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Over the past two weeks, I’ve been so excited with how kale is now really just popping up at the bio markets and few other places here and there. Don’t forget – if you spot kale somewhere please send me a note so I can add it to the map and check it out.
It’s been the same at Marché Raspail. Two weeks ago I was walking along and bought my own personal kale at C’Bio and as P and I continued up the marché path, there it was again and then again. Then we completely missed Madame Mustard’s kale because it had sold out at least two hours earlier. Can you believe it? Kale was available at four different stands! And it was the same this past weekend at Marché Batignolles.
Madame Mustard’s baby kale is the only local option – her farm is 40 km east of Paris. I spoke with her more this past weekend and I think she is happy that the kale is selling well. She does not have a lot of land and dedicated a lot of her winter space for this harvest so you can imagine my relief that she has her “specialty” with les jeunes feuilles.
She spoke with me a little bit and said that people are coming up to her and actually have more of an idea what kale actually is! She seemed surprised but I also know that she is not that exposed to the press kale and the Project has received. I don’t really envision her picking up the latest copy of Glamour and reading about The Kale Project next to the new Nike yoga sandal shoes. But then again… you never know. I do know she is selling out to the French and not just to us crazy expats. I also know (or at least think) that Madame Mustard is sick of having her photo taken. But she is the start of the kale movement
Other suppliers are sourcing it from the south and Brittany.
The trend has even been noticed by the poulet rôti vendor – who are using it as a garnish!
There are also a few new spots in the suburbs that have kale. Check out the updated map.
thefrancofly says
Can’t wait to find it soon!