We couldn't have imagined, when back in the 80's as our bakery made its first steps in an artiginal laboratory near Padova, other than we would one day move our laboratories to the prison. And yet thats what happened. At first the cooperatives which today are part of  the consorzio sociale Rebus happily worked on their own. Then, at the begining of the 90s, the first to step into the House of Detention Due Palazzi of padova was the cooperativa Giotto, which at first cured the green areas. At first they were given a work contract which never began, then a gardening corse... until it was noticed that in the prison there were lots of work shops completely empty, and the prisoners had nothing to do from morning till night.

Thats how thanks to help from many good willing people (directors who have changed in the years, the officers, the operaters, magistates, councils, companies...) little by little in those dusty work shops the cob webs were replaced with machinery, computers,tools.  Near the kitchens of the prison they began to pepare a small bakery  workshop, which brought with it a secret traditional recipe for an easter colomba(cake), and christmas panetone, inherited from the old bakery masters.
Recipes of great value, They are delicious those panettone which come out from behind bars, the people buy them for thier quality,
maybe without knowing who made them.. But its thanks to their goodness that they won many awards The first being the Silver plate from Accademia italiana della cucina, then follows an ackowledgement from Gambero Rosso, the presenze at public events such as Golosaria and G8 of Aquila with the great of the earth in 2008. Great gastonomy and bakers likeDavide Paolini and Albert Adrià come to the prison to personaly see the mixing and smell the scent  of these extrodinary cakes.
Whats more, a most particular visit in 2008 to enter the prison was the memorabilia of St. Anthony who lived in he X11 century- he was particularly dedicated to the problems of the prisoners. A visit which left a mark on a lot of people. And which leaves a mark in the production of our bakery, with the Noce del Santo. (Prize "Dino Villani" 2010) began the start of a new series of cakes dedicated to St. Anthony, inspired in the middle ages and sold in the church in padova.

Today, the consorzio Rebus continues to employ over  one hundred prisoners in various areas of the company, meccanics, leather goods, computer studies, book binding, and call center.The kitchen, once left to prisoners not very well prepared has become a restore spot and catering for the outside and the bakery takes orders from all over the world using the web site www.idolcidigiotto.it. Thats why today all over the world you can taste these panettoni, colombe, and biscuits twice as good.
Work Crossing Coop. Soc. p.a.
Via Forcellini 172 - 35128 Padova PD
C.F./N.Iscr.R.I. di Padova: 00952040293
P.IVA: 03264730288
Copyright © 2011 Work Crossing Coop. Soc. p.a. All rights reserved.