Eating In and Eating Out In Ukraine

Sergei, area director for Young Life, invited us to his house for a farewell dinner.  He prepared his specialty: fish with vegetables.  But before the main course, another Ukrainian tradition:  bread with sala (pork fat), a clove of garlic and borscht.  Great people, great meal.

 

We stayed in Sasha Utkin’s house.  He is the director of Young Life in Chernivsti.  His house, like many, is in a continual state of construction.  He and his family moved into it this year, after living for two years at Club.  First floor are three apartments, soon to be finished, for future couples to live and be mentored by the Utkins.  2nd floor are bedrooms, kitchen, and living room.  3rd floor is Sasha’s extensive library and an open room for people to come over and socialize.  He is building the entire home to accommodate Young life activities.

So, breakfast every day at the Utkin’s.  Coffee or tea, cold cereal, eggs, salt cheese, sausage and bread.  Very nice.

Eating out was always an adventure.  Small restaurants, large restaurants.  But, all very inexpensive.  Usually with soup, salad, main course, desert and a drink, it was rarely more than $20 total for four!

Translated this says “The Family Sausage”, we didn’t eat here. 

We bought bread in this bakery, the baker was delivering the bread  on wooden pallets.  The smell was incredible!

Never a bad meal.

One of the many types of tea available.  Pronounced “Chai” in Russian, it goes with everything all day and half the night.  Conversation is never complete without tea.  Tea is never complete without conversation.

On our last day in Ukraine, we have our final bowl of borscht.  How appropriate that the dollop of sour cream ended up in the shape of a heart!