Meet Liza
“In Ukraine, we are squeezing lemonade from all the lemons that life gives us,” says Liza, the “queen of laughing” who believes that cooking should be a social and fun experience, filled with stories, humour and connection.
It’s how they do it in Ukraine, where food is not just about keeping hunger at bay – “it’s about talking, laughing, gathering, sharing news, and discussing topics.”
Born just a year before Ukraine gained independence, Liza has witnessed her country’s transformation from Soviet times to a vibrant, modern European nation. “It's very digital, very modern,” she says. “We have lots of restaurants, all sorts of cuisine, and amazing coffee. We have delicious food and very fertile soil, so we have a lot of grains, cereals and vegetables – and everything is very cheap! We have new music, new traditions, but we are also trying to hold on to old traditions, like our Vyshyvanka (embroidered Ukrainian shirts). We are trying to remember who we are.”
This mix of old and new shines through in Liza’s cooking, where she loves to blend the time-honoured recipes that are deeply tied to her cultural heritage with more contemporary influences. “I like to experiment,” she says. “I would like to share about Ukraine in this way – we’re not the old style anymore.”
As a mother to two small children, Liza cherishes her time in the kitchen. “It's relaxing time,” she says. “It helps me clear my head.” She’s excited to invite her cooking class participants into this special space. Expect to roll up your sleeves, have fun, and try her famous Syrnyky (Ukrainian cheese pancakes). Also on the menu, you’ll see plenty of potatoes, herbs – especially parsley and dill – and sour cream. “Sour cream makes everything better,” Liza says.
She also loves to cook Belochka dip (above), a bold mix of cheese, eggs, mayo and garlic. Its other name? “Stinky salad”. It’s an acquired taste, but Liza won’t show up to a barbecue or dinner party without one in tow, and has told her disbelieving friends in Ukraine that she’s on a mission to make “stinky salad” famous here in Australia.
Liza is especially looking forward to sharing stories of the “unbreakable” Ukrainian spirit, including her husband’s 85-year-old grandmother who sells fruits and vegetables at a nearby village market. “When war started, on the second day, our grandmother went to the market to sell,” says Liza. “My husband said ‘No, don’t go, we will give you money’, and she said ‘It’s not about that – people are waiting for me.’ It’s about talking to people, living our lives. It’s very important to us.”
If you attend Liza’s cooking experience, expect a positive atmosphere – a celebration of life, culture and, most importantly, joy.
She promises, “At my class, you’re not going to cry – you’re going to be laughing.”
Examples of embroidery called Vyshyvanka (вишиванка) from the two regions of Ukraine Liza is from–Kherson (Херсон) and Kharkiv (Харків)