Good, abundant pistachio cream. The panettone is a bit dense.
A staple on Italian tables, panettone is now one of the main symbols of Christmas. Among the infinite variations, the delicious pistachio panettone is a must, but navigating through the numerous artisanal and supermarket options is not easy at all.
Among the many artisanal offerings you can find in the bars and shops of the province of Catania is the artisanal pistachio panettone produced and sold by "Bar Ottagono", in Mascalucia. This place is a true institution and we already know it very well for their extraordinary pistachio arancino (and more).
The packaging is very beautiful, with a green-toned box that is truly elegant and heavily branded, not only with the actual logo but also with a dense pattern of octagons.
The topping is really good, particularly due to its slight creaminess, but obviously the pistachio flavor is very delicate. The whole pistachios on the surface are also good, even if there are not many of them.
The dough has an excellent flavor, but during our test it turned out a bit dense, especially considering the expectations raised by the significant "mushroom effect" which suggested excellent leavening. However, by placing it near a heat source for a few minutes, it likely regains much of its fragrance.
The pistachio nutella inside is, without a doubt, the true star of the product, which is generously filled. This filling has a good pistachio flavor, but it also feels a bit dense, so it will benefit from some heat just like the dough. Certainly, once warmed up, the pistachio flavor is enhanced, and it also gains greater creaminess.
Ultimately, this is a good product that confirms the quality of the pistachio at Bar Ottagono, so the rating is 8/10, due to some imperfections that keep it from reaching the top score. We are convinced, however, that there is room for improvement, given the high standards of this venue.
NB: we remind you to go and try their extraordinary pistachio arancino!
