France's Best Chocolate Bread 2023: an Île-de-France baker takes second place

For 5 days, cocoa addicts can indulge in one sweet treat after another at the Parc des Expos de la Porte de Versailles in Paris during the latest edition of the Salon du Chocolat. In addition to tastings and parades, the Salon du Chocolat is also an opportunity to award prizes. On October 30, the second edition of the Master du Pain au Chocolat was held, organized by the Confédération nationale de la Boulangerie et Boulangerie-Pâtisserie française.

For this new edition, 42 candidates (compared with 38 last year) were in the running with a single goal in mind: to win the 2023 prize for France's best pain au chocolat. To do so, they had to convince a jury made up of industry professionals and journalists. They judged not only the bread's flakiness, but also its taste, baking, shine, fondant and visual appeal. In addition, the 5 pains au chocolat presented by each candidate"had to be identical, weigh between 55 and 65 grams (cooked weight) and come in a neutral, closed container with no external identification", as specified on the website of the Confédération nationale de la Boulangerie et Boulangerie-Pâtisserie française. After much deliberation, Sylvain Belouin, a baker based in Brissac-Loire-Aubanc(Pays de la Loire), came out on top, winning the coveted title.

ButÎle-de-France also managed to stand out thanks to Sigamani Sugeetharan, who came second in the national ranking. Artisan at Le Duc de Claye bakery in Claye-Souilly(46 rue Jean Jaurès, 77410), Seine-et-Marne, Sigamani Sugeetharan took second place and 2nd prize for France's best homemade pain au chocolat.

Frédéric Hubert from the Grand Est region came third. It should be noted that 7 other artisan bakers from all over France secured their place in the final.

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France's Best Chocolate Bread 2023, the winners' list

• 1st - Sylvain BELOUIN (Pays de la Loire region); bakery in Brissac-Loire-Aubance
• 2nd - Sigamani SUGEETHARAN (Île-de-France region); Le Duc de Claye bakery, Claye-Souilly
• 3rd - Frédéric HUBERT (Grand Est region): Thionville-Elange bakery

The 7 other finalists (in alphabetical order)

• Pierre CHARON (Centre-Val de Loire region)
• Alexandre FLEUROT (Bourgogne Franche-Comté region)
• Vincent LE BERRE (Brittany region)
• Thomas LEDRU (Pays de la Loire region)
• Damien LEGUAY (Hauts de France region)
• Maxime PAPIN (Pays de la Loire region)
• Christophe ROUSSEAU (Brittany region)

Congratulations to all candidates!

Last year, first place went to Didier Ledemé. The pastry chef from the"Au Soleil" bakery in Poissy(Yvelines) became the French champion of the Master national du meilleur pain au chocolat, 2022 edition.