Episode 03: War Hero with a Soup Ladle

Schnitzel and Stories Podcast Yevhen Klopotenko — Yevhen Klopotenko, (C) Vlad Nahorny

Yevhen Klopotenko is a powerhouse with the biggest heart. The Ukrainian chef and culinary ambassador is a hero fighting the war in Ukraine, but his frontlines are the kitchens of his restaurants. After working in the food industry in the UK and Italy, he returned to Ukraine and made his way up. His victory on MasterChef Ukraine propelled him to pursue culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. After returning to his motherland, he was passionate about elevating Ukrainian cuisine. He initiated projects like Cult Food to reform school meals and improve culinary education. One of his most significant victories yet was to set THE national dish of Ukraine on a special list. Borsch is now considered a UNESCO cultural heritage, bringing pride to Ukrainians and thus reminding us all that dining together is the most excellent form of solidarity. Klopotenko's restaurants redefine Ukrainian gastronomy while serving as avenues for social impact during challenging times. With so much going on in his life and while the war in his homeland continues, Yevhen still found the time to talk to us. Tune in!

Follow Yevhen Klopotenko on Instagram

Schnitzel and Stories Recording Session with Yevhen Klopotenko — Angelika, Yevhen and Arlene during recording “Schnitzel and Stories”

Cook Yevhen's Borsch at home

For more about Yevhen’s work, more recipe and information, please visit his website - Yevhen also mentioned the initiative of the Ukrainian president, UNITED24, please find it here.

Find more information about Yevhen and Ukraine’s cuisine in the links below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJD7GCrb97M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8U469Minhg

https://youtu.be/IHCl9XKRrgs?si=jzhYlSE0T_P6IP7n

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/28/chef-ievgen-klopotenko-putting-ukrainian-cuisine-back-on-the-map

https://english.nv.ua/life/ukraine-s-taste-yevhen-klopotenko-names-the-top-ukrainian-dishes-that-foreigners-must-try-50373055.html

https://war.ukraine.ua/heroes/chef-and-popularizer-of-ukrainian-borscht-ievgen-klopotenko-opened-a-restaurant-with-a-free-of-charge-menu/

https://apnews.com/article/ukrainain-borsch-borscht-cultural-preservation-chef-food-ec0bd5ce731fe28cf4b35479c0eec911

https://destinations.ua/bloggers/ievgen-klopotenko

https://ukrainian-recipes.com/ukrainian-borsch.html

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20191014-who-really-owns-borsch

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/culture-ukrainian-borscht-cooking-inscribed-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-need-urgent

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/world/europe/unesco-recognizes-borscht-as-a-ukrainian-dish-in-urgent-need-of-safeguarding.html#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20a%20Ukrainian%20chef,part%20of%20Ukraine%27s%20cultural%20heritage.

http://www.foodbycountry.com/Spain-to-Zimbabwe-Cumulative-Index/Ukraine.html