The best panettone in the country is made in Catalonia, specifically, in the Vallflorida Xocolaters bakery in Sant Esteve de Palautordera (Barcelona). The pastry chef Lluís Costa, at the head of the establishment, has been proclaimed winner in the Competition for the Best Artisan Panettone in Spain, which took place yesterday at the Gastronomic Forum Barcelona and organized by the Pastry School of the Guild of Barcelona.
This master craftsman has achieved something that has never happened since the competition was born: winning both the traditional panettone and chocolate panettone categories. But it is not the first recognition that he has received, because in 2015 he already won the Best Croissant in Spain competition and, in 2018, the Best Artisanal Tea Pastry.
Their two proposals convinced a jury made up of renowned experts in the sweet world, such as the popularizer Ibán Yarza, the baker Xavi Barriga or the pastry chefs Manu Jara and Georgina Crespo. Aspects such as appearance and shape, baking and glazing, crumb structure and fruit breakdown, and smell were evaluated. 40 candidates in each category entered the competition.
The fruit panettone, for sale at the Lluís Costa pastry shop, is made with natural sourdough, and does not contain colorings or preservatives. Some characteristics that it shares with the chocolate version, which can also be purchased in this bakery in Sant Esteve de Palautordera. Both have a cost of 25 euros.
Vallflorida Xocolaters was born in 1983 with the aim of offering a different and quality product, explain its founders. It is a classic pastry shop with a modern touch, which is currently characterized by making more daring products, "with chocolate being the most representative element."
Last year, the winners of this competition, which celebrated its eighth edition, were pastry chefs Daniel Jordà, from Panes Creativos, and Eric Ortuño, from l'Atelier Barcelona.
