Best Baguette (Le Grenier)

Weekly Special: Best Boulangerie in Paris

To kick off our “Best of†series, we are featuring a classic French staple: la baguette.

On the 22^nd of March, the 17^th Annual Best Baguette contest in Paris took place at la Chambre de Commerce des Boulangers.  Over 160 artisans flocked through the streets whisking fresh trails of rising dough through the moist, morning air to meet their 1:00pm deadline.  Four hours later, after great deliberation by the selective, expert jury, the winner was announced: M. Djibril Bodian, bread maker of Le Grenier à Pain Les Abbesses in the 18^th arrondissement walked away with the title, Lauréat du Grand Prix de la Meilleure Baguette 2010. Along with this prestigious title, M. Bodian receives 4000 euros and will become the official supplier to the Sarkozy quarters (Le Palais de l’ Élysée) for the year.

M. Bodian, 33 years old, came to France when he was 6 years old.  His father, also a boulanger, left Senegal in 1981 for the Parisian suburbs, where his family would join him two years later.  Growing up in the midst of flour wars and rolling pin duels, Bodian has finally risen to the top at his Montmartre bakery.

Being apart of the shop’s 20% increase in sales since the competition, I settled in line outside the shop’s doors around midday.  I must admit that this baguette was one of the best I have tasted in Paris.  From the moment it left the bread rack and cuddled in my hands, everything was perfect.  Taking my first grab-and-pull, I could see the steam rushing through the air holes inside escaping into the open air.  The traditional consistency of a French baguette was delightfully upheld with a crisp outer crust, and warm, soft, thin, veraciously cooked dough on the inside.  Coupled with some homemade fig confiture, this traditional baguette (1.10e) makes for a wonderful springtime morning snack!

I also indulged myself in the tartelette au chocolat (2.90e) – soft semi-rich chocolate cake and chocolate mousse layers sandwiched between smooth, creamy chocolate icing and a hard chocolate-laced crust – satisfying a chocolate fiend’s daily fix.

Also, Le Grenier à Pain Saint Charles in the 15^th carries some of the best baguettes and pre-made sandwiches I’ve had in Paris as well (134 Rue Saint Charles, 75015)!

Location:

Le Grenier à Pain, Les Abbesses

38 rue Abbesses, 75018

Hours: 7:30am-8:00pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Website: http://www.legrenierapain.com/

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s review of a Top 10 winner in the competition!

1^st Djibril Bodian (Le Grenier à Pain Abbesses), 38 rue des Abbesses, 75018

2^nd Daniel Pouphary, (La Parisienne) 28 rue Monge, 75005

3^rd Dominique Saibron, 77 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 75014

4^th Yves Desgranges, 6 Rue de Passy, 75016,

5^th Philippe Gosselin, 258 Boulevard Saint-Germain

6^th Xavier Doué, 163 avenue de versaillais, 75016

7^th Boulangerie Lohézic (Sébastien and Sylvie Lohézic) 31, rue Guersant, 75017
8^th Boulangerie d’Isa (Michel Chorin, Retrodore) 127 Rue de Charenton 75012

9^th Mohamed Zerzour, 50 rue de l’Amiral Roussin 75015

10^th SARL Zerzour II, 324, rue Lecourbe, 75014