Photo Album

Hello, my name is Rosli Cornaggia-Chavez. My family has owned and
operated an Italian scratch bakery since 1925. We have always prided
ourselves in presenting the highest quality goods to our customers.
One of our most popular products is our famous Italian bread, Panettoni.
As a child, I remember how I hated the work involved in making every
batch. My grandfather would stand next to me as we chopped and rolled the
fruit into the dough boasting that, "Good Italian Bread is no lazy mans
bread." Twenty years later, as a third generation baker, my family and I
continue to bake our Panettoni with the care and pride instilled in us by my
Grandfather. Below is a photo of three generations in the Cornaggia's
Bakery.
Currently, our Panettoni can be found in select Italian Markets in Central
and Northern California. Since each loaf is baked with flavor in mind, I am
confident you will be impressed by the quality. We bake and ship fresh
daily. We look forward to your business. Please return soon!

History of Panettoni:
Every Italian city seems to have a glorious legend that inevitably weaves two elements: love
and food. Milan is no exception. When it comes to the birth of panettone, there are
numerous legends, at least one is a love story.

At the end of the 15th century during the reign of the Court of Duke Ludovico in Milan,
Ughetto, the hawk breeder of the Duke, was enamored of Adalgisa, the beautiful daughter of
a baker. But as was often the case in those days, their love was forbidden. He could only
meet Adalgisa at night when she was baking bread at her father’s bakery. Unfortunately, the
bakery faced hard times when another bakery opened nearby.

But Ughetto had an idea. He would enrich Adalgisa’s bread by adding butter and sugar to
the dough. The bread was an instant success. Happy to see a smile reappear on his lover's
lips, he added candied citron and eggs to the mix. Then at Christmas, Ughetto added
raisins. His festive sweet bread was a huge hit and Ughetto and Adalgisa's dream came
true: They had a love free of obstacles and so they were married.

Another legend has it that Duke Ludovico in Milan had a sumptuous dinner banquet where
he invited illustrious guests. While the guests were savoring the decadent foods and wines,
the head cook had a dilemma. The cake he had decorated with flowers was collapsing.
Toni, a kitchen helper, quickly mixed together flour, yeast, butter, sugar, spices and candied
fruit. A moment before putting his cake into the oven, he saw raisins and added some to the
dough.

As the guests were enjoying themselves, a sweet smell started spreading through the
kitchen, drawing the head cook's attention. Since he had no other choice, he decided to
serve the guests Toni’s cupola-shaped cake. The guests praised the new cake and Duke
Ludovico asked the baker to come into the dining room. Toni entered into the room and was
greeted with great applause. The Duke asked, "What is your name?" and the baker
responded, “Toni.” Then a guest exclaimed, “Evviva il pan de Toni!” And that is how the
name “Panettone” was born.