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    Eat & Swig

    The Bristol installs beehive on roof.
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    A hive of live bees found its way to its new home on the roof of The Bristol Bar & Grille in the Highlands. Manager Pete Peters commissioned Ginger Davidson of Geez Beez to install and maintain the hive of nearly 50,000 bees on the rooftop of the restaurant, 1321 Bardstown Rd. The Bristol focuses on providing the most local ingredients possible on its menus. During peak season, diners can expect about 75 percent of produce in their dishes to come from regional sources. Cultivating honey on site is the next logical step in that effort.

    “We pride ourselves on offering unique dishes with the wonderful products grown and cultivated here in Kentucky,” said Bristol Highlands manager Pete Peters. “Now having an option to do that with honey made from bees on our roof is thrilling. We hope it makes people realize you have options for fresh, local food even if you don’t live on several acres of land.”

    Though placing a beehive on an urban rooftop may seem unconventional, Davidson says it’s becoming more common in larger cities and is excited the Bristol is offering her the opportunity to house one of her hives in the heart of Louisville. Though not always noticeable, there are a lot of plants to sustain bees in an area like Bardstown Road, making the Bristol roof a prime location for the hive, according to Davidson. The roof is white, which keeps it cooler, and access to the hive is clear and offers decent shade to provide protection during the warmer months. She hopes working with the Bristol will not only raise awareness about the importance of bees, but also dispel many myths about the insect.

    The bees are expected to produce 60 pounds of honey each year which will be used in the restaurant and available for customers to purchase. Davidson will be checking on the hive every three to four weeks initially. Once the bees have made enough honey to sustain the unit, Davidson will remove the excess. The hope is to have it available for sale to customers next spring.

    About The Bristol Bar & Grille:

    The Bristol Bar & Grille has been Louisville’s dining tradition since 1977. All five locations are open for lunch and dinner daily. The Bristol’s award-winning Sunday brunch is a renowned local favorite. For more information, visit www.bristolbarandgrille.com.

    About Geez Beez:

    A locally-owned and operated business, Geez Beez currently maintains about 70 hives in multiple locations around Indiana and Kentucky. In addition to selling honey, local bees from survivor stock and basic beekeeping equipment, the Hanover, IN, company also provides expert consulting and training to other beekeepers. They work with internationally acclaimed honey bee breeding specialists in order to provide local bees which are gentle, have tendencies to over-winter, control mites without chemical intervention, and produce honey. For more information, visit www.GeezBeezHoney.com.

    Photo courtesy of Estes PR

    Allison Myers's picture

    About Allison Myers

    Aspiring Marathoner. Experienced Cyclist. Extreme Foodie. Founder of @EatLoveLouisville. Instagram Fanatic. Marketing Maven. Shoe Fashionista.

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