Patrick Baillet, a baker in the Aÿ, a town outside of Reims in the Marne region, is this year’s winner of the contest for ‘best baguette tradition” in France, no doubt upsetting a lot of people who believe Paris is best.
Baillet, winner of the 8th running of the competition, was a first-time entrant; earlier in life he was apprenticed to a chocolate maker. Like the other contestants, he was required to submit 40 identical loaves, each measuring between 50 and 52.5 cm in length and weighing between 250 and 262.5 grams.
Exceeding the limits loses points, and using any ingredient other than flour and water, yeast and salt, disqualifies. The judges evaluate the baguettes based on five criteria: smell, appearance, crumbs, taste, and color.
Paris also has a local best baguette contest with an unusual prize. The winner gets to deliver baguettes every morning to the Presidential palace.
Image: the 2020 winning loaves
