O, an ode! All praise to the panettone, and to the intricate origami of its domed box! To the small ribbon handle which crowns the top! We celebrate its discreet design!

We sing the praises of the Italian phrases which decorate the sloping sides, for they are music to our ears! Let us listen to their songs: “L’origine del nostro marchio è antica e nobile.” (oh yes!) “Nel 1150 alcuni cavalieri reduci dalla Terra Santa fondarono, a Milano, una pia confraternita che aiutava i bisognosi offrendo pane in cambio di speciali tesere di rame.” (sing it!) “L’antico forno della congregazione, detta delle Quattro Marie, è divenuto nell’800 la rinomata Pasticceria Tre Marie.”

We lift our glass to BUONO E BASSO, whoever they may be: let their progeny grace us for generations yet to come!

We celebrate the list of ingredients! The butter! The brandy-soaked raisins and the candied fruit peel! We celebrate the egg yolks and the yeast!¹

We bow down as we enter into the temples of the Italian grocery stores on Commercial Drive, where pyramids of panettone and pandoro are on display! Honor to the traditional Milanese! Honor to the Cioccolato! Honor to the obscure variants: the Ananas and the Limone!

All praise!

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¹ We even celebrate the mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, and the salt, although we do so sotto voce…