I was stoked this event was taking place while I was in town, but to say it was poorly organized is an understatement. Offering award winning baguettes and pastries without proper infrastructure just leads to chaos and mayhem. Patrons need a shaded place to sit and enjoy, bakery lines needed signage and ropes to prevent all the line hoppers and gawkers. The laminated dough was tops tho!
We happen to be Paris when they had the bread festival in May 2023. We stopped by to try the baked goods. I got a baguette which was still warm and delicious. I also got a ham and cheese sandwich on a baguette. Both were absolutely amazing. You could tell they were basically right out of the oven as they tasted very fresh. If you are in town when they have this festival this is a good place to stop for a sandwich for lunch.
The festival this year was May 21-30, 2016 in front of the Notre Dame. There were tents, music, and bakers galore! Everyone has their stations set up under the tent where they are actively baking fresh bread, pastries, and sandwiches. Some even had classes where they were teaching local children's groups how to bake pretzels. It was wonderful to see how professional bakers get children involved and spark interest for the future. The smell was heavenly, and the food was divine. We all shared multiple different pastries and it was one of the highlights of our day. It was such a fun way to see a different side of Paris and French culture.