It was a first for French Morning and Frenchly, who have organized Best Baguette and Best Croissant competitions across the USA for the past ten years. On Sunday, March 23, some 600 visitors came to taste the creations of the seven bakeries that were finalists in this competition, held for the first time in Seattle: The French Guys, Le Panier, Grand Central, Petit Pierre, Cake Meet Me, Rila Bakery, and L’Experience Paris.
Co-hosted by France Education North West and the French American Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest, this double finale took place as part of the 13th edition of Seattle’s French Fest, at the Seattle Center Armory. At the heart of the event was a jury of professionals, who had the difficult task of blind-tasting croissants and baguettes: Florian Cardinaux, Consul General of France in San Francisco; William Leaman, jury president and owner of Bakery Nouveau; John Sundstrom, chef and owner of Lark; Didier Poirier, President of French Education Northwest; and Pénélope Souquet, Director of Admissions at the French American School of Puget Sound.
Nina Fang: A Newcomer Takes Home the Best Croissant Award
A multi-award-winning baker himself, and a great American advocate of traditional French baking, William Leaman couldn’t believe his taste buds. “The croissants were, for the most part, of the highest quality, and I’m very proud to see the level my colleagues in Seattle are now reaching,” he declared. The battle was therefore close, and the result unexpected: the Grand Prize for Seattle’s Best Croissant went to a newcomer to the local scene, whose store has been open for less than a year–Bellevue’s Cake Meet Me. The screams that erupted when the verdict was announced speak volumes about the joy of the Cake Meet Me family, who all gathered around owner Nina Fang. “I started baking at home, for my family and friends; then, as orders came in, I started doing it professionally,” she said on stage. Last year, she opened her own boutique, “thanks to my love of a job well done–I’m a perfectionist”, she confided. Her daughters stood beside her, commenting that she hadn’t slept the night before, she’d been so busy making croissants.
The Best Baguette Competition Rewarded Experience
While the jury chose a novice for the Best Croissant award, it decided in favor of experience on the baguette side. The Grand Prize for Best Baguette went to L’Expérience Paris. Julien Hervet, owner of this mini-chain of East-Side establishments, also won the People’s Choice Award for Best Croissant.
Ld by Renaud Lacipière, a trained artisan baker and former Compagnon du Devoir; and Thibault Beaugendre, a former Amazon employee-turned-entrepreneur; The French Guys won the People’s Choice Award for Best Baguette.
Last but not least, the competition highlighted innovation, with the Best Original Creation award going to Le Panier, who won thanks to its creamy, mango-flavored pastry, which won over the jury.
The Winners
Jury Awards:
- Grand Prix Meilleur Croissant : Cake Meet Me
- Grand Prix Meilleure Baguette : L’Experience Paris
- Best Original Creation : Le Panier
Fan Awards:
- Best Croissant : L’Experience Paris
- Best Baguette : The French Guys
The 2025 edition of the Best Baguette and Best Croissant Seattle competition is sponsored by Moulins Bourgeois and Beurremont.
