Who knew ...

Panettone heaven. Amazing glace fruits. 

Too many varieties to name

We weren't even looking. But never ones to pass up a taste test we were spell bound by this one. Who knew there was so much to the world of panettone? What the Italians don't do with their panettone us clearly not worth it. There were chocolate, pistachio, citrus of all persuasions, chestnut, iced, frosted, plain, dried fruits, fresh fruits; unbelievable concoctions and combinations of flavours. It makes the selection at Mediterranean Wholesalers on Sydney Road look insignificant. We grazed for half an hour but could have stayed for much longer. I wonder if any of them export. Truly magnificent and I can see that those at home who say they don't like panettone may be simply tainted by the, now considered to be bland, plain varieties we seem to be plied with each festive season.

And, to boot, it was held in the most magnificent palladium Style temple that gas been in existence for centuries. Probably even longer being Rome.

This is just a façade but panettone heaven lay behind

Even though we were full as googs on sweet luscious sticky panettone we were still on the lookout for a famous hole in the wall that sells Porchetta rolls and has been doing so, apparently, since 1870. Not one to get in the way of a good story, or good Porchetta roll, perseverance pays off. We found it! Only as wide as a doorway this tiny establishment, with its table seating for all of six, was mostly taken up with a covered bench that contained a whole boned and seasoned pig that is the famous Porchetta complete with crackling. Expertly carved by a guy who looked as if he grew up carving Porchetta. Slabs of meat between crusty panini with its obligatory piece of crunchy crackle seasoned with the nuances of pepper, fennel and salt. Bloody magnificent.

Er Buchetto. A doorway wide but a flavour the has lasted centuries