South Korea's horseback-riding archery player, in bread. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, February 13, 2016.In what could be considered a major upset, South Korea succeeded in defeating the French pastry team to take the baking equivalent of the World Cup, the first time the country has stepped onto the podium at the annual competition held in Paris this week.
Not only did Team France lose out to South Korea at the World Baking Championships 2016, it also lost to the Taiwanese baking team, eking out a third spot.
The results of the competition cement Asia's reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the pastry world and also challenge France – long upheld as the guardians and forefathers of the trade – to step up their game.
Representing Korea's team were Chang-Min lee, Jong-Ho Kim and Yong-Joo Park, a trio of pastry chefs who impressed the judges with their Challah bread, Swedish Kanelbulle, and the masterful way their improvised with surprise ingredients to create an oatmeal, cardamom, aniseed and orange bread.
Likewise, the team won over judges for the elegant way they brought ingredients like orange flower, apricot syrup, coffee and currants into a successful pastry.
Their showstopper, however, was an edible recreation of a horseback-riding archery player made entirely in bread, garnished with savory pastries and mini-burgers.
Meanwhile, South Korea's victory isn't so far-fetched, given the proliferation of skilled bakers in the country and a particular Korean bakery chain that has hatched plans to become the the largest bakery franchise in the world.
Despite its name and Eiffel Tower logo, Paris Baguette is 100% Korean, with 3,190 outlets in Korea, and a presence in China, Vietnam, Singapore, and most recently – and perhaps audaciously – Paris, France.
In 2014, the chain made the bold move to open a flagship store in the heart of the city, where locals and tourists are most likely to mistake the elegant, premium pastry boutique for a Paris shop.
Other teams that competed in the World Baking Championship include Canada, the US, China, Brazil, Mauritius, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and Turkey.
The last time France won the championship title was in 2008. – AFP/Relaxnews, February 13, 2016.
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