And the excitement of finding kale in Paris continues. I find it amazing that after years and years of little to no random sightings of kale in the City of Lights, that all of a sudden kale is popping up everywhere. Thank goodness!
Right before I returned from Texas a week, someone alerted me that they’d found kale at the marché Bastille for 3,50€ a bunch. So upon my return I decided to check it out. Bastille is on the opposite side of Paris from where I live, but I know there are a lot of Project supporters that live on the east side that need your kale! So off I went. Luckily for once, it was not raining.
And voilà! There is was. The best part is that I don’t think I actually found the original stand that I was alerted about. I think there are two stands at this marché – yes, if you are close to Bastille, you have two options for kale.
By walking away from the metro, I veered towards the right and passed anywhere from 8-12 stands before I immediately saw the curly-green kale standing proud from it’s cruciferous cousins.
The farmer, again who was extremely skeptical as I muddled my way through a French explanation of the Project, is from Normandy. This is his first time growing kale, which he called chou frisé (I didn’t have the linguistic energy to get into the naming issues), and is grown without pesticides. He also told me that the snails love the leafy green, to which I whole-heartedly agreed given Madame Mustard’s gallant fight this summer.
Best part? He only charged 1,80€ per bunch – which was very substantial.
I’m off again tomorrow to pick up more and see if I can find vendor number 2. If you buy any kale from Monsieur Baudry, let him know The Kale Project sent you.
Marché Bastille
Located on Boulevard Richard Lenoir, between Rue Amelot and Rue St-Sabin.
***The kale stand is located at the corner of Rue Sedaine and Boulevard Richard Lenoir on the east side of the market.
Thursday, 7h-14h30
Sunday, 7h-15h
Métro: Bastille
Great photos! Can’t wait to hunt down kale here.
Awesome. Keep me posted :)
Very cool, especially as this is more in my neck of the woods. Is the Bastille marché on tomorrow again, you say?
It is tomorrow (jeudi). thank you for the reminder that I did not include the actual market days/times!!
Hoorah! That’s only a few minutes walk from me!
double hooray!
Thank you, Kristen, for the tip. Bastille is my neighbourhood marché and therefore I’ve been lucky to enjoy kale smoothies and salads as daily staples lately. In Paris! I still cannot believe it.
Oh it makes me so happy when I have happy kale fans in Paris! So glad you’re enjoying.
Hi there. Great news for the kale at the Richard Lenoir market. And at such a good price! Is this stand on the north or south side? The market’s huge. We start from the west side near where we live… Thanks!
Hi Alison, as far as I can tell, it isn’t the Richard Lenoir market (Tue and Fri), but the Bastille market further down (Thur and Sun)..
Hi there! The Bastille one actually takes place on blvd Richard Lenoir, just not on the Oberkampf side as it does on Tues and Fri. It’s so big, just trying to figure out where the kale vendors are…Thanks!
Hi again Alison, The kale vendor on Thur/Fri is on Blvd Richard Lenoir and Rue Sedaine. If you’re walking away from Place de Bastille, he is on the right hand side of the market. I hope this helps!
Hi Kristen. The Rue Sedaine x Richard Lenoir part is what I was looking for. Thanks!!! Will check Sunday. I brought tons back from London yesterday. Made it steamed with Alejandro Junger’s tahini miso sauce and buckwheat noodles. Fantastic.
Oh good, glad you brought some back from London. Isn’t it funny how trimmed and cleaned it is?! What you made with it sounds fantastic… I’ll have to try it out. Let me know how Bastille goes!
Hi Alison, I see Mariana answered your question earlier but she is correct. The kale is at the Bastille market on Thur/Sun. I have yet to see a farmer at Richard Lenoir with kale but that does not mean that kale won’t be there someday soon! Let me know if you have any other questions.