This week, France’s best butter croissant was crowned at the national competition organized by the National Confederation of French Bakers and Pastry Chefs. And good news for residents of the Paris region: the grand winner works just a few kilometers from Paris.
The best butter croissant in France is just a stone’s throw from Paris
On June 2 and 3, twenty bakers from all over France gathered in Saint-Benoît, near Poitiers, for the national final of the seventh edition of the competition. All had previously won their regional rounds and were hoping to claim the most coveted title in the profession when it comes to pastries.
For five hours, the contestants had to makethirty Charentes-Poitou AOPbutter croissants according to a particularly precise set of specifications. The jury evaluated everything from the production technique to the final appearance, the flakiness, the consistency, the baking, the texture of the crumb, and the taste of each creation.
In the end, it was Dylan Delmaire, an artisan baker at L’Épi du Roi in Versailles, who took first place in the national rankings. This victory caps off an already remarkable year for the baker. A few weeks earlier, he had won the Île-de-France competition for the best butter croissant in the Grande Couronne category, thereby securing his spot in the national finals.
In the final standings, Dylan Delmaire from Boulangerie Brice in the Hauts-de-France region took first place, while Julien Marsal from La Boulangerie du Père Pain Pain in the Pays de la Loire region rounded out the podium.
For lovers of pastries, the news may prompt a few gourmet trips back and forth to the Versailles area. Because unlike some more abstract awards, this one has a very concrete advantage: you can actually taste the winner.
One thing is certain: if you were looking for a good excuse to make a detour to Versailles this weekend, here it is!
📍L’Épi du Roi – 8, rue des États Généraux, Versailles