Michelin Names Their Favorite Breadbakers in Paris

What you're looking at are some of the 143 traditional baguettes that were brought to the bakers' union on Ile Saint-Louis in Paris to be judged for this year's 'best baguette in Paris' award.  According to a French reporter writing for Via Michelin, 14 of the breads were disqualified for not meeting the standards for a baguette, which specify that the bread must be 70 cm long (27 1/2 inches), weigh between 250 and 300 grams (about 9 to 10 ounces) and contain additive-free wheat flour, water and salt. 

As you'll see when you read the article, the judges are as passionate about bread as the bakers (in some cases, far more passionate) and it's a good thing they take their jobs so seriously because the winner of the Meilleur Baguette de Paris is charged with supplying the daily loaf for the President of France (and, we assume, his gorgeous new wife, Carla Bruni). 

This year's winner, 28-year-old Anis Bouabsa, has a bakery in Montmartre and said he would need to hire someone to make the morning deliveries to Elysee Palace, proving that being honored can be both flattering and expensive.  Not surprisingly, Bouabsa is included in the list of Paris's Ten Best Bread Bakeries that Via Michelin just published.

I'm going to check out all the bakeries when I've got some time - and the energy to bicycle all over Paris, since not even one of the ten best is in my neighborhood.  In fact, there isn't even one in my whole arrondissement.  Zut!

Comments

[Anna C. S.]

Honestly, I could worship good bread. You don't get a lot of it here in Pittsburgh, but every time I manage to find some it's wonderful. Though probably still not near the quality of Bouabsa's bread. And at 28 - That sounds fairly young to me.

[laura @ cucina testa rossa]

oh HOW could they overlook the fabulous Pascal Pinaud and his delicious delicious delicious "tradi grains" :( c'est une catastrophe!

[Maria]

A bike ride around Paris sounds fabulous...especially to visit bakeries! You can work off the calories:)

[Louisa Chu]

Thanks so much for posting this Dorie. I love that the article's reporter wrote that Steven Kaplan threatened to storm out of the tasting! I wonder if he did so wielding his switchblade-like bread knife? ;)