Joe Furfaro is Fiesta Farm’s ‘Panettone Papi.” He picks and stocks each of the 200+ varieties of panettone on the Panettone Power Wall and tucks them into every spare corner of the store.
But, let’s face it….choosing is challenging.
While customers appreciate the store’s growing Christmas tradition, as the number of panettone swells to well over 200, we’re almost ready for a panettone dating app…Swipe left for raisins, swipe right for chocolate, swipe left for gluten, swipe right for real butter.
Don’t worry—Mr. Furfaro has your back. He’s curated a guide that’ll help you find your match.
This is part of a two-part series. Mr. Furfaro’s next six panettone picks will drop in the newsletter next week.
The Affordable One: Baluli Pandoro de Verona – $19.99
Mr. Furfaro calls Bauli’s Pandoro di Verona “a good, safe pick.”
It’s safe like a good pair of khakis. No one will question your decision to wear them but no one will ask where you got them.
Listen, Bauli’s panettone has been around since the 1950s and it comes in under $20. It’s a particularly good choice if you plan to soak your panettone in egg and fry it in butter. In that case, why spend more than $20?
The Local One: Toronto Panettone Company – $39.99
While other Toronto brands have approached Fiesta, Mr. Furfaro keeps his relationship with Toronto Panettone Company exclusive. It’s the only local brand he stocks.
Mr. Furfaro is impressed that the panettone is hand-crafted by a mother and son duo and “it’s the freshest you’ll get,” arriving at the store 7-10 days after it’s baked. Eric Velland, Editor of LCBO Food & Drink Magazine backs Mr. Furfaro’s pick, giving it a shout-out on Instagram, saying Toronto Panettone is his:
“favourite by a long shot. Triple Chocolate. So soft and fresh and buttery.”
The Savoury One: Panettone Slato – $59.95
This is the only savoury panettone Fiesta currently carries. Instead of raisins and candied fruit, it’s studded with dried tomatoes, aged pecorino and poppy seeds. Is it blasphemy? Italian Chef Iginio Massar thinks so, claiming:
“Panettone is not a pizza. You don’t put salami in it.”
Mr. Furfaro, says “Scordatelo!” (Forget it!) He loves the umami-forward reinterpretation of the classic.
The Unusual One: Dolce Presepe – $49.99
This panettone got a holy makeover.
The Dolce Presepe is a panettone with a nativity scene carved into white chocolate in it’s centre.
Why not make your Chrismas dessert a religious experience? Is it over-the-top? Absolutely. But, Mr. Furfaro thinks that the chocolate nativity scene delivers a surprising twist that’ll give folks something to talk about.
The Luxurious One – Loison Figo – $59.99
Mr. Furfaro started carrying luxury brand Loison because, “customers keep asking for it.” And for good reason.
Loison bakery in Vicenza, Italy is part of the Slow Food Presidium. That means they carefully source local, Italian ingredients and make all of their panettone by hand using old world traditions. You can see the whole process here.
Mr. Furfaro recommends this Fico (or fig) panettone dotted with figs and raisins grown in Calabria, slowly baked in the Italian sun, just like Sophia Loren.
The Gluten Free One: Schär– $19.99
Sure, other panettone makers have tapped into the gluten-free market. But Schär gets Mr. Furfaro’s respect for being the pioneer in the gluten-free food industry who also happens to make panettone. In other words, Schär is the OG.
Dotted with raisins and citrus peel, it’s as traditional as it gets for those who don’t like or tolerate gulten
Can’t wait for Mr. Furfaro’s next six panettone recco’s like vegan, chocolate lover options and more? Subscribe to the Fiesta Farms newsletter.