Panettone croutons add texture and flavour to winter salads – of your bread has gone stale, simply lightly gril and scatter over your salad leaves with fresh figs, blue cheese and a glug of good dressing. Nicola first explored cooking as a career when training at Leiths, before spending the next decade in Finance. However... after a stage as a chef at a London Michelin-starred restaurant, Nicola saw the incredible ingredients available only to chefs. And wanted access to them herself. So Sous Chef was born.

Traditionally, Italians eat a slice of panettone at breakfast. Slice yourself a pillowy piece of panettone and enjoy with a strong espresso first thing, for the true Italian experience. Origin: Make sure your panettone comes from Italy. This is the first indicator of quality. Cheap panettone can be made across Europe, and in the U.S., the majority are produced in Brazil. There have been many efforts made to obtain Protected Designation of Origin and Denominazione di Origine Controllata, like Parmesan and balsamic vinegar, but as yet, nothing has occurred.We take panettone very seriously at Sous Chef and we believe we hold the best selection of brands in the UK, and perhaps even in Europe.

One of the best recipes for panettone that’s past its best is in bread and butter pudding. Layer up big slices of the bread, cover in custard and bake for a fruity, rich gorgeous pud. Roll the dough into a ball and place into the prepared tin. Cover and leave it to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled in size again. Weight: Good quality panettone is usually heavier than its cheaper counterparts. This is down to it containing more ingredients and moisture within the dough. Inferior panettone can often be drier and crumblier.Try layering up your panettone in a tiramisu or trifle. The bread is particularly tasty soaked in brandy, masala or other sweet wines. Choosing the best panettone boils down to a mix of personal preference, brand reputation, and a keen eye for quality. Whether you're enjoying a slice from Italy's finest bakeries or experimenting with supermarket brands, the journey to find your perfect panettone is bound to be delicious.