ROCKLAND — Penobscot Bay Language School will host a Ukrainian pop-up café, Saturday, Feb. 4, from 4 - 7 p.m., at 28 Gay Street location in Rockland.
Each nation has its own flag, an anthem, folk songs and of course, its own dishes, according to PBLS, in a news release.
“The most delicious and famous Ukrainian dish is borscht,” said the release. “It is even recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage.”
Borscht is a unique Ukrainian dish. Its base is red beet, the most useful vegetable in the world, and six other kinds of vegetables. There are at least 50 different recipes for it. Ukraine is a multinational nation, just like America. And each nation contributed part of its traditions to the borscht recipe.
“But this can’t be expressed in words,” said PBLS. “I suggest you just taste it. As they say in Ukraine, Smachnogo, which means Bon Appetit! Please join us for family friendly activities, while enjoying fantastic Ukrainian food, drinks, music while meeting old and new friends.
There will be a 3-course dinner, which will immerse people in Ukrainian culture and give them a taste of Ukraine, including: Borscht (meat or vegan); Varenyky – Ukrainian dumplings with potatoes or cabbage and mushrooms; Syrnyky – fried cottage cheese balls with sour cream and cherries. Also appetizers and drinks.
PBLS will prepare a waffle cake with kids – the most favorite dessert of Ukrainian children, read Ukrainian books and draw pictures, which the school will send to Ukrainian schools. PBLS is also auctioning a painting by the outstanding Ukrainian modern impressionist artist Georhiy Zaychenko*.
*The artist’s works are represented in many public and private collections around the and sold at Sotheby’s and Christie’s auctions houses.
Proceeds benefit PBLS’ ongoing Free ESL for New Mainers program, offering FREE English language classes for Refugees and Immigrants here in the Midcoast and across the state.
$30 per person
Children under 12 free
To register: https://www.penobscot.us/product/ukrainian-pop-up-cafe-pbls/
Mrs. Veligura and her two young children from Ukraine, have recently settled in the Midcoast area. While the current war in Ukraine drags on, many Ukrainian families find themselves separated from loved ones, far from home, and worried about those that remain in Ukraine to defend their homeland. During this time of uncertainty for the Ukrainian diaspora, PBLS is offering FREE English Language Classes, community programming and other community based support resources to all recently resettled refugees in the Midcoast area. Although Ukrainian refugee families are the most recent wave of New Mainers arriving in Maine communities, recent waves of refugees being resettled in Maine include families from all over the word, including Iraq, Syria, Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia and Afghanistan. All proceeds go to supporting ESL services and community building programs with Penobscot Bay Language School.
