Francesco Paolella wins best cereal panettone in Italy

Pastry chef Francesco Paolella, from the Bar Big pastry shop in Telese Terme, has won the award for Italy’s best cereal panettone. His winning creation, titled Waldkorn Cereali Antichi, features ancient grains enriched with red fruits and chocolate.

The competition took place in Milan at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. A professional jury evaluated 25 finalists, including experts Gino Fabbri, Marco Pedron, Paolo Pompetti, and previous winner Arianna Verucci. Judges noted that this year’s Panettone Day showcased exceptionally high product quality.

To provide further visibility for the finalists, a temporary store will operate in Milan at Corso Garibaldi 50 from October 7 to November 1. The venue will offer the finalists' panettoni for purchase and host free events dedicated to holiday leavened products.