The best baguette in all of France comes from Citers in the Haute-Saône department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
The 10th annual edition of the national competition to find the Best French Traditional Baguette, which is organised by the Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie et Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Française, took place in the square in front of Notre- Dame Cathedral in Paris during the Fête du Pain.
Baker Nicolas Ledoux, of Le Doux Pain in Citers, just south of Luxeuil-les-Bains, took first place, followed by Benjamin Dury, from Aytré (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) in second, and Frédéric Garchitorena, from Pau (Nouvelle- Aquitaine) in third.
This annual celebration of all things bread has become even more special since the baguette was added to Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
This year’s baguette competition saw 21 bakers from around France and its overseas territories make 40 traditional baguettes (50cm and 250g in weight) in six hours. They were judged by a jury of baking and gastronomy professionals on six criteria: appearance, crust, aroma, crumb, taste and chew.
Ledoux says the number of customers at his bakery has already increased since the competition. So if you’re in the area while visiting France, be sure to treat yourself to a delicious baguette or two!
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