French Bakers Break Record with 461-Foot Baguette
In the world of baguette-making, the French are undisputed champions. But can they make a big baguette? The answer is a resounding yes.
French bakers in Suresnes, just west of Paris, made a 461-foot baguette on Sunday, setting a new world record for the longest baguette. This massive loaf surpassed the previous record held by Italians, who made a 435-foot baguette in 2019.
The baguette, which is longer than a football field or the length of nine pétanque courts, was made by a team of 18 bakers using 200 pounds of flour. The dough was shaped starting at 3 a.m., and by 5 a.m. it was slowly fed into an oven, emerging fully baked on the other side.
Town leaders in Suresnes were thrilled with the accomplishment, sending out a flurry of social media messages to celebrate the feat. The mayor, Guillaume Boudy, expressed pride in the town for hosting the record-breaking event and promoting a national symbol of French gastronomy.
Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Bakery and Pastry, praised the bakers and highlighted the importance of the baguette in French culinary heritage.
After the baking, the giant baguette was distributed to members of the public, including homeless individuals, after being generously spread with Nutella.
While the 461-foot baguette was certainly impressive, true baguette connoisseurs know that taste and texture are equally important. This year’s winner of the Grand Prix de la Baguette was Xavier Netry of Boulangerie Utopie in Paris, who impressed judges with his exceptional baguette.
In a nod to its cultural significance, the French baguette was recently added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, solidifying its place as a culinary icon. So even if another country attempts to make a longer baguette in the future, France will always be recognized as the home of the world’s best baguette.
