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Paris Crowns a New King of the Crusty Baguette in Its Annual Bread-Baking Prize

Baker Xavier Netry poses at his bakery named "Utopie" in Paris on April 26, 2024, after being awarded best baguette 2024 of the city of Paris (Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Francaise de la Ville De Paris). (AFP)
Baker Xavier Netry poses at his bakery named "Utopie" in Paris on April 26, 2024, after being awarded best baguette 2024 of the city of Paris (Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Francaise de la Ville De Paris). (AFP)
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Paris Crowns a New King of the Crusty Baguette in Its Annual Bread-Baking Prize

Baker Xavier Netry poses at his bakery named "Utopie" in Paris on April 26, 2024, after being awarded best baguette 2024 of the city of Paris (Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Francaise de la Ville De Paris). (AFP)
Baker Xavier Netry poses at his bakery named "Utopie" in Paris on April 26, 2024, after being awarded best baguette 2024 of the city of Paris (Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Francaise de la Ville De Paris). (AFP)

Paris has a new king of the crusty baguette.

Baker Xavier Netry was chosen this week as the 31st winner of Paris' annual “Grand Prix de la baguette” prize.

His long loaf beat 172 others.

Competing baguettes were evaluated for taste, look, texture, airiness and the quality of the baking. The jury included a deputy mayor, industry representatives, journalists and six Parisians that City Hall said were drawn at random.

The Utopie bakery in Paris' 11th district that Netry works for wins 4,000 euros ($4,290) and becomes one of the suppliers of the presidential Elysee Palace for a year.

City Hall said uneaten baguettes from the competition were donated to a charity that feeds people who are homeless.

Netry, a baker for 25 years, said the secrets of his success are a good sourdough starter and “a good long fermentation,” careful cooking and "some love and some passion, of course.”

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Saudi Museums Commission, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation to Deepen Museum Collaboration

The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity building through training and residencies
The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity building through training and residencies
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Saudi Museums Commission, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation to Deepen Museum Collaboration

The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity building through training and residencies
The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity building through training and residencies

The Saudi Museums Commission, one of the eleven sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, and Germany’s Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) have taken a significant step forward in their cultural partnership by activating an executive program focused on long-term collaboration in the museum sector.

Central to this initiative is the development of a loan index, outlining a selection of artworks and artifacts from the SPK’s various Berlin-based museums to be shared with the Museums Commission over a five-year period. This loan program forms part of the broader executive program signed by both parties.

The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation, including joint exhibitions in art and archaeology, long-term loans, strategic cultural projects, and capacity building through training and residencies. Two dedicated training programs have been agreed upon as part of this collaboration.

One of the flagship initiatives, Museums in Motion, will bring together up to 80 cultural and museum professionals from both countries over five years through four interdisciplinary training sessions.

Participants will engage in joint learning activities in both countries, fostering sustained dialogue, professional exchange, deeper cross-cultural understanding, and long-term institutional partnerships.

In a parallel initiative with the Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart (National Gallery of Contemporary Art) in Berlin, a professional secondment program will support talent development in the museum field. Over the next five years, experts from Hamburger Bahnhof will contribute to training and mentorship, fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices in museum management and curation.

This executive program reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening international cultural dialogue and advancing professional exchange in the global museum community.