Miel, Where Local Honey Is the Language of Love

Miel sources its honey from local beekeeper Mitchell Hilt, owner of Belmont Bees. Growing up on a farm in Northwest Kansas, Hilt found his love for beekeeping at a young age through learning how to tend to the bees that colonized on a hackberry tree in his family’s backyard. Decades later, Hilt uses beekeeping as a way to keep his mind off work, and after more than 14 years in the business, his bee colonies can be found in the backyards of his close friends and neighbors throughout Belmont and Green Hills.

“To be a successful beekeeper, you have to be both proactive and patient,” says Hilt. “Each year my harvest looks different, and as I’ve gotten more comfortable and experienced, I’ve learned that  I’m going to get out of it what I put into it. I don’t sell honey because I like to sell honey, I sell honey because I love handling bees.”

Honey represents pollination, the origin of a plant’s ability to bear fruit and feed us. Miel’s menu is about capturing the best of the season and highlighting local farmers. This commitment runs true with the restaurant’s partnership with Hilt, whose only advertising is word-of-mouth and who has been working with Miel for longer than he can remember.