Our "Hive"

March 18th, 2018

For years in Newton, we subscribed to a farm share from Siena Farms.  I always felt that their produce was incomparable and the selection, although dictated by New England growing seasons, was very good.  I loved the greens, the carrots, the eggplants, the peppers, the squashes, the beans, the broccoli, the sweetest red cabbage I've ever had, and, especially, the beets, the tomatoes, and the watermelon radishes.  When there were five of us at home (three of us cooking), the large box that arrived every week seemed about right.  When Caroline left for college and didn't come home much in the summer, we had to make a more concerted effort to finish it, and then when Anna left, we were suddenly overwhelmed with produce.  Some nights I would want nothing more than to grab Glenn and Kate after work and head to a neighborhood pub for a burger and a beer but would feel compelled to stay a home and cook so all of the wonderful vegetables wouldn't go to waste.  (The phrase "tyranny of the farm share" entered our family lexicon.)

Here is Paris, I'm not sure that farm shares exist in the same way, and even if they did, we could not manage one, certainly, but I found something even better.  Once a week, a farm-to-city operation sets up in the cellar of the fromagerie in our building---they call it "La Ruche," or "The Hive."  A couple of days before, you can go online and choose whatever products you want, from dozens of different farms, and they will be delivered to the Hive for you to pick up.  There is no minimum obligation or long-term commitment---you just pay for what you order.  The products are quite varied:  seasonal fruits and vegetables, of course, but also mushrooms, cheeses, breads, baked goods, fresh pasta, nuts, honeys, jams, meats, and many other products.  We have ordered from the Hive twice now, and have been pleased.  We have gotten a few different cheeses, and I especially like some chevres we got from a farm called Des Prés à L'assiette.  Glenn and Kate loved the Cantal from Gaec de L'estorgue.  Kate also loves the raw milk we got---perhaps knowing that it's illegal in the US adds to the mystique.  We bought a yogurt cake that I then frosted with some cocoa buttercream frosting, and it almost seemed like an American layer cake (something I sort of miss).  We got some lovely lettuce there last week, but I can't wait until more of the spring produce, like berries, starts appearing.