Lescure and ICCA organized Dubai’s first-ever King Pie Competition on December 5 and 6, 2024, at the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA). The event celebrated the ultra-premium Lescure PDO Charentes-Poitou butter, a product of the French dairy group SAVENCIA.

The competition unfolded in two stages. On the first day, participants prepared their pastry dough and let it rest overnight. On the second day, they focused on filling and assembling their Galettes des Rois. Eleven bakers from prestigious establishments competed fiercely. A panel of experts judged their creations, including Alex Cristobal, Co-founder and Executive Chef of Flaky Pastry; Leonardo Luzalillo, Pastry Instructor at ICCA; and Chef Paul Hayward, a former Executive Chef at Jumeirah Group who now works as a consultant in the UAE.

Amar Shah, Head Baker at SLS Hotel, won the competition and claimed the 8,000 AED prize for his outstanding Galette des Rois. He decorated his winning creation with hazelnut skin, powder, and praline, adding a sprinkle of snow sugar for an elegant finish. Guests can still enjoy his award-winning Galette at the SLS Hotel Dubai.

Producers in France’s Charentes-Poitou region craft Lescure PDO Charentes-Poitou butter, known for its unique hazelnut flavor and technical excellence. The region’s abundant sunshine and rainfall create the ideal conditions for high-quality forage and cereals. These factors help cows produce premium milk with consistent fat content, which gives Lescure butter its superior quality. Bakers and pastry chefs worldwide favor it for its distinct flavor and performance.

Greenhouse distributes Lescure butter in the UAE. The King Pie Competition showcased how this exceptional butter can elevate the art of baking.