On December 8, 2023 (Friday), in response to the earlier inquiry, we held a Ukrainian borscht cooking class at the Hoshigaoka Civic Center (星ヶ丘市民センター) in Kitakyushu City (Fukuoka prefecture).
Twelve enthusiastic city citizens participated in the lesson, and we successfully prepared a delicious, hearty borscht with all the necessary ingredients. The red beets for the borscht were obtained from a friend of our association, a local farmer Mr. Shota Kinoshita from Karatsu City (NPO法人farm＆food).
Interestingly, none of the participants in the cooking class had ever cooked borscht before, and only a few had the opportunity to taste the dish in public eateries. In addition to the culinary class, we also gave a presentation on the history and origin of Ukrainian borscht, as well as its cultural significance for our country and Ukrainian families. In the context of the ongoing aggression by russia against Ukraine, it was important for us to inform the Japanese citizens about the significance of borscht as an element of Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian identity, which the aggressor also seeks to appropriate.
The participants who tasted borscht for the first time were particularly surprised by the flavor profile of the soup, which is fully developed without the addition of special spices or flavor enhancers (which are typical for homemade Japanese cuisine). Fresh dill and classical types of sour cream completed the perfect composition that many Ukrainians are so familiar with.
The event took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere where we could slowly enjoy the taste and exchange opinions and impressions. Ukrainian Association of Fukuoka Prefecture is happy to respond to similar requests from other civic centers or cooking circles in cities and smaller settlements in Fukuoka Prefecture. In the future, we plan to expand the selection of the traditional Ukrainian dishes that we would like to introduce to our Japanese friends.
Please take a look at the photos taken at the event.
Cooking Ukrainian Borsch in Hoshigaoka Civic Center
(Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
