Miami's Top Bakeries Compete in Croissant Battle, Tickets Still Available

Of all the restaurants, cafés, and bakeries in Miami, who makes the best croissant? French Morning, an online French-culture magazine, wants a firm answer. That's why it's hosting Miami's first Croissant Battle, where eight local eateries will present their best flaky treat to a panel of judges.

"We want to develop our French community across the U.S.," French Morning project manager Charlotte Farran says. "After the success of our best baguette contests, we feel it was only natural to bring this new experience to Miami, where there is a growing presence of French bakeries."

Similar to Miami's best baguette competition in 2016 and 2017, French Morning's Croissant Battle will transform the National Hotel Sunday, April 15, into a boulangerie, bringing together bakers and foodies for an afternoon of croissant tasting and wine drinking.

Each baker and pastry-maker will present their croissants to a panel of judges during a blind-tasting contest, and one croissant will deemed best by the end of the event. An audience choice and best chocolate croissant will also be selected.

While the bakeries battle, join more than 300 attendees and sample croissants from all eight contenders while sipping wine with charcuterie, cheese, breads, and jam.

Miami's competing finalists, based on French Morning readers' responses, include Rosetta Bakery, Zak the Baker, La Boulangerie Boul’Mich, Lobster Bar Sea Grille, Flavorish, L’Artisane Creative Bakery, La Provence Miami, and B Bistro & Bakery. Their croissants' fate lies in the hands of the judges, including the National Hotel's Matthew McDonald, Juvia's Gregory Gourreau, Boulud Sud's Saeko Nemoto, the Diplomat's Christian Rassinoux, Grand Beach Hotel Surfside's Mickaël Marchand, and local private pastry chefs Vincent Catala and Yann Rio.

Judges will grade each traditional croissant and chocolate croissant on a scale from one to 30 in categories such as quality of dough, taste, bake, and shape, according to Farran.

Tickets are available online for $25 per person, which includes samples of all croissants, a glass of wine, charcuterie, jams, a cheese buffet, and breads and pastries from local bakeshops. A $45 VIP ticket adds a brunch buffet with bottomless mimosas and wines.

Croissant Battle. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at the National Hotel, 1677 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $25 to $45 via eventbrite.com.