It’s that time of year again!

#2: The Don

In life, there are the ones who make it, and the ones who don’t. Paris’ version of this unescapable rivalry of life revolves around the humble baguette. Don’t tell me you didn’t see that one coming…

Each year, a competition takes place that serves to separate the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff if you prefer, and proclaims one lucky stick the best baguette in Paris. Not only does the winning bakery get to paste the title all over their premises and attract queues that could rival the Louvre, but they also get given the honour of supplying baguettes daily to the President for a whole year. If that’s not kudos, then I don’t know what is.

This year’s recently proclaimed winner is Le Grenier à Pain bakery nestled between Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge in the 18e (my ‘hood, lucky me!) and the talented hands that created the magical bread wand belong to 38-year-old Djibril Bodian. Baking wizardry clearly isn’t a passing fluke either, Bodian won his first accolade in 2010 making him the first baker in the competition’s history to have ever won twice.

His baguettes were delivered to the top spot via their thin, crispy crust and light insides, and most importantly, a smell that makes you want to break with all decorum and devour the whole thing before you’ve even got out the door. Forget those anaemic efforts from the supermarket, the only way to get your daily bread in Paris is to head to a bakery who can rake in the prizes. And now you know exactly where to find it.

Le Grenier à Pain, 38 Rue des Abbesses, 75018