Meet Xavier Netry: Winner of the 2024 Best Baguette in Paris Award
Paris is renowned for its culinary delights, and at the heart of its gastronomic traditions lies the beloved baguette. Each year, the Grand Prix for traditional French baguettes of the City of Paris crowns the best baguette in the capital, and in 2024, this prestigious award goes to Xavier Netry of Utopie bakery.
Xavier Netry: The Artisan Behind Paris’s Best Baguette
On April 25th, 2024, Xavier Netry experienced a mix of excitement and pressure as he prepared his baguettes at dawn. As the head baker at Utopie, located at 20 Rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud in the 11th arrondissement, Xavier meticulously crafted and selected the finest baguette to present at Quai d’Anjou for the annual competition. Competing against 173 entries, his dedication paid off as his baguette won the highest honor.
“Absolutely thrilled and very proud, I am over the moon! It’s a highly coveted prize,” exclaimed a jubilant Xavier Netry.
Utopie Bakery: A Culinary Gem
Founded in 2013 by Erwan Blanche and Sébastien Bruno, Utopie bakery is celebrated for its inventive pastries and warm ambiance. Nestled at the corner of Rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud and Rue du Grand-Prieuré, its gray storefront and cozy terrace have long been a favorite among locals. Now, with Xavier’s award-winning baguette, the bakery’s fame extends throughout Paris.
The Winning Baguette
Xavier’s baguette achieved a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in all competition criteria: quality of baking, taste, texture of the crumb, alveolation, and appearance. The judging panel, chaired by Nicolas Bonnet-Oulaldj, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of commerce and crafts, included representatives from major professional federations, journalists, and six randomly selected Parisians.
Recognition and Rewards
For its triumph, Utopie bakery receives a prize of 4,000 euros and the esteemed opportunity to supply the Élysée Palace for a year. The Mayor of Paris will officially present the award on May 7th during the Bread Festival. In a heartwarming gesture, the uneaten baguettes from the competition were donated to La Chorba association, aiding homeless individuals.
Key Figures
- 173: The number of baguettes entered in the 2024 competition.
- 1203: The number of bakeries in Paris, according to a 2023 APUR study.
- 92.5%: The percentage of Parisians living within five minutes of a bakery.
Winning the ‘Best Baguette in Paris’ award is a testament to Xavier Netry’s exceptional skills and dedication to his craft. It also shines a spotlight on Utopie bakery, a place where tradition meets innovation. As Paris continues to celebrate its culinary heritage, the story of Xavier and Utopie bakery inspires both locals and visitors to savor the unique flavors of this remarkable city.
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