Yuliia's Garden Kitchen

WELCOME TO YUlIIA’S GARDEN KITCHEN

In the photograph from my childhood, I'm standing proudly with a cake made from sand and flowers picked from our meticulously tended garden. At seven or eight years old, I had already become a master of makeshift cooking, though the adults were wary of letting me near the real kitchen. Undeterred, I found my own culinary playground among the garden's treasures.

One of my earliest triumphs was a spring soup that defied conventional recipes. It featured water from the nearby pond or paddle, delicately fragrant blossoms, sticks from the trees, and even tiny pebbles, somehow concocting a surprisingly delicious brew that I proudly served to my bemused family.

But my pièce de résistance, the dish that earned me local fame among relatives and neighbours alike, was the Sands Rissoles. Crafted from a blend of sands and secret ingredients I fancied were fit for royalty, these crispy treats were devoured with gusto by anyone brave enough to taste them.

For dessert, I presented my masterpiece: "Biskvit z kvitamy," a sponge cake adorned with flowers. In Ukrainian, the name was a playful pun that only added to its charm, though its true essence was lost in translation. With each slice, I served not just a dessert, but a piece of my boundless imagination and determination to create something extraordinary from the simplest of ingredients.

Looking back at that photograph now, I see not just a child playing chef, but a glimpse of the passion and creativity that would shape my journey into the world of cooking and beyond.

Yuliia’s garden menu, filled with delicious desserts and floral pastries had everyone rushing for seconds - much like her Ukrainian cooking today, sans the dirt! To join one of Yuliia's Ukrainian cooking experiences, click the button below xo