The Tornés Pastry Shop of Girona has won the award for the best xuixo in the world in the sixth edition of the contest, a distinction that the jury granted unanimously and that places for the first time an establishment from the city of Girona at the top of this competition.
The proclamation was celebrated as part of the first Xuixo Day, in Salvador Espriu square, in front of the Lleó Market, where sector professionals and the public gathered in a day focused on one of the sweets most identified with the city. In this edition, close to twenty proposals competed.
A recognition for a historic pastry shop of Girona
Tornés Pastry Shop opened its doors in 1965 and is currently located on Migdia Street. The business is already in its second generation and it was Josep Maria Tornés who collected the award.
"It is a recognition for the house, for the family and for the team" - Josep Maria Tornés, Pastisseria Tornés
Tornés also highlighted the value of having achieved the award with the unanimous support of the jury. He also explained that he barely remembers days of his life without having made xuixos at home, an image that summarizes the family and professional bond with this product.
The pastry shop had also been distinguished as the best pastry shop in Girona for six years. Since 2020, it has ranked among the fifty best pastry shops in Catalonia recognized with the Fava de Cacau and earned the Repsol Sun in 2023 and 2024.
An already consolidated competition
The contest for the best xuixo in the world celebrated its first editions with biennial periodicity, although since 2024 it moves to be convened every year. The list of previous winners reflects the implementation of the contest in different parts of Catalonia.
- Padrés of Banyoles in 2018
- Fleca Pa Artesà del Vallès in 2020
- Juhé de l"Escala in 2022
- Triomf of Barcelona in 2024
- Trias of Santa Coloma de Farners last year
Tornés's victory now opens a new stage for the contest, by incorporating for the first time a pastry shop from Girona city into the winners' list.
The Diada del Xuixo premieres format and new recognitions
The delivery of the award was part of an event that this year changed location compared to the previous edition. If last year the event took place behind the Rosaleda building, in Devesa park, on this occasion the activity moved to Salvador Espriu square.
During the Diada there was a workshop for making xuixos for children and an exhibition by the Can Trias pastry shop. Quim Trias showed the recipe that had been the winner in the previous edition.
As a novelty, the public was able to see and taste the winning xuixos from previous editions. The day also included the proclamation, for the first time, of the honorary xuixaire.
Jordi Basté, first xuixaire of honor
The recognition went to the journalist Jordi Basté, known for pronouncing every morning on his program the phrase "who will choke on a xuixo with the morning news?".
"The xuixo is not only a sweet, it is a scene" - Jordi Basté
Basté linked that memory to a domestic image of childhood, when his mother brought every Sunday a plate of cream and a xuixo. The scene closed a day with a Gerundian accent in which Tornés added a new milestone to his career and placed the street of Migdia in the center of the Catalan pastry map.