If you’re into the outdoor markets of Paris or high-quality vegetables in general, you most likely know who Joël Thibault is. He’s pretty much the King of Legumes à Paris and is famous for his beautiful heirloom produce. Restaurants go to him to buy their daily produce because it’s just that good. As my friend Emily from Paris Paysanne said to me:
He is a rockstar.
Back in June when Paris was still cold and grey and felt nothing like summer, Susannah, an early supporter of The Kale Project reached out to me saying that her husband knows Joël directly through his restaurant and that she wanted to introduce me. Her husband would join us as he not only had the relationship but also was the best French linguist out of the three of us, as in he is fluent.
I felt like I was going to meet a celebrity!
Before our meeting, I checked out Joël’s vast offerings at his stand at Place du President Wilson on Wednesday and Saturday. I could not believe the colors and options. Multi-colored carrots, heirloom tomatoes, baskets full of fresh herbs, purple, yellow and white chou fleur, yellow and red baby beets… The possibilities of what I could do in my kitchen that week were endless.
A week later, it was time to officially meet him but Susannah’s husband could not get away from his restaurant… so it was going to be me talking to the rockstar of Paris vegetables by myself in my mediocre French. I was already nervous to meet him and now I was going to have to explain The Kale Project alone? Eeek.
But I did. And somehow the words came out. Of course there were grammatical errors but he understood me and didn’t think I was completely crazy. He was up for growing more kale and would start in September.
Two months later…
This morning I woke up, did an hour of French homework and decided to go for a run by the Seine which always leads me towards Place du President Wilson and it was Wednesday. I guess I became inspired from the running high because I decided to go and say hello to Joël and make sure he was still going to plant kale for the fall.
Lucky for us, he planted a little bit already this summer and I saw the last bunch of the day.
And wouldn’t you believe it that I didn’t bring any money with me? I literally had to watch another woman, who barely knew what it was, buy the bunch. If anything I rambled on and on about kale to her as she asked Joël what it was.
I talked to Joël again about The Kale Project and what’s happening in the next few months. He was kind, wonderful, patient with my French and open-minded about the entire thing. Most importantly:
Is he planning to grow more kale for the fall? YES!
Upon leaving I think I was so excited, overwhelmed that he had kale and jittering from speaking French with him for 15 minutes that I said Au Revoir and blew him a kiss.
I blew Joël a kiss. Who does that?
Aside from my apparent crush on the King of Legumes, Joël will have a few bunches left over the next few days before his small summer harvest is finished. Get it while you can and if you do, I would love to see photos of all the Paris supporters with their kale and what you do with it.
The only way kale will become more common in France is if we work together to get the word out about why kale is awesome and what people can do with it!
Joël Thibault
Tuesday & Friday, Rue Gros 16ème
Wednesday & Saturday, Place de President Wilson 16ème
Edna says
Excellent!! I hope that lady treasured the kale she bought, haha.
kristen says
Who knows what she did with it… It was so sad running there and not having any money. Go figure. I finally see kale for the first time at a market and dont have money.
Daisy de Plume says
Who wouldn’t blow Joel a kiss, what with his Kale-Minded planting?
kristen says
It was the funniest thing… and I’m walking away thinking, “What did I just do?!”
MommaExpat says
Wow, I might need to get myself to the 16e for some kale. If they have some I’ll buy extra for you!!!
kristen says
Thanks Jacki :) Don’t worry, I’m heading there myself on Friday or Saturday hoping he has some. And I’ll remember my wallet this time!
Christine says
I used to bike to that market every Saturday morning just for Joël Thibault’s gorgeous vegetables, so I can’t wait to try his kale! Kristen, your enthusiasm for kale is contagious :)
Emily says
it’s kale-tagious!!
kristen says
Love that word Emily!!
kristen says
Christine- such a wonderful thing to hear you say. I’m glad that my enthusiasm is rubbing off on people. The more people that want some hopefully means we’ll have more consistent access to it. If you head to his market again soon, hopefully he’ll have some left but either way, tell him you heard about it through The Kale Project. And if you do get some enjoy!
Mary Kay (Out and About in Paris) says
I always buy my veggies from Joel’s stand at the rue Gros market. Next time I’ll have to treat the King of Veggies with more respect and maybe even blow him a kiss when I leave! ;) As you said, he has awesome beets, herbs and now kale. How exciting!
kristen says
Yes! If you do see him MK – even if you don’t blow a kiss – tell him you know of The Kale Project and you’re happy he is growing kale :)
Diane, A Broad says
Darn, and I’m out of town until next week! Well hopefully he still has kale on Tuesday…
kristen says
If not don’t worry.. more is coming!
Maureen in Oakland says
Bravo!!! All the Kale news isn’t bad then. And rockstar Joël looks like a super guy!
kristen says
I know!! It was a whirlwind day and he was super nice and so patient with my French.
Andrea says
I’ll try to get there Saturday!
kristen says
Wonderful! If you do, tell him you heard about it from The Kale Project and you hope he grows more!