Barcelona baker Emili Feliu has claimed Catalonia’s highest baking honour, winning the prestigious Pa d’Or award for 2025.
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His Forn Sant Josep bakery (Google Maps) secured the top prize in a rigorous competition that evaluated the region’s finest artisanal bread makers.
The recognition comes as part of Catalonia’s celebration as World Gastronomy Region 2025. Organised by the Obra Social Ernest Verdaguer through the Panàtics platform, the competition involved four regional selections across Lleida, Tarragona, Girona and Barcelona. Consequently, judges conducted blind tastings of all submitted breads, scoring each entry from 1 to 10 across multiple criteria.
Barcelona Baker Triumphs in Tough Competition
Judges assessed entries based on quality, technique, texture, flavour and presentation. Furthermore, the highest-scoring breads earned their creators a place among the final selection of Catalonia’s 25 best bakers. The top four bakers from each province then faced a final challenge, preparing their bread live under jury supervision.
This ultimate evaluation featured a unique twist – a blind baker joined the judging panel to provide additional sensory assessment. Therefore, the competition emphasised both technical skill and the fundamental sensory experience of quality bread. The awards ceremony took place on October 26th at Barcelona’s Restaurante Barceloneta.
Emili Feliu’s victory highlights Barcelona’s thriving food culture scene, which continues to gain international recognition. Meanwhile, silver prize went to Jordi Martí of Antic Forn J. Martí in Lleida, while bronze awards were shared between Óscar Cazorla from Tarragona and Felipe García of Girona.
The competition demonstrates Catalonia’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its artisanal food traditions. Additionally, it showcases the region’s diverse baking talent across all four provinces. According to official competition documents, the awards recognise the dedication and passion driving Catalonia’s bakery professionals forward.
This Barcelona baker’s achievement adds to the city’s growing reputation as a destination for food excellence. Moreover, it reinforces Catalonia’s position as a global gastronomy leader during its special designation year. The win represents a significant milestone for both the baker and Barcelona’s culinary community.
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