Hadzynka, the village in the Hlybochytska territorial community, hosted the Zhytomyr region’s first school chefs’ competition. Cooks from 11 schools served main courses, desserts, and drinks while raising funds to support Ukraine’s armed forces.
Suspilne reported this.
Vira Rachkovska-Dolhykh, head of the Hlybochytska community’s department of education, culture, youth, and sports, said this was the first school chefs’ competition held across the community’s schools and kindergartens.
“This event is designed to dispel the myth that school food is boring, tasteless, lean, unsalted, and that children do not want to eat it. In fact, today all 11 educational institutions in the community presented their culinary masterpieces and proved that school food is not only tasty, but also healthy. We saw that our chefs, in addition to cooking deliciously, also have a huge imagination,” said Vira Rachkovska-Dolhykh.
She added that the event also supports service members, with on-site donation boxes. All funds raised will be donated to Ukraine’s armed forces.
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Larysa Prokuda and Svitlana Hakalets, cooks at Levkiv’s Zoloty Kliuchyk kindergarten, competed as the “Crazy Bees.” Their menu featured chicken soup with honey and ginger—their signature dish—alongside baked potatoes, pork in honey-mustard sauce, mead, and mulled wine with cherry juice. Prokuda said her nephew is serving in the Ukrainian army, and the pair dream of hosting a festive table for service members after victory.
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Lesia Pohorelova, deputy director of the Levkiv Lyceum, helped prepare an ancient Ukrainian fish soup once cooked by the Cossacks.
“Zaporizhzhia shcherba is the quintessential Cossack dish. It gave the Cossacks strength after their campaigns: Dnipro fish, mushrooms from Ukraine’s forests, lard, and Ukrainian dumplings. The Cossacks didn’t eat potatoes. And of course, this dish was seasoned with courage and daring,” said Lesia Pohorelova.
Valentyna Novitska, a cook at the Hadzynka preschool, introduced her team, “Rodynnyi Smakoland” [ Family Tasteland in English – ed.] She said they will present all family dishes at the battle: ‘Mom’s Borscht,’ ‘Son-in-Law’s Potatoes,’ ‘Mother-in-Law’s Birch Porridge,’ and ‘Grandmother’s Delicacies”.
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Halyna Pakliachenko traveled from Zhytomyr to attend the culinary competition, sample the school cooks’ dishes, and donate to Ukraine’s armed forces.
“People need something to rally around – ideally, helping our defenders. It’s a great idea. And I picked up the cabbage dumplings – I love them,” said Halyna Pakliachenko.
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Iryna Bondar, Ukrainian freestyle wrestler, European champion, world and European champion among youth and juniors, is a jury member at the school chefs’ battle. Iryna said that she ate banosh and gave it the highest score.
“I tried banosh – very tasty – with homemade cheese and cracklings. I really liked it; it tastes just like in the Carpathians. I judge the dish by both flavor and presentation: we look at how the table is set, hygiene standards, the plating, the dishes, and how it’s served,” said Iryna.
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
Suspilne Zhytomyr/Tetiana Iskorostenska
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The post Solutions to win: school chefs’ battle in Zhytomyr region sees 11 teams showcase dishes, raise funds for Ukraine’s armed forces appeared first on Rubryka.
