If you want to know where Emmanuel Macron’s breakfast loaf will be coming from for the next year, the answer is Boulangerie Brun, in the 13e arrondissement. Baker Sami Bouattour won this year’s best baguette honor, and with it comes an order for bread for the Elysee Palace daily for a year.
That’s not Bouattour’s only reward. He also gets €4000, and probably a year-long line outside, waiting to buy the ‘top loaf.’ He’ll receive his award Saturday, from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, at the start of the annual Fête du Pain (Bread festival), which is being held at Notre Dame Cathedral.
There were 200 entries in the contest. All baguettes entered had to measure between 55 and 65 centimetres, weigh 250 to 300 grams, and have 18 grams or less of salt per kilo of flour. They were then judged on criteria including smell, taste, appearance, crispiness and how well-baked they were.
There may be some magic in it for the other members of the top ten, listed below.
1. Boulangerie Brun, 193 rue de Tolbiac (13th arrondissement).
2. Aux Délices de Glacière, 90 boulevard Auguste Blanqui (13th).
3. Boulangerie Dupain, 20 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire (11th).
4. Boulangerie Gontran Cherrier, 22 rue de Caulaincourt (18th).
5. Boulangerie Bichon, 2 rue Cail (10th).
6. Les Gourmandises d’Eiffel, 187 rue de Grenelle (7th).
7. Boulangerie 2M, 215 boulevard Raspail (14th).
8. Le Grenier à Pain, 52 avenue d’Italie (13th).
9. Boulangerie Tembely, 33 rue Myrha (18th).
10. Maison Hubert Trévisse, 6 rue de Trévise (9th).
