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Sri Lankan Baker Crowned Paris's Best Baguette King
7 Mar
Summary
- A Sri Lankan baker has won the prestigious best baguette award in Paris.
- The winning baker is a 43-year-old from Sri Lanka who arrived in France in 2003.
- The award includes a €4,000 prize and the honor of supplying the Elysée Palace.
Sithamparappillai Jegatheepan, a 43-year-old baker from Sri Lanka, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the grand prize for the best traditional French baguette in Paris this year. His bakery, Fournil Didot, located in the 14th arrondissement, was recognized for its exceptional loaves. This prestigious award includes a €4,000 prize and the notable distinction of supplying fresh baguettes daily to the Elysée Palace.
Jegatheepan, who moved to France in 2003, initially focused on pastry before dedicating himself to bread-making. He established his own business in 2018 and now owns two boulangeries, with his award-winning bakery selling 600 traditional baguettes daily. The annual competition involves hundreds of loaves judged on appearance, baking, crumb structure, taste, and smell, with strict criteria for weight, length, and salt content.
The winning baguette is characterized by its crispy exterior, golden crust, and a beautifully honeycomb-like crumb with evenly distributed small holes. Jegatheepan's dedication, including a 14-hour slow fermentation process at 5 degrees Celsius, contributes to the bread's exceptional quality. Despite his recent accolade, Jegatheepan is still awaiting French nationality, hoping this award may expedite the process.
