Those of you with a sweet tooth, take note: Gambero Rosso, the prestigious food and wine publishing group, has just released its annual “Pasticceri & Pasticcerie” (Pastry Chefs and Shops) guide for 2018, which recognizes the best places in Italy in the art of pastry-making. 560 shops from the north to the south of Italy were included in the guide, which has introduced a new category this year, pasticceria salata, savory pastries.
The coveted Tre Torte (Three Cakes), the highest honor (similar to the three stars awarded by the Michelin guide), were assigned to 21 places scoring above 90 points. Of these, three are new entries: two are in Sicily and not far from each other, Sciampagna in Marineo, about 20 kilometers south of Palermo, and Antico Caffè Spinnato, in Palermo itself; Belle Hélène in Tarquinia (province of Viterbo in the central region of Lazio) marks the first time a woman, Francesca Castignani, earns the prestigious Tre Torte recognition.
The highest spot on the podium goes, for the second year in a row, to Iginio Massari (recognized as one of the best pastry chefs in the world) of Pasticceria Veneto in Brescia (95 points); right behind him are Alessandro Dalmasso with his Dalmasso in Avigliana, Turin (94 points), Giuseppe Manilia with Maison Manilia in Montesano sulla Marcellana, Salerno, and Luigi Biasetto with Biasetto in Padua, both scoring 93 points.
The best new opening of the year is, according to the guide, Cannavacciuolo Bakery in Novara, helmed by the famous chef of Villa Crespi, Antonino Cannavacciuolo.
The new prize for ‘best savory pastries’ was awarded to Martesana in Milan, for its “very interesting series of 12 mignon salati” (savory mignon pastries).
Marcello Rapisardi won for ‘Best Up and Coming Pastry Shop” with his Pasticceria & Dessert in Milan.
Below is the complete list of Italian pastry shops with the Tre Torte recognition (you can thank us later).
95 points
Pasticceria Veneto - Brescia
94 points
Dalmasso – Avigliana (Turin)
93 points
Biasetto - Padua
Maison Manilia - Montesano sulla Marcellana (Salerno)
92 points
Besuschio - Abbiategrasso (Milan)
Gino Fabbri Pasticcere - Bologna
Pasquale Marigliano - Nola (Naples)
Pasticceria Agricola Cilentana Pietro Macellaro - Piaggine (Salerno)
91 points
Acherer – Brunico/Bruneck (Bolzano)
Nuovo Mondo – Prato
90 points
Belle Hélène - Tarquinia (Viterbo)
Bompiani – Rome
Cortinovis – Ranica (Bergamo)
Cristalli di Zucchero – Rome
Dolce Reale – Montichiari (Brescia)
Ernst K Knam – Milan
Rinaldini – Rimini
Sal De Riso Costa d'Amalfi – Minori (Salerno)
Sciampagna - Marineo (Palermo)
Caffè Sicilia - Noto (Siracusa)
Antico Caffè Spinnato - Palermo
