I am a Gourmet

In 2019, The Independent (a British publisher of news) included me in the list of cities with delicious and original cuisine. Readers were advised to try my dumplings (varenyky), borshch and pig ears. Of course, I like the attention of such a respected tabloid - but I want to note at once that my taste is much deeper, and the range of dishes that I can surprise is much wider than suggested above. How about looking at history from a gastronomic angle and making sure that Kyiv is not just interesting, but also very tasty?

Then let's go to Podil. Because this is where, in my opinion, the gastronomic tradition was born and still exists in a certain way. Remember, at least, the well-known fast food. It all started here at the Guest House (Hostynnyi Dvir) a couple of centuries ago. A lot of people who worked from morning till night could not dine at home. Street traders went to help the starving and from their trays you could get a whole lunch: jellied meat (kholodets), vinegret, ham with horseradish or mustard, fish, meat, borshch or cabbage soup (shchi) of your choice, as well as a large variety of baked goods.

The association of such traders in the merchants' rows on Kontraktova Square was called "Refreshment stand". Visit me in summer or at Christmas and you will see with your own eyes how Kontraktova Square in winter, and Sahaidachny Street in the warm period turn into a big banquet-feast, where different cuisines of the world merge into a harmonious symphony of aromas in the air. This is the whole essence of Podil and the people he attracted in his generous, hospitable embrace - a combination of the incompatible.

And what to take as a souvenir of me? Now it is a Kyiv cake, and in ancient times, respected owners greeted dear guests with spicy jam made of berries and fruits, as well as honey bread with spices. These delicacies were a great gift for goodbye as well. So, for example, in 1386 the famous Kyiv jam arrived at the wedding of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vladislav II Jagiello and Queen of Poland Jadwiga of Anjou, as a "sweet greeting".

And honey bread, also known as spice cake, has been known in Kyivan Rus since the 9th century and also played the honorary role of a sweet gift. By the way, there is an interesting fact that the family of a cake baker Nechaev during the Kontraktova Square fair could sell up to 600 pounds of their branded spice cakes in the early 20th century.

In Soviet period, there were other gastronomic ideals in my area. In 1981, a fast food restaurant was opened on 3-A Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Street, where for almost forty years now only one dish has been served - Kyivska Perepichka (Kyiv pastries). This miracle food, which has been the icon of the city's street food for such a long time, is just a sausage roll made from sour bread dough and then fried in a pan with a large amount of butter or lard.

The restaurant location, the taste of Kyivska Perepichka, and queues for the delicacies have been remaining unchanged for many years. It is interesting that the world leader of fast food - McDonald's (the first restaurant in Ukraine and in Kyiv was opened in 1997 in Lukyanivka), did not affect the popularity of Kyivska Perepichka. Moreover, a number of world guides to gastronomic tourism each year include this dish in the list of mandatory ones for tasting.

If the time of your journey on my exciting routes falls on the period from April to November don't hesitate and dedicate your weekend to the festival Ulichnaya eda. This is where you will plunge into a real feast of taste. At the festival, you will see with your own eyes and feel with your taste buds how I hospitably receive friends, feed deliciously, and entertain them cheerily, unrestrained, and until the morning.

I am waiting for you. Your tasty Kyiv!