Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko to launch debut London restaurant
Called Mriya, which translates to mean 'dream' in Ukrainian, the restaurant will specialise in modern Ukrainian cuisine and be staffed by Ukrainian refugees who fled the country following the Russian invasion earlier this year.
The menu will include classic dishes including Kovryzhenko's take on borsch and chicken Kyiv, as well as the chef's variations on local Ukrainian vegetables and foods like courgette pancakes with stracciatella; and smoked trout and vinaigrette with strawberries on green pea cream with crayfish necks.
An ambassador for Ukrainian cuisine, Kovryzhenko was in London promoting his country's national gastronomy when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine back in February. Choosing to stay, he and Tsybytovska became actively involved in charitable activities to raise funds for Ukraine.
Over four months, Kovryzhenko held more than 20 charity dinners and raised around £400,000.
Discussing his plans for Mriya, Kovryzhenko says: “Once upon a time, one person said he had a dream, and those words marked the global changes. I have a dream too. And it will soon come true because Mriya will soon open its doors and be able to tell London about Ukraine in the language of taste and cosiness.”
Kovryzhenko and Tsybytovska are actively preparing to open the restaurant at the moment, posting messages to groups of Ukrainians in London on social networks to offer jobs to Ukrainian refugees.
The restaurant will hold 37 covers across its dining room and terrace. It will also feature a separate refrigerating room where Kovryzhenko will ferment vegetables according to ancient Ukrainian recipes.
“Ukraine has a unique and exciting identity, and it is about time to tell on this,” he adds.
