A lot of you in Paris may already know about La Ruche Qui Dit Oui.
But did you know that you can get kale through them as well? Yes, it’s true!
I joined the “hive” in the 10ème that happens every two weeks at Le Comptoir General and checked it out for the first time with my friend Emily from Paris Paysanne.
The first great thing abou La Ruche (and their overall concept) is that you are buying direct from local producers. Not only are there vegetables but local cheese, mushrooms, wine, fish, etc. And it’s places close to Paris.
The second great thing about La Ruche is that it’s a combo of a CSA and your typical French outdoor market. You order online up to a few days before the actual pick-up and depending on if each farmer has enough orders, you will get an email the day before pick-up telling you exactly what you’re able to receive. Just bring your market bag or caddy and pick-up your local produce!
Plus Le Comptoir General is a really cool space for a coffee before or after your Saturday morning market pick-up.
So as for the kale at this ruche, it is grown by an organic (certified) farmer, Nicolas Thirard, located 110km north of Paris. As usual, while explaining The Kale Project, he had the same confused reaction that every other farmer has. I just come across as the weird American girl who has an obsession with a vegetable that is unknown in France.
And to add to the never-ending question around What exactly is kale in French? This farmer has added to the confusion and decided to call it chou plume. Feather cabbage – I must admit it’s quite cute. If you Google chou plume, photos of kale appear which is a positive sign considering photos of chou frisé just lead to that little bugger savoy cabbage. So let’s just call this farmer Monsieur Plume.
I’ve yet to truly participate in La Ruche since I was heading back to the states right before my visit. Do any of you already belong to La Ruche? Do you head to the 10ème or one of their other locations?
And have you found kale or excuse me, chou plume at your local ruche?
La Ruche Qui Dit Oui
Le Comptoir General
2nd and 4th Saturday of each month
*Must register for free to begin participating
Patrick Blake (@pblake) says
This sounds complicated!
kristen says
Not really. Just sign up, order a few days early and then you go pick your stuff up. The only catch is that if a farmer knows he is not going to sell a minimum, he may or may not come in for the day. Luckily Monsieur Plume sells lots of other veggies, so he’ll always probably come in! Let me know if you do it. (Although I see you’ve been to the market in Bastille!! Yay!)
Patrick Blake (@pblake) says
Alright, I’ve done it!! It is nice to pay online, it’s just that there are just so many things to do Saturday mornings like haircuts (the salon I go to doesn’t take appointments….grr) but I have made an order for Saturday! I haven’t been to the Bastille market, I’ve been to Mr Thiebault’s rue Gros one! I don’t fancy queueing up for half an hour with the women of the 16th again though…
Patrick Blake (@pblake) says
Oh my goodness it’s cheap and the choice is amazing!
kristen says
Hi Patrick, Glad that you signed up and like the variety/prices! I agree, Saturdays are so busy here because I feel like we have to get everything done between 9am-1pm… it’s still an adjustment even after a year of living here. And yes, the line at Joël’s market is long whether with women from the 16th or not, it takes a long time. Keep me posted on how your Ruche experience goes.
Nicolas Thirard says
Hello, I’m the french farmer ! I will change the name of the “chou plume” to the famous “Kale”.
Nicolas
kristen says
Nicolas! C’est tellement agréable de vous entendre et de vous remercier pour votre commentaire! J’ai vu que la kale a été ajouté au nom figurant sur le site Web de “La Ruche.” Je vous remercie et j’espère que vous avez un peu plus de commandes panache à The Kale Project.
Maureen in Oakland says
And don’t forget we MUST start calling Tuscan Kale (also known as Dinosaur Kale) Chou Dino!