Marie Vay, winner best apprentice bakery 2021Société nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
A frontrunner is a horse that often comes out on top at the races, and who runs best while in the lead. Because of its cultural status and the technical qualities required to make it, the traditional French baguette is the subject of numerous professional competitions.
Franck Thomasse Président des boulangers du Grand-ParisSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
The Grand Prix
The Boulangers du Grand-Paris (Bakers of Greater Paris) trade union, and their president, Franck Thomasse, are proud of their baguettes. The baguette was invented in Paris. Like the flan pâtissier (another baker's specialty), it is a product of its birthplace—Paris is in its DNA.
The Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris, takes place every year. In this contest, bakers from across the French capital come together in a show of exceptional expertise.
Baguette à Notre-DameSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
Each year, the result of the The Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris is revealed on the forecourt of the Notre-Dame cathedral, in the heart of the capital.
Best baguette National competitionSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
Concours National de La Baguette
Although the baguette is an urban invention, over 100 years it has won the hearts of the French countryside and the nation as a whole. Every year, people across France await the results of the Concours National de La Baguette de Tradition Française (The National Best Traditional French Baguette Competition), and root for the bakers from their region who have come to demonstrate their expertise.
Lauréats du Concours National avec Brigitte MacronSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
In France, the traditional French baguette is practically a matter of state significance. In October 2021, Brigitte Macron, France's first lady, was the one handing out the prizes to the winners of the national baguette competition.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
The 2019 winner, Mehdi Courgey (25) from Morteau in eastern France hands the 2021 trophy over to Valentin Lecoeur, (50) from Agneaux in the northwestern Normandy region. After a year of interruption due to Covid, the competition travels across the country from East to West.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
In 2017 and 2018, the title of best traditional French baguette was awarded to people from islands beyond the French mainland. In 2017, Mei Narusawa, a young Japanese baker moved to France out of her passion for bread, which won her fame and recognition in the country.
In 2018, she passed the trophy onto Laurent Encatassamy, a baker from Réunion island.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
Bakery's worldcup
Every other year, 12 teams of bakers from every continent and every culture come to the Salon Europain in Paris in an attempt to take home the grand prize.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
Christian Vabret MOF-Boulanger is an instructor, organizer, and promoter for the World Cup. You could say that he carries the competition on his shoulders, surrounded by his team and his trusted partners.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
The World Cup de Boulangerie final is a coming together for the greatest bakers in the world, whether they're former winners or future champions. Here, Christophe Debersee, the 2008 winner, reminisces fondly on his World Cup.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
While the candidates present a number of bakes—bread loaves, pastries and artistic pieces—the baguette remains an essential part.
Ten years ago, to avoid giving the French participants too much of an advantage, the organizational committee proposed removing the baguette from the competition.
La répétition du gesteSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
Whether it's in their kitchen or on the stage in front of the audience, bakers can only make the perfect baguette if they get the timings for the rise and the bake down to a T. At major events, the bakers must put everything else to one side in order to be perfectly in sync with their baguettes.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
On the 30th anniversary of the World Cup, Taiwan's victory over the European nations was a demonstration of the phenomenal progress made by nations where bread did not previously feature in the food culture and popular tradition.
Driven by the interest of the Japanese and then the Chinese, the baguette is now highly sought-after and appreciated in the Far East.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
The World Cup final gathers the world's best bakers together in Paris. Their goal? To bring the trophy back home and show the whole world that good bread doesn't just belong to the French.
Bakery's world cupSociété nationale des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France
All united in the love of good bread. 12 nations compete, countries with very different cultures but with very similar baking techniques. Good bread is universal.
Vincent Ferniot
