Masters de la Boulangerie 2018 competition
Thirteen countries are set to compete in Lesaffre’s Masters de la Boulangerie competition.
 

MARCQ-EN-BAROEUL, FRANCE — Fourteen countries are set to compete in Lesaffre’s Masters de la Boulangerie competition, which will take place Feb. 3-6, 2018, at the Europain exhibition in Villepinte, Paris. The event’s theme is, “Inspire today, create tomorrow.”

“The exceptional, international Masters de la Boulangerie competition sees the bakery elite compete, which gives the profession prestige and projects it into the future,” Lesaffre said. “During their training and the competition cycle, the Masters de la Boulangerie candidates have acquired rare and unique international bakery skills. Through the competition, these men and women will share with bakers around the world the fruits of their research, their ideas and reflections — and also their passion. Modern baking is in their hands.”

Masters de la Boulangerie 2018 World Master Baker award
Three candidates, one per specialty, will win the title of “World Master Baker 2018.”
 

Twelve candidates, along with six “wild card” candidates, have been selected to compete in the three-day competition in three categories: nutritional bread making, gourmet baking and artistic bread making. Only three candidates, one per specialty, will win the title of “World Master Baker 2018.” Currently, only six bakers in the world hold this title. 

America’s representatives are Jeffrey De Leon and Jacob Baggentstos. Mr. De Leon is the group pastry chef for Farmshop in Santa Monica, Calif., and will be competing in the Gourmet Baking specialty. Mr. Baggenstos is the pastry chef at Bakery Nouveau in Seattle and will be competing in the Artistic Bread Making specialty.

Jeffrey DeLeon and Jacob Baggentstos, Masters de la Boulangerie
(from left) Jeffrey De Leon and Jacob Baggentstos
 
Launched in 2010, the Masters de la Boulangerie is a global competition that is part of a four-year international competition cycle: Louis Lesaffre Cup — Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie — Masters de la Boulangerie. The competition begins with 18 candidates, and among them, 12 are selected based on the best scores obtained as individuals during the two previous competitions, and six are selected for their potential. The three winners will be chosen by a jury consisting of a jury president and a team of baking professionals from around the world.