Bring the magic of the Christmas Market home

Our next stop is rather special. At Selfridges we’re rather partial to our range of Selfridges Selection panettones, including the Moscato Panettone (visit us in store to browse our extensive range of panettones), which is created by the Perbellini family who have been baking Italian treats for over a hundred years in Verona, Italy. We spoke to Laura Perbellini, who runs the bakery with her father, brother and husband, to find out what makes this treat so delizioso…

Are Panettones really on every Italian table at Christmas?

“Since the 1700s, the Panettone has been a traditional staple on every Italian table at Christmas, or for those who don’t enjoy candied fruits, there’s the Pandoro [a plain sweet bread], too. At Perbellini, we also make an Offella d’Oro (a soft and light cake), which is our own creation. It was first made by Giovanni Battista Perbellini, in 1891, and we have kept to his recipe since – it’s our most requested cake for Christmas!”

Tell us about your recipes.

“We dabble with traditional recipes and have recently extended our range with some alternative products, such as the Orange and Chocolate Panettone or the Ginger, Lemon and Chocolate Panettone (which are available in store at Selfridges London). ”

Any fun ways to serve panettone?

“We recommend it being eaten alongside ice cream or topped with a Zabaglione sauce (a sweet Italian custard). You could also use it as a base for trifles or in a bread-and-butter pudding.”

Imagine the tantalising smell of freshly baked gingerbread wafting through the air – isn’t it delicious? We couldn’t not dedicate one of our virtual stalls to this festive treat. And who better to talk to about decorating gingerbread than Paula Silva-Lopes, who is an icer for London’s finest biscuit-and-gingerbread makers, The Biscuiteers…

Why is Christmas and gingerbread the perfect combination?

“All spice is such a Christmassy flavour – it’s in lots of other Christmas foods, like mince pies and mulled wine. But the best way to enjoy it is obviously in gingerbread!”

Why is decorating gingerbread such a great tradition?

“Because it’s so much fun – something that’s more important than ever this Christmas when we’re all looking for festive things to do at home. You can get creative with designs and decorate gingerbread however you wish at Christmas. It’s also perfect for all ages, it’s a great date-night activity for couples, something to do with friends, or an activity to do with kids, too.”

Now that you have a full belly and your Christmas tree is sorted, there’s just one last stop to make… With the help of our Home Buyer, Eleanor Gregory, you can pick up all the on-trend (and earth-conscious) decs you need for your tree and home.

What decorations trends did you discover this year?

“It’s certainly been a year for getting creative! Oversized paper decorations, ribbons tied into bows and Christmas crackers nestled into branches are all really popular. There also continues to be a trend for dressing the entire house, from fireplace garlands to wreaths for the front door and staircase decorations. The key colours are deep midnight blue and silver, and natural woods and greens, too.”

How do you decide which decorations are right for Selfridges each year?

“The team spends months researching, looking at materials and colour trends, and other trends we see in interior design. A big guiding factor on what we choose to stock is sustainability; we are constantly looking at how we can improve our ranges, for example looking at packaging and longevity of products. Our reusable Christmas crackers are my favourite find this year.”

Do you have any tips on decorating for Christmas?

“Choose what you love and don’t worry too much about a scheme. If you love it and it makes you happy – use it! To help your home look more ‘together’, you can use an anchor colour or decoration throughout your home and just have fun with the rest.”