It's the tradition at the start of the year. Epiphany is the ideal time to enjoy a good cake. As such, the Department of Haute-Loire organized, Monday January 6, the award ceremony for the best achievement for 2025. Two categories were in the spotlight: the classic pancake and the original.
For the first category, the title went to Alexis Rosier. Aged 18, he is an apprentice with additional qualifications at the La Brivoise bakery in Brives-Charensac. Receiving this award is a great reward for the young man. Enough to launch him in the best possible way towards his next objective: on March 31, he will participate in the competition for the best worker in France. “I will have a cake to make, so it was a good opportunity to prepare,” explains the apprentice, who trained for two weeks for the competition.
To find the winner of the original cake prize, you have to go a little further to the north-east of the department. The title went to Cyril Emonet, from Fournil Yssingelais, for his frangipane with pistachio and morello cherries. A bold mix! “There were several dosages to find the right balance,” confides the professional.
The most beautiful villages in the spotlight
Made in December, a period when the pastry bakers had a little more time, the pancakes were tasted and judged by a jury of three people under the wise advice of the winner of the best national pancake 2024, Frédéric Alvergnas, who officiates at Cussac- sur-Loire. A ranking established according to several criteria, as explained by Guillaume Mallet, baker in Espaly (and seen last year on M6, in the show “The best bakery in France”. “The shape of the pancake must be good round and that it is 30 centimeters in diameter. There is also the quality of the lamination and its balance with the filling. The quality of the frangipane and the aesthetics,” explains the baker.
In parallel with this award ceremony, the Department also presented its series of beans. This year, there are six of them and pay tribute to the localities classified as “Most beautiful village in France” in the region: Arlempdes, Polignac, Lavaudieu, Blesle, Lavoûte-Chilhac and Pradelles.
Guillaume Chorin
Classic pancake
1st. Alexis Rosier. La Brivoise in Brives-Charensac.
2nd. Maxime Benlacqua. Fournil de Vals.
3rd. Richard Montchalin. Fournil Yssingelais.
Original Cake
1st. Cyril Emonet. Fournil Yssingelais.
2e. Manon Portal. Fournil de Vals.
3rd Enzo Venzin. DDB to Chadrac.
