Try the Best Baguette in Paris? We have and the French President Certainly Will

Recently, Paris has awarded its “Grand Prix de la baguette de tradition française 2021” to an artisan baker in the 12th arrondissement in Paris. This Grand Prix de la baguette is an annual competition that determines the best baguette in the Paris region, so almost all of the Parisian bakers participate every year. To these bakers, this reward is as huge as Michelin stars. But just like winning a Michelin star, it is just as hard to win this competition.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE WINNER

Best Parisian Baguette 2021

For this 28th Grand Prix, 173 baguettes had joined the competition, but there was only one winner. The winner, an artisanal baker whose bakery’s called Les Boulangers de Reuilly, will not only be bringing 4000 euros home, he will also be providing bread to the Elysée Palace for a whole year. So yes, the French President will be eating the baguettes he makes every day.

“IT WAS A SURPRISE!”

Les Boulangers de Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement in Paris

“I have been baking my whole life. My father was a baker and I was almost born in the bakery. ” said the 42 years old winner. Winning the competition was a surprise to him, because there were so many baguettes joining the competition. He was not sure if he was gonna win, as it was not easy to stand out. The jury, composed of the deputy mayor of Paris, the professionals, the 2020 winner, and 6 Parisians, were required to choose the best baguette based on the following criteria:

1. the appearance of a baguette

2. the baking quality

3. the firmness of the crumb

4. the smell

5. the taste

WE WENT TRY IT OUT OURSELVES

The little air bubbles inside a baguette are one of the criteria that determine a good baguette

It’s not every day that we can taste what the Elysée Palace put in their daily menu, so we went out on a mission to try this 2021 best baguette. It did have a crisp crust and the intense flavour of wheat. The colour, close to coffee/golden, was what we were expecting. When we ripped it off, we could see the little bubbles that gave the baguette its lovely softness. If you compare the mass-produced baguettes, you can certainly taste the differences.

Of course, there were so many baguettes to be tasted. The judges would not be finishing them all. So at the end of the competition, the unconsumed baguettes were donated to the homeless. Nothing’s wasted!

P.s. love French food? Here is a street market in Paris for you :)