lazio, created by Fabio Carnevali of the online magazine MangiaeBevi, was organized by RistorAgency with the support of Azienda Agrimontana, Molino Dallagiovanna and Caviale Giaveri. "Lazio, with the pastry shops of Rome and the provincial towns, great surprises of this edition for the number of awards obtained, is confirmed once again protagonist in Italy of the artisan excellence of the most popular dessert of the holidays. This event aims to reward the commitment of those who carry on the work of enhancing the quality of the confectionery gastronomic offer of our region. This year then Panettone Maximo is once again an event in the presence, recording a great interest from the public, who flocked to taste and buy the most popular leavened product on Christmas tables," explains Carnevali.