Milan, Italy.
32 ‘colombe’ (doves) coming for 12 Italian regions, have been the protagosts of the amazing ‘2022 Regina Colomba contest’ an annual traditional Easter cake competition, created by Stanislao Porzio.
Are you familiar with this traditional sweet tribute to peace?
Here a little history.
Colomba di Pasqua is a traditional Italian Easter yeast bread. It is shaped like a dove (colomba in Italian), the symbol of peace and resurrection. The birth of the colomba dates back to the year 572, when King Alboin, after three years of siege, captured the town of Pavia in northern Italy on Easter Eve. Evading the guards, an old baker was able to reach the king and offer a dove-shaped leavened bread. “Alboin,” he said, “I offer this symbol, as a tribute to peace, on Easter day.” The sweet scent and the convincing message persuaded the king to give a promise of peace.
That’s the legend.
The dove we know today has a more recent origin and, I should say, a more prosaic version of the history.
The shape of the sweet dove is a choice dictated not only by symbolism, but also to welcome the arrival of the spring. The is cake was (and still is) a huge success. It is typically soft, fragrant outside and moist inside, naturally leavened for a whole night, then filled with a mixture of flour, sugar, eggs and candied orange.,
After a long rest, the dough is portioned in different sizes for an additional four hours of leavening, then covered with almonds and sugar.
After baking, it must rest at least seven hours before it is finally packaged.
The 2022 Regina Colomba event, held yesterday in Milan celebrated the tradition, while 32 ‘colombe’ were presented, photographed, smelled, tasted and finally scored by a panel of professional jury (including me. yeah)).
And the winners are…
Yes! Two colombe scored the first position…
That is a very good news. since this Easter we will have a double treat!
Enjoy this pleasantly soft, amazingly spongy and intensely fragrant sweet message of peace!
COLOMBA RUSTICHELLA , SWEET DOVE OR CHIC JEWEL?
The elegant decorative silky foulard and the jewel pin give an exclusive and unique look to this confectionery speciality by Rustichella d’Abruzzo. The colomba Gioiello is an exclusive proposal to taste in family and is perfect for an original Easter gift. Available in pink, yellow and light blue package.
Typical Easter confectionery speciality, symbol of peace and purity, the colomba is a naturally leavened cake, enriched with candied fruits and a crispy coating of glaze and almonds. Originally from Northern Italy, well-known and loved throughout all Italy, the colomba is the delicious dessert that ends an Easter lunch with family, soft and perfumed from the very first taste. 
Made with a soft “Pasta Madre” (sourdough) obtained through a controlled artisan production process, in order to have its natural leavening, Rustichella d’Abruzzo colomba is presented with a pink, yellow or light blue flower-themed package, warm-looking and appealing, with really unique fragrance, lightness and taste.
INFO
after three years of siege, captured the town of Pavia in northern Italy on Easter Eve. Evading the guards, an old baker was able to reach the king and offer a dove-shaped leavened bread. “Alboin,” he said, “I offer this symbol, as a tribute to peace, on Easter day.” The sweet scent and the convincing message persuaded the king to give a promise of peace. That’s the legend.The dove we know today has a more recent origin and, I should say, a more prosaic version of the history. In the early 1
930s the Milanese company Motta specialized in panettone, a cake produced only for Christmas. Unhappy to have their machinery unused for many months, Motta decided to package a similar product to be sold during the Easter holidays.
After a long rest, the dough is portioned in different sizes for an additional four hours of leavening, then covered with almonds, sugar and amaretto. Since its birth, the colomba was enriched by many variations and a variety of different icings and fillings.
urs before it is finally packaged.
The colomba could mean not only a peace message but also solidarity. Like in the case of the artisanal Colomba Arcobaleno (Rainbow Dove) created by the Milanese sommelier Diana Zerilli who supports gay rights and gay issues in Italy, such as marriage and child adoption. Her colomba is made with Sicilian Avola almonds, Calabria cedar, kneaded with Vernaccia Mormoraia, a traditional white wine from San Gimignano,
nontouristytourist.com 