The Mairie de Paris has just announced the winner of the Grand Prix de la Baguette 2008. This year's champion boulanger is Anis Bouabsa of Le Duc de la Chapelle in Montmartre. Bouabsa, who came in third in last year's baguette competition, wins not only honor and glory, but a prize of 4000€.The jury for the popular annual contest was a panel of professional bakers, members of the press, and experts in gastronomy. They performed a blind tasting of 100 baguettes, and cast their votes based on appearance, texture, aroma and taste.
Félicitations to Monsieur Bouabsa!
Le Duc de la Chapelle
32 rue Tristan Tzara
75018 Paris
Metro: Porte de la Chapelle
6 comments:
Once,when I was in Paris in August, it must have been the 15th, I was looking in vain for any bakery that night be open. I found a store that was open -- not a bakery but maybe an epicerie or drogerie, I don't remember -- and the man directed me to go down Cardinal Lemoine practically to the Quai, make a left, and there I would find a bakery that made "la meilleure baguette a Paris."
I figured that it wasn't worth the ten minutes there and back. Now I'm glad I didn't go, since it turns out he was wrong.
But come on -- the idea that out of the thousands of baguettes in Paris, one can be best?? The address alone is the tipoff that this is some kind of Dadaist spoof.
Jay,
The "Best Baguette" contest has been going strong since 1993.
Spoof? Mais pas du tout! I wouldn't pull your leg!
Here's another article about today's prize winner.
http://tinyurl.com/395md7
I think I'll head up there tomorrow for une tradition.
We've been planning a trip to Paris in the (hopefully) near future...and I am going to add this to my list!
CC,
Check for more listings of the top baguettes. There are lots of good ones and lots of mediocre ones out there! Une tradition is my favorite because it has more substance. This guy is numero uno this year, and maybe worth a trip just for fun. Basically I look to see wherever the lines are longest on Sunday mornings: that's where the good baguettes are!
much too far from home even if it"s "direct" en métro... I'm afraid no baker will ever win this price next to where I live. It's so difficult to find good bread here that miost of the time I buy it... in a supermarket... suh a shame :o(
Here's some follow-up in the news.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2008/gb20080319_780665.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories
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