The name “panettone” was first recorded in writing in 1606 and appeared in the first Italian-Milanese dictionary: “panaton”, i.e. a large cake that is baked on Christmas Day. Francesco Cherubini gives us a more detailed description in his famous Vocabolario milanese-italiano (Milan-Italian dictionary), written in four volumes between 1839 and 1856: Panattón or Panatton de Natal is a type of wheat bread that is decorated with butter, eggs, sugar, and raisins or sultanas. The dough is mixed with almonds so that, when baked, it resembles croissants. It weighs a pound or more and is only made at Christmas; from the...

One of the most popular traditions in Italy is the panettone, but what is its story? Who invented this cake? Its story is lost in the fog of time, as befits such a famous dessert. Legend has it that “Panettone” comes from “Pan de Toni” (“Toni’s bread”). Toni was a simple kitchen boy in Ludovico Sforza’s kitchen, known as “il Moro”. One Christmas Eve he was supposed to supervise the baking of the cake for the ducal banquet, but Toni fell asleep and the cake burned. The Sforza family chef became enraged and Toni, fearful of the possible consequences, decided...

Snow, decorated trees, illuminated cities, Santa Clauses smiling at one of the balconies of the houses, shop windows full of gifts, Christmas carols in the background … Christmas. Already at the beginning of December you can feel this bright and magical atmosphere, which inevitably makes you think of Christmas. But the most incredible thing about this time is undoubtedly the traditions. Every city, every country and even every family has its own variants: here in Italy some families spend Christmas Eve with relatives and eat fish, others with friends and eat tortellini. In Japan, for example, fried chicken is eaten...