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Penettone, the holiday pastry that originated in Milan, might look like a giant muffin to the uninitiated, but in reality, it is a multi-layered, coveted Italian delicacy that involves an extensive, days-long proofing process.
If you've never tried penettone or are feeling nostalgic for some this holiday season, you should definitely visit this month's panettone festival in the U.S. from December 13 to 15.
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The festival will present guests with a variety of artisanal, new generation panettone varieties from the most famous Italian pastry chefs. The event's purpose is to elevate the profile of the treat in the U.S. and introduce New Yorkers to the complexities of the beloved Italian delicacy, which contains complex combinations of flavors like citron, candied orange, lemon zest and raisins.
The event has become a fixture of the holiday season in New York since cafe owner and food aficionado Cristiano Rossi first imported several dozen variations of panettone from Italy (they got stuck in customs at JFK, per a hilariously written Eater article) for the first-ever festival back in 2021, when he partenered with Italian celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich to spread the gospel of the treat.
The panettone festival this year will take place at 5241 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens, roughly a 20 minute walk from the Court Square subway station. Although the extravaganza is scheduled to be held daily from noon to 6pm, the organizers warn that the event may end earlier if the panettone runs out (we wouldn't be surprised!).