The French Stick

Nothing's More French than a Warm Baguette!

The baguette (French Stick or as the French more commonly call it, "just plain bread") is as popular and as recognizable as the Eiffel Tower and the beret even though it is actually a derivative of a bread developed in Vienna in the middle of the 19th century.

A 33 year old Senegalese man named Djibril Bodian beat out 160 other Parisian bakers to win the: "Millieure Baquette de Paris" (the Best Baguette in Paris) contest last week. Djibril was born in Senegal but he is 100% French. He moved to France with his family when he was six. His father is also a baker. When the family moved to France, papa Bodian set up a bakery in Saint Denis, an immigrant suburb of Paris.

Djibril, following in his father's footsteps, is a baker at Le Grenier a Pain,located at 33 rue des Abbesses, Montmartre 18th Arrondissement. Djibril is no stranger to the contest, in fact this is his 3rd attempt. He placed 4th in 2007 and 5th in 2009.


The contest has very strict rules and many baguettes are eliminated. The baguettes are judged on taste, smell, crustiness, appearance and quality of air holes. The rules state that the baguette must be made from only flour, water and salt. 


Today's baguette was invented or better yet, Re-invented, in the 1980's. The chewy pre war baguette (circa 1933) had all but disappeared and has been replaced by the familiar light, white version (which becomes as hard as a rock by the end of the day). In recent years there has been a retro baguette revival of sorts and today in almost all Paris bakeries, the light white baguette is sold alongside the longer lasting creamy colored crunchy baguette of old. 


Well now, I guess you are wondering what the prize is for the winner.
Drum roll please!
Djibril won cash along with a contract to keep President Nicolas Sarkozy in baguettes throughout the coming year. Djibril's baguettes will grace the presidential table in the grand Elysee Palace in the heart of the French capital. Bringing with it some much appreciated advertising for Le Grenier.

Here's a short video of Djibril 

Yum, put Le Grenier a Pain on my list.(Check)
I'm Just Sayin