Paris has a new king of the crusty baguette.
Baker Xavier Netry has been chosen as the 31st winner of the French capital’s 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 City Hall said were drawn at random.
The Utopie bakery where Netry works in Paris’ 11th district wins 4000 euros ($A6565) 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 were a good sourdough starter and “a good long fermentation”, careful cooking and “some love and some passion, of course”.