Best Baguette in Paris?

[menton1]

Michelin held it's annual competition last week for this category, and the winner is... Pascal Barillon, proprietor of Au Levain d'Antan, in the 18th. (Montmartre)

The reward is to get to serve Le Président de la République these baguettes for the next year. (Yes, it's Sarkozy, NOT DSK!!! :) )

Any CH-ers been to this place. Is it really better than Poilane?

[Delucacheesemonger]

Picking the BEST cheesesteak in Philadelphia is relatively easy as very basic rues apply. A baguette is a different animal. My last fight with anyone was over bread in Paris, it is not what is best, but what you like. Soft crumb, chewy crust, holes in center, hard crust, whatever. My two favorite hunks of bread in Paris, and regretfully they change often, are the pagnol at Du Pains et Les Idees, and the pains des alpages at Maer, major yum.

[mangeur]

"...it is not what is best, but what you like. Soft crumb, chewy crust, holes in center, hard crust, whatever..."

Word! And this applies to every food or restaurant we discuss...

[manouche]

Amen to that, "mangeur" - as far as baguettes (and daily bread in general), in addition to personal preferences, might the "convenience factor" have something to do with people's choices? There are too many days when I can't,- or won't - travel across town for bread, much as I know it would be the "right thing to do" in supporting good craftsmanship. Though I draw a firm line, and would sooner go without than eat "factory product", some days some good butter can work wonders - and no, I won't cross town for Bordier's, either!

[Nancy S.]

I haven't been happy with polaine for years. Also, the bread from Polaine is a different type from the baguette judged in the contest. I love Le Grenier a Pain Abbesses. I'm eager to compare the two. I do like Delmontel's, but, for me, it's often baked too much, resulting in a bit of a touch chew.

[Parigi]

Try Landmaine and Gontran Cherrier, the latter with very interesting breads by a very hot boulanger.

[Parigi]

Yes it's better than Poilane. But lots of places are.
Near it are a few other excellent boulangeries: Grenier à Pain (last year's winner), Delmontel (past winner), Landemaine (future winner), Moisan, Gontran Cherrier, Le Petrin Medieval.