Our Foods in the Ukraine

Hello all,

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I’m sure by now many of you are growing tired of hearing about the wonderful details of our perfect son, as told by his parents. Many of you are probably wondering- “what else do they do besides sit & watch this kid?” So to answer that question, I will begin to write entries about the Ukraine culture and just what we are seeing and experiencing. Hope you find them interesting, if not- just keep reading about our perfect son!

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Observations about Ukraine Food:

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Groceries:

Grocery shopping here is very different! When Ukraine people go to the grocery store, they seem to shop for that day’s meal(s) only. Grocery stores are on many blocks, but they are small and compact in size. (For those in Raymond, IL- Lancer’s Market would fit in perfectly over here.) In our Kiev grocery, that market had shopping carts and quiet a few aisles, but most stores only have the small “carry-around” baskets that are about a half-bushel basket size. As people leave the market, they are usually carrying one bag about the size of a regular Wal-Mart plastic bag- but it may only be half full. Being a planner, I like to think ahead & purchase things in advance. Last night we had a basket with a large grocery order; people probably thought we were feeding an orphanage! We left there with two bags & people probably noticed that we were unique (just by our shopping habits). In fact as we kept reading the labels and added more stuff to the basket, it became obvious that the store security guard & manager were watching us.

But everything is packed in smaller quantities.

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Beverages:

Milk can sometimes be found in a 2 liter, usually it is one. 2 and 5% milk is the standard; we did locate 1% last night. I have seen cans of soda in 6 packs- but only in the 6oz mini-can sizes

usually a two liter is the largest), they stock single 1 liter bottles on the shelf as the main size.

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Of course, as American we purchase bottled water, to drink & cook with- 5 liter bottles at a time (little less than 1½ gallons). But you have to make sure you get the right bottle. The locals usually prefer the carbonated, soda water. They also bottle “light-carbonated”, so we have to get the un-carbonated bottle! It’s like drinking your coffee decaffeinated!

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I already discussed the milk- let’s talk about the other staple- Coke Products. Coke is truly king here. Occasionally you see pepsi, but it is rare! You can usually find 3 types- Coke, Sprite, Coke Light (diet). The last time I saw Coke Zero, we were at the Amsterdam airport. At the restaurants they bring a full bottle to our table, open it, and pour it into your glass- treating it with the same care that one would give a fine bottle of wine- again you Never use their ice. The nice restaurants serve it in glass bottles, others in plastic. Even McDonald’s serves plastic bottles, not fountain.

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Meats:

The meat dept is the most unique. It is rare to see packages of ground beef or pork as we are used to, I saw it in one store. Fish is the staple here. Whole, dead fish of many sizes and colors lay in coolers (like our bakery cases) sometimes on ice, and you point to the one that you wish to have bagged & weighed (priced by the pound). We have been told several times that the concern for “Westerners” is the north-south river that flows through Ukraine. It is as big in Ukrainian proportion as our Mississippi is to the USA. But, the nuclear accident that we know as “Chernobyl” occurred at the north base of this river. SO, Chernobyl still sits today as a much un-reclaimed nuclear waste spot. Ashes & waste still set on property, buildings, and grounds. So we are told that with every rainfall, part of the nuclear waste gets rinsed into the river. SO we avoid the fish… and we NEVER drink the water, nor use ice in our drinks.

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We found a market with a meat product much like summer sausage back home, so it makes a nice sandwich (so I am still taking my Lipitor for cholesterol).

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MISC:

Mike Klaves will be happy to learn that the American chip over here is…. LAY’S! I bought grab & go sizes of Sour Cream & Onion, and a Bekoh (bacon). Each cost me the equivalent of 22 cents (US dollars). I don’t know if this route would be profitable for you, and you would have to get up earlier than 4am!

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When eating in our apartment, we are eating a usual diet of boxed cereal in the AM, with a pastry. Breakfast Cereal boxes are about the size of 6x8x2". Box cereals by Nestle are easy to find, but not the sugary types we find in the states. Honey-Nut Cheerios, corn flakes, etc… we did see a chocolaty style cereal the other day, but most are simple corn, wheat, & rice. Every store has a cookie/pastry section that is hard to avoid. Animal Crackers to take to the boy are readily available.

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Bread loaves are usually ovals (6-8" long, 4" wide, and 2-3" high- about the size of a Subway 6") and they sit in open bushel baskets- usually unwrapped! Everyone pinches them to check the freshness, and then grabs the one they want. It is much like buying apples and other fruits in the US.

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Boiled “Dumpling-type” products are big here. I bought potato dumplings at a restaurant that were very good. Meat dumplings remind us of ravioli or tortellini (I have some of those in our freezer now). They also sell Fruit dumplings as well.

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Fruits: Bananas & Apples & Oranges- everything you would see at home is plentiful here. I bought 9 bananas last night for about 89 cents US. They also sell a lot of types of squash.

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Eggs are often purchased singularly, they are in the produce section, and you bag them as you wish in the clear produce bags, and are charged by the piece.

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Pasta noodles of all shapes and styles & jars of sauce are easily found in stores. Packaged Spices (oregano, rosemary, basil) come in small paper envelopes- like you would buy taco seasoning in the USA.

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That’s a small taste of Ukraine! Come on over, everything but the water is fine!

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Eating around the globe,

Darrin, Barb, & Perfect