Gift

Italian cakes to sweeten the whole Christmas season

Cake, Christmas, Gift, Product / By
Gilber Panettone

Pandoro, Panettone or Panforte? Italian Christmas cakes to taste all through December.

Italians will be gifting their Pandoro, Panettone and Panforte all through December, eating generous slices of Pandoro with cafe latte for breakfast or a piece of Panettone mid-afternoon with a glass of Vin Santo.

The treats taste like cakes, but are actually classed as sweet breads (‘pane’ means bread in Italian). Pandoro and Panforte are made from dough rather than cake batter so no need to feel guilty about eating them at any time of day. They’ve become increasingly popular in UK supermarkets over the years, but if you’ve yet to try an artisanal version like the ones we stock in Amaretto then do give it a shot – they are quite different to the mass produced versions. Crafted with picky customers in mind, they have to stand out amongst a very crowded Italian market so they really are something special. But which to choose?

Pandoro: a melt in the mouth classic

Our favourite of the three treats is without doubt the Pandoro (‘bread of gold’). The tall star-shaped cake is melt in the mouth, light yet in no way dry. It gets its colour from egg yolk, and its appeal lies in its simplicity. Pandoro originally hails from Verona and is a sweet lacy treat covered with icing sugar; delicious.

Panettone: shake it up

For many, the taste of Italian Christmas is the domed Panettone (large bread). The candied treat is wrapped in that brown and gold paper from Milan and can be varied (unlike Pandoro which is always plain). This year we have a variety of flavours in stock: pistachio, chocolate, orange; they are all delicious. We also have a great gluten-free version.

Panforte: great for after dinner

The small round, harder discs of fruit and nuts wrapped in yellow or pink paper are Panforte (‘strong bread’). They hail from Sienna (like the light egg-white, almond and vanilla cakes Ricciarelli) but are eaten all over Italy at Christmas time, and for good reason. They  are filled with Christmasy spices and honey and are slightly chewy. Melt in the mouth sugar paper gives an extra pop; addictive. We also have a gluten-free free Panforte that is almost more delicious than the original. All in all this little cake is  great for an after dinner treat, and goes very well with Christmas spirits and wine – lovely after a cheese plate.

Santangelo Pandoro
Panettone
Panforte di Siena in Amaretto Deli

All of the above cakes are wrapped in card in Christmassy colours. They make a lovely addition for under the tree, to a hamper, or just to eat throughout the Yule-tide season – alongside your classic mince pie of course.

Italian cakes to sweeten the whole Christmas season Read More »

Craft your own Hamper

Cheese, Christmas, Christmas food, Christmas hamper, Deli food, food delivery, Food hamper, Gift, Hamper / By
Large Gift Hamper Amaretto Deli

Looking for a Christmas gift? Send a delicious Amaretto hamper made up exactly as you want it; with no extra mark-up.

Buy & deliver online (NR1-7) this Christmas, or come in and browse our shop at 16 St Georges Street, Norwich.

Here at Amaretto deli we have a shop full of goods that are perfect for Christmas gift hampers. We find most people are keen to make up their own and so we have been running a successful personalised gift hamper service for some years now. The great thing about this gift is that it looks fantastic and you only pay for the food that you choose and the hamper materials (£4.95). There is no extra mark-up. We’ve had orders for hampers in Norwich from people across the world.

Mixed hamper goodies
Nest of cheese
Mixed goods in basket
Christmas selection

A personalised Christmas hamper delivery service that’s easy to use.

Prices start at ten pounds, and you can spend as much as you want! Orders range from a small nest of cheese, to a wide-ranging array of food; it really is up to you. Once you’ve chosen your food we’ll lay out your gifts on rafia and dress the hamper so that you have a present that looks as good as it tastes, and that is unique. If you’re buying online you can either collect the hamper yourself or, more usual, have it sent to any address in Norwich NR1-NR7. (Do feel free to write a note for us to include in the hamper at the check-out stage; most people do.)

If you come in to the shop we can happily advise on popular Christmas hamper ingredients for loved ones of varying tastes. If you’re buying online, then do just browse our online shop and the collections there.  Most people order a mix of dry and fresh ingredients. The fat Gordal olives are a favourite, finocchiona (fennel) salami, and fontina cheese, and of course our popular gift bags of cakes.

Why Amaretto?

We are a small award-winning Italian deli in Norwich, run by Fabrizio Fiaschi from Tuscany. When you browse the shop you’ll find Christmas gifts from the best suppliers at prices that don’t cost the earth. Your gift is put together and delivered with a personal touch, and, like any well-stocked bottega in Italy, quality is key. For example we have exclusive coffee from Vinci, olive oil from Fab’s cousin in Tuscay, and the best Italian cheese and olives. We also have a whole range of Italian Christmas goods in stock across the Christmas season: you can read more about those goodies on our special Christmas food blog.

Amaretto Deli, Norwich
Getting the food ready
Fab serving lunch
Our Christmas table
Cake tier: who can resist?

Customers have told us that they find the online shopping process easy and quick, but feel free to email us if you have any questions at all.

Buy a hamper in our online shop.

Visit us at 16 St Georges Street.

Or do browse some of our Christmas food below…

Craft your own Hamper Read More »

Irresistible Italian Christmas Gifts

Christmas, Christmas food, Christmas hamper, Deli food, Gift / By
Panettone , Amaretto Deli, Norwich

Christmas Gifts for Foodies: Cakes, chocolates, hampers and stocking fillers available now

If you’re looking for some tasty, original and good looking gifts, why not browse our Christmas food. Each year Fabrizio trawls his Italian artisanal suppliers to find the most delicious treats wrapped in paper and ribbon and they make for lovely presents. We have lots of chocolates and traditional sweets for you to choose from, led by the Italian classics: Ricciarelli (almond cookies), Panettone, Panforte and Pandoro (Christmas cakes), Torrone (nougat) and Cantuccini (hard almond biscuits perfect for dipping in alcohol!).

Italian Christmas Cakes

Italians will be gifting their cakes all through December, eating generous slices for breakfast, or mid-afternoon with a glass of Vin Santo. The cakes have become increasingly popular in UK supermarkets over the years, however if you’ve never tried an artisanal cake, we advise you to give it a try. They’re a proper treat and they look great too.

Our favourite is a good Pandoro (‘bread of gold’). For many though, the taste of Christmas is Panettone (large bread), the candied treat wrapped in that brown and gold paper – yet what about the round, hard discs of fruit and nuts; Panforte (‘strong bread’). Each has their own merits.

Personalised Gift Hampers

All this Christmas food looks great in a hamper. We’ve been running a successful personalised gift hamper service for some years now. You only pay for the food that you choose and the hamper materials (£4.95). There is no extra mark-up. Once you’ve chosen your food we’ll lay out your gifts on rafia and dress the hamper so that you have a present that is as unique as the recipient.

Mixed hamper goodies
Mixed hamper goodies
Italian nougat, Amaretto Deli, Norwich
Italian nougat
Nest of cheese
Amaretto Christmas Hamper
Large Christmas hamper
Sweet Christmas gift hamper, Amaretto Deli, Norwich
Sweet Christmas hamper
Choose from any of the items in our shop; each hamper is unique…

Christmas Gifts for Delivery

All these gifts and hampers are available now in our shop on St George’s Street, Norwich or in our online shop; we can deliver anywhere in NR1-7. Those wishing to order in advance of Christmas, do just leave a note to that effect in the delivery note section of the online shop. Find out more about our Christmas Hampers and how to order them here.

Please note we do of course have a wide selection of fresh deli food perfect for Christmas too: also available to include in hampers and for delivery. Why not scroll through the selection of food in our online shop or come down to St Georges Street and see what you fancy.

Happy browsing and see you soon.

Team Amaretto

Irresistible Italian Christmas Gifts Read More »

Easter Hampers, Colomba Cakes & Easter Eggs in stock now

Cake, Easter, food delivery, Food hamper, Gift, Hamper / By
Easter Table, Amaretto Deli, Norwich

Did you know we make bespoke Easter Hampers? Filled with the gifts of your choice, and then only £3.50 extra for the hamper materials, they make for a lovely gift. Do come in and ask in the shop if you’d like one made up, or you can also order online and have the Easter hamper delivered in Norwich, NR1-NR7. It’s the perfect gift if you live further afield.

Our Classic Colomba Cake is lovely in a hamper, or on it’s own. It’s been around since the 12th century in Italy, its dove shape symbolising peace. Made by our first class panettone makers Gilber, in Turin, the cake really does melt in the mouth. Gilber use quadruple leavened dough, candied orange peel and a sweet hazelnut and sugar glaze to make this Italian classic. Similar in taste and texture to the panettone, the Colomba is lighter and sweeter than it’s cousin. Understandably, it’s a cake that’s really beginning to gain in popularity in the UK.

Italian Easter Gifts on our Norwich shop table. Perfect for an Easter Hamper.
Mothers Day Gift Hamper
La Perla 70% dark chocolate truffles

If you’ve ever been to Italy at Easter time, you’ll know their Easter eggs are a spectable in themselves. Large, and made with high quality chocolate, they are wrapped in bright cellophane that explodes at the top. In all, a particularly good-looking, delicious present with no plastic shell. (Please note our eggs are not currently available online).

We also have plenty of Italian chocolates and biscuits, as well as plenty of other deli food that works really well in mixed Easter Hampers. So, do browse our online shop or come down to the deli at 16, St Georges Street and see what works for you.

Easter Hampers, Colomba Cakes & Easter Eggs in stock now Read More »

Create a Valentine’s Day Gift Hamper to Share

Cake, Cheese, Food hamper, Gift, Hamper / By
Valentine's Day hamper

Why not choose some good food and celebrate in style by sending a bespoke Valentine’s Day Gift Hamper this year. It’s a great gift for your loved one but February 14th doesn’t have to be for one special set of love-birds only; if you know someone else who needs a pick-me-up some good food could be just the ticket. We offer a bespoke hamper service either online or in our shop. You just pay £3.50 for the hamper basket and then choose any of the food in our shop in order to craft a gift that is perfectly suited to you and your loved one.

Make up your own Valentine’s Day Hamper

If you want to order online, let us know where you’d like us to deliver (in NR1-NR7), write a note in the special delivery note slot online, and we will do the rest. Otherwise come down to our St George’s Street shop and you can pick out the food yourself.

Most people go for a mix of sweet and savoury gifts in their Valentine’s Day Hamper, but the choice is yours; you can make a picnic hamper, a sweet hamper, a savoury hamper… We have a range of antipasti: olives, our Italian cheese and hams; that make up a lovely hamper. For those looking for a full three course meal, why not choose some speciality pasta, and a rich tasty sauce. Sweeten things up with our special gift bags: the chocolate brownies are a particular favourite. We also have lots of specilaity chocolates to choose from; Italian favourites that are lovely in a sweet gift hamper. Top it all off with some Leonardo Cafe.

Once your order is in we place it all in a raffia basket, tie with ribbons and bows. So do browse the online shop and get in touch. Remember to include a gift message in your hamper at the checkout delivery note, (which we’ll hand write for you). Otherwise, see you at 16, St Georges Street.

Ciao ciao and buon appetito.

Create a Valentine’s Day Gift Hamper to Share Read More »