The tenth anniversary of the Gambero Rosso Pasticceri&Pasticcerie guide falls in a very special season, reporting 580 establishments scattered throughout the country and assigning four special prizes. A very tough year for the food and wine sector to which the great pastry chefs have reacted concretely. The lockdown has definitively demonstrated the importance of digital communication first for restaurants and then also for pastry shops, convincing the most reluctant to update sites, organize online sales in the best possible way, develop delicious take-away and delivery boxes. More than surprising with "the beautiful and perfect dessert" it was important to be there, to keep in touch, to give a "cuddle". Once the most critical phase was over, we returned to the laboratories with the awareness that everything had changed and that space must be given to inventiveness, starting with the morning leavened products (brioche, croissants & co, present in countless doughs and fillings) to a savory pastry that is always more accurate and designed perhaps even for an aperitif at home.
The Tre Torte d'Oro Award was assigned to Igino Massari of the Pasticcderia Veneta of Brescia, an award that is like a lifetime achievement Oscar since Massari, awarded last year by the World Pastry Stars as the best pastry chef in the world, since the first edition of the Guide it has always maintained a top position in the rankings. His place is defined as "a real place of worship for modern pastry"
And therefore even in times of crisis it is good to write down where the temples of Italian sweetness and gluttony are located. The Guide lists them Region by Region. Campania stands out above all. And in this regard, it is a pleasure to point out that Alfonso Pepe's pastry shop, a great master who passed away at the beginning of this year, leaving a great professional and human void in his history ( First&Food, which published the recipe for its top-notch and super-award-winning Panettone, gave him a dedicated portrait that can be consulted by clicking on the banner "Stories of Chefs") won the Tre Torte award thanks to the work of his family members, Prisco, Giuseppe and Anna, who continued to work faithful to the master's teachings. Followed by Lombardy then all the others. The Pastry Chef of the Year award went to Matteo Dolcemascolo Dolcemascolo from Frosinone.
"The current situation is once again critical for the whole sector - say the editors of the Gambero Rosso Pastry & Pastry Guide - but with intelligent teamwork it can be the beginning of a new era in which the most difficult task is entrusted to desserts: give a little beauty and lightness. In such a difficult year, we wanted to reward with a new recognition the one who has been at the top of the ranking since the first edition of this guide, offering new perspectives and new frontiers of taste every year: the Three Gold Cakes to the master Igino Massari with the Pasticceria Veneto of Brescia. A champion, for us from now on out of competition.
THREE GOLDEN CAKES
Veneto pastry shop – Brescia
THREE CAKES (Hausbrandt Prize)
Piemonte: Dalmasso – Avigliana [TO]; Fabrizio Galla – San Sebastiano Da Po [TO]
Lombardia: Besuschio – Abbiategrasso [MI]; Cortinovis – Ranica [BG]; Dolce Reale – Montichiari [BS]; Ernst K Knam – Milan; Fusto Milan – Milan; Roberto Pastry Shop - Erbusco [BS]
Veneto: Biasetto – Padua; Marisa pastry shop – San Giorgio delle Pertiche [PD]
Trentino Alto Adige: Acherer Patisserie.Blumen – Brunico/Bruneck [BZ]
Emilia Romagna: Gino Fabbri Pastry chef - Bologna; Rinaldini-Rimini
Toscana: Luca Mannori – Prato; New World – Meadow
Lazio: Bompiani – Rome; Belle Hélène – Tarquinia [VT]
Campania: Maison Manilia – Montesano Sulla Marcellana [SA]; Pasquale Marigliano – Nola [NA]; Cilento Agricultural Pastry Pietro Macellaro – Piaggine [SA]; Pepe Mastro Confectioner – Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino [SA]; Sal De Riso Amalfi Coast – Minori [SA]
Puglia: White Art – Parabita [LE]
Sicilia: Champagne – Marineo [PA]
SPECIAL AWARDS
Pastry Chef of the Year (Petra Molino Quaglia Award): Matteo Dolcemascolo Dolcemascolo – Frosinone
News of the year (Roboqbo Award): Fusto Milan – Milan
Best Salted Pastry (ICETEAM Award): New World – Prato
Best Digital Communication (FB Award - Clabo Group): Gino Fabbri Pastry chef – Bologna; Pansa – Amalfi
