We have only fresh and savory news! March 2014 | № 03 (126)

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March 25 — Birthday of Korchma in Petrovka Street

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r a h Project manager – Yuri Beloyvan i it n [email protected] i w an e c ad uisine – m Jason Flemyng Maybe I was Russian in my former life…

15 years of success Korchma ‘Taras Bulba’ celebrates its Birthday! Good news for the gourmets! In March your favorite chain of Ukrainian restaurants Korchma ‘Taras Bulba’ celebrates its 15th anniversary. On our Birthday we not just Serhiy Prytula: receive but also give out presents. Our motto: 15 years – 25th of March – You’re going to laugh, but I am not a big fan of salo 15% off to each guest.

Exotic Collection: Indian Conch Shell, Wooden Drymba and Corn Violin…

Taras Shevchenko: the 200th anniversary of the birth of the genius’

DELIVERY OF HOMEMADE UKRAINIAN FOOD AND HOTLINE 6+ www.tarasbulba.us (212) 510-75-10 2 | guest guest | 3

Impressive settings, uneclipsed actors’ performances, and box office records – this is what accompanied the triumph of the highly – What will be your next project after anticipated new version of the film Viy. That the film was highly successful is proved by the fact that in Russia Oleg Stepchenko’s picture Viy? Or will you take a break from filming? became the first multi-million film in 2014 and left the new Leodardo di Caprio film The Wolf of Wall Street far behind. As an official media – No, no, I never take a break from filming. partner of the film, BulbaNEWS have already written about various curious facts and anecdotes from the set. Now we offer you an I have two twin sons, they are 2.5 years old, so exclusive interview with a viewers’ favorite: world renowned actor Jason Flemyng who played the part of cartographer Green. I continue to work. I just finished filming in a French movie, where I spoke French. So there was Russian, now French… It was a film about Coco Chanel nominated for Oscar. Then I performed in the film Elisa Graves. We are Jason Flemyng: also making a new show for BBC in Brussels.

– Which world famous directors would Maybe I was Russian you like to work with? – I would love to play for David Sant, he is my favorite director in the whole world… I am inspired by Martin Scorcese. But if the script in my former life … is good I will work with any director. – Jason, how did your work with the producers – You are still very young, you whole of Viy start? It is the first Russian film you agreed career is before you! to play in. Quoting Don Corleone, the producers must have made you an offer you couldn’t refuse? – I just love you for such words! – They must have. It was the time when I – Can we go back to Russia? What in finished filming Benjamin Button. I was probably particular did you like best from its local life an actor, and an Englishman to that, at the peak of and culture? his fame. That’s how we started filming Viy. Then money trouble happened, and so the producer, whom – I am not exactly a spring chicken, and I personally adore and admire, decided to re-film my views on culture and life are old, the the thing in 3D with a completely new approach. Russian culture entered my life when I was 10 That’s when I became really involved in the filming or 11. I first read Staniskavsky’s Work on the process. Earlier, we had already filmed a small part, Self, it affected me so much for the rest of my but then we remade everything with the producer’s life. The place where I grew up was saturated new vision. They just wanted to make the best film with love to the former Soviet Union. That’s possible. We filmed for over seven years, dropped why on my first visit to Moscow I went to it, and came back to it, made pauses and resumed see the Revolution Square, visited Lenin’s filming again… Fortunately, I didn’t stop, they didn’t monument… It was all very important to me stop, and now we have a film we can be proud about. even though I understand how old-fashioned it must sound. Russian culture always – How did they find you in the first place? influenced my life, I always felt emotionally close to Russians. Now more than ever. – As did everyone else, through my agent. Frankly, I think of myself as a lucky person. I played – Maybe you were Russian in a former life? in 94 films, so for me to get really interested in the part, I need to hear something absolutely new and – Yes, quite possible! And if not, I will be different from what I’ve already done. When they Russian in my next life! told me they wanted me, and English speaker, to – Have no doubt about it! No other country was playing in the film where adventure, mysticism, and play in a Russian picture to be filmed in Russia and as welcoming as Russia and I am very grateful for it. love are interwoven? – Have you tried the legendary moonshine? in Europe, I immediately agreed: “It sounds damn We are now talking about making Viy-2 and there is tempting!” nothing else I would rather do than this. – I have played in many films in my 25-year – What? Vodka? career. Just look at my filmography on imbd. THE BEST UKRAINIAN CUISINE OF KIEV – There used to be rumors that the film would – You must have made friends with other actors com and you will see that I performed in different – Yes. be promoted abroad by Brad Pitt… Is this true? on the set? genres. This wasn’t anything new for me. What was Welcome to Korchma in Kiev! new for me was working with Russian actors and – O, I drink it every day! Every day! (he – Jason Statham is already very much into this – But of course… With Chadov, with Agnia!!! Russian directors. It disappointed me not a bit, I laughs) We drank it every day for seven years! film, he posted his comments on the Internet about To be fair – with everyone on the set… It was an was enjoying my every moment on the set. how much he liked it. I haven’t yet given a copy to unforgettable experience. You need to understand – You must have consumed a lot of it in Brad, but he’s a good friend of mine and I know he that when you make a film for seven years, you – It’s nice to hear that. Russia? would support anything I do. spend a whole lot of time together. I never spent A free tour of Kiev such a long period of time with the same actors, and – But this is true. First, they pay better, second, – Not really, we were busy most of the after lunch in – Let’s talk about something else. You were it was very memorable. it’s so much fun to be around them. time. But there were times when we had a Korchma! impressed, as many other Europeans, by the breadth drink, that’s right. One night, Chadov and I of the Russian soul. You said that the time you spent – Was it difficult for you to speak Russian to – Have you read anything else by Gogol who got very drunk… And that’s all you’re gonna with the Russians was unforgettable. Is it really so? people? You said nobody was speaking English. wrote Viy? get from me (he laughs). – I visited Russia when I was a student at the – Yeah, my Russian is very poor. But I tried. If – Yes, I did and I liked it very much. – To finish it up, what would you wish our Moscow Theater of Culture, in the late 80s and you watch the film you will see I managed it quite readers? early 90s. So my coming to Moscow was a return. well. The film earned 14 million dollars at box – Do you like any other Russian classics? I brought my mother with me, she always dreamed offices, which means my Russian is not so bad and – What kind of magazine is it? of going to the Bolshoi Theater. All we got from people could understand me. – When I was young, the first Russian the Russians was love and warm feelings, and now book I read was One day in the life of Ivan – It’s the newspaper of the Ukrainian I’m watching the Olympics and I don’t know who – Can you understand Russian or nothing at all? Denisovich. Solzhenitsyn initiated me into restaurant chain Korchma Taras Bulba. I should support: the English team or the Russian? Russian literature. Later I studies Chekhov Yes, that’s right, just as we are speaking with you I – Yes, I can understand a little. I can say (speaks when I played in MHAT. Plays by Gogol. I also – Come see me in theaters, have a nice am watching the England-Russia curling game and with a funny accent): “Excuse me, can you give me read Crime and Punishment. Like any other meal and a drink. And remember that life is I’m not completely sure who I want to win! a light?” young punk I thought “Wow! This is fantastic! Kiev, Pushkinskaya Street 2-4/7 too short to drink bad vodka! I want to read all the other Russian books!” But Phone: +38 (044) 270-7248, +38 (093) 342-3868 – That’s so great! Does it mean that Russia made – Was it difficult for the actor from Lock, Stock it stopped there, reading all the other Russian Text: Aleksandra Gulova a big impression on you? and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch to adapt to books turned out too difficult. 4 | interview interview | 5

“If you want to describe my life in a nutshell, I would quote one of the – Rumor has it that you are an ardent nationalist … for sure. Besides, I’m sure that no one in my family can fry potatoes as I can (this is the result of my college years). Although most of all I am proud TNMK’s songs: ‘Once I lived, wasn’t prosecuted, and didn’t serve in the – Rumor has it that some brutes have driven the situation to the absurdity. of my own invention which I call “Ukrainian Caprese.” Once I came home When you declare that you love Ukraine, speak Ukrainian, demand governors from work and decided to whip up something light. I took mozzarella, army…’ To elaborate, I spent my childhood in Vyshnivka, school years in who live on your taxes to work within the law and so on, you automatically started looking for tomatoes. Didn’t find any. And then I noticed the plate Zbarazh, college years in Ternopil, spent some time in London, and now become an ardent nationalist with everything related to this. Propaganda and with boiled beetroot. I thought: why not? And now I have a new recipe: mass media substitute concepts. A “nationalist,” a person who loves his own take one boiled beetroot, slice it, place a slice of mozzarella over it as well I live and work in Kyiv. I do my favorite job, I bring up a son. I planted without denying someone else’s, is suddenly called a “Nazi.” I think I’m a as a leaf of mint or basil, and then drizzle it with balsamic or pesto sauce. Ukrainian nationalist, and believe me, very often I want to spit into the eyes Bon appetite! trees, but I’m not building a house because I prefer flats.” This is what of the politicians who call people like me fascists. Am I called a fascist, whose Serhiy Prytula modestly says about himself. In Ukraine, he is known as one grandfather in the Red Army’s ranks marched to Vienna, was awarded an order – Since early youth you’ve been an active member of nongovernmental and a medal? organizations. Have you ever thought about starting your own political of the most asked-for entertainment presenters. He worked on the organization or at least of seriously engaging in politics? – Will you visit our restaurant, when you happen to be in Russia? radio, was a ComedyclubUA member. Now he is preparing new TV – I don’t have a lot of money to be engaged in politics. Even in the opposition shows. He shared his plans with Bulba NEWS. – Sure! I have my own tourist ethics. When I travel abroad, I always try to there are very few people with whom I would like to spend my time with. It’s find and visit a Ukrainian restaurant. It’s very important for me to spend some a pity that the Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi doesn’t hurry to scale political money at the restaurants that promote Ukrainian culture. Those are Kozachok heights at the national level. For the last seven years this man has turned Lviv in Tbilisi, Borsch in Vilnius, Vodohray in Saint Petersburg, and many others in into a real European city. Go there and just try to rent an apartment – the city western Europe and the USA. Unfortunately, I don’t remember all of them. I’m is overwhelmed with tourists. This person is very persistent and doesn’t waste sure that Taras Bulba will be on the top of those restaurants’ list. words. It’s a rare feature.

Serhiy – What dish do you order first of all, when you visit such restaurants? – What are you working on now?

– It will take lots of time to list them. I hate eggs and so all the salads or – I’m writing a summary of a book by Ukrainian author Maks Kidruk. A few dishes with raw, boiled, or fried eggs I don’t eat. The same with herring and sour years ago I was searching for a volunteer who would dare to fly to New Zealand Prytula: cream. You’re going to laugh, but I don’t like salo either. Yes, I’m not a typical and take revenge for the dignity of all the Ukrainian girls that was offended by Ukrainian. Thus I eat borsch without sour cream, varenyky only with fried a local radio presenter. I opted for Maks since I knew him at that time and I onions, thank God, khrenivka (horseradish-infused vodka) can’t be spoiled knew his adventurous nature. It’s so pleasant that my initiative and his talent with anything (he laughs). found expression in a book that is just hitting book shops. Now I’m preparing together with Olga Freimut a new season of the TV show Who’s on Top, and You’re going to – Do you prepare any specialties to serve to your family and guests? with Sashko Pedan the PedanPrytula Show. And in the meantime I continue to tour with the Varyaty show. – It’s best for me to stay away from the kitchen. The list of my competences there is miserable. So I’m rather dead weight in those square meters than Text: Oksana Hnatyshyn laugh, but I am not a helper. However, I can braise a tasty chicken with champignons. That’s Photo: Yuriy Helytovych a big fan of salo Serhiy Prytula’s – Serhiy, you are a showman, a popular TV presenter, an actor, a writer, and finally, a comedian. How would you characterize yourself? Ukrainian – I don’t like the word “showman,” it’s ambiguous. Most of our Verkhovna Rada’s parliamentarians and government officials are showmen. But their show isn’t funny. At present, I work on television, I’m a TV presenter and develop my own Caprese: comedy show called Varyaty. So, I could be called both a humorist and a stand-up comedian… I really don’t care so much about this. Serves 4:

– You’ve mentioned your own comedy show Varyaty. From the time when 2 beetroots you were a member of ComedyclubUA, you’ve had, and still have, the image of a 250 g of mozzarella cheese sarcastic critic. Are you consciously supporting and developing this image? Mint, basil Olive oil – Image is nothing – and the truth is above all! I don’t invent anything when I talk Dressings: balsamic, pesto with people, being on the stage. I just think that it’s important to call a spade a spade. If a person’s work or behavior doesn’t correspond to their posts and occupations, why not Boil beetroot, cool it, and then slice mock them? That’s why I call priests managers of The Church Inc. I hope there is no need it. On a plate, place beetroot slices to explain this. If you don’t understand, then when you happen to be in Kyiv, visit the topped with mozzarella slices, basil, Lavra and look at their cars. There, in the parking lot, you will see the annual budget of and mint. Drizzle with olive oil, and one of the Ukrainian regions (he laughs). dressings. Bon appetite!

Did you know…? The opera singer Enrico Caruso Each time before One of the best violinists The well-known song “Happy was an Italian tenor, but his sitting at the table and Joshua Bell agreed to take Birthday to You” to this day voice could vary within a very starting to compose part in an experiment on remains under copyright. wide range. Once, during the music, Beethoven January 12, 2007. In the It can be performed free performance of Puccini’s La bohème, dipped his head in a morning, he pretended to of charge at a family or a bass singer turned toward him basin with the ice-cold be a street musician and friendly gathering, but it’s and whispered that he lost his voice. water. This became played for 45 minutes in necessary to pay a fee to use Caruso told him to just open his such an important part a hall of a subway station. it commercially, for example, mouth and he performed the whole of his habitual routine Out of the thousands of in a film or on a greeting card. aria by himself with his back turned that the composer people who passed by, The song brings $2 million to the audience. Almost nobody couldn’t give it up until only seven took interest in annually to the company from the audience noticed the trick. his death. his music. possessing the rights to it. 6 | Travelling Travelling | 7

“Chernivtsi is a city where Sunday began with Schubert’s music and ended with a duel. This city, situated halfway between Kyiv and Bucharest, Krakow and Odesa, was the unofficial capital of Europe where the best sopranists took the floor, carriage drivers argued about Karl Kraus, where the sidewalks were swept with rose bouquets, and the number of book shops exceeded the number of coffee shops...” Chernivtsi: Georg Heinzen, German publicist The City Whose Streets Were Swept with Roses

Burundai, the locals moved to the right bank as cultural capital. Many musicians, artists, and It was done to avoid defects. No wonder that the and established another settlement. According to writers dreamed of visiting Bukovyna, especially construction of the residence lasted for eighteen another version, Chernivtsi got its name because when it was under Austria. It is known that years! At first, Josef Hlavka personally oversaw of its fortifications, which were made of oak and Ferenc Liszt, the Hungarian composer, gave a the process. He went there even when he was ill strengthened with black soil that gave the walls a concert on the May 24, 1847, in the city on the and had to move around in a wheelchair. The size grayish hue. Prut. However, he had to wait for a week to show of the building had no analogues in Bukovyna The township, like many others, repeatedly off his talent, for this is how long it took the and cost 1.75 million guldens – an enormous changed hands between different landlords, music lovers to reach the city – they came from sum of money at that time! The funds came several times it was destroyed, and one conqueror all corners of the region. from several sources: the Bukovynian Orthodox was changed by another. First, it was the part As for the city’s architecture, the most Religious Fund and the Ministry of Education of of the Ottoman Empire, then Austro-Hungary outstanding building in Chernivtsi is the Austro-Hungary. In addition, the local German, and Romania. But there is nothing so bad you Residence of Bukovynian and Dalmatian Polish, and Jewish societies also donated to the cannot find something good in it. Because of Metropolitans, which are currently construction. its history, the capital of Bukovyna has a rich the central buildings of the The local Town Hall is one of the main multicultural past, which is evident from many Yuriy Fedkovych University. In attractions of the city. The idea to construct it legends. Probably no other city can be so proud 2011, the residence was listed appeared in the early 1820s, when the magistrate of the peaceful coexistence of a great number of as a UNESCO World Heritage members declared that they could no longer different communities: German, Jewish, Polish, Site and one of the Seven work in rented apartments. First, they planned Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian. This history Wonders of Ukraine. Every year to construct the central building in a completely left its trace in the architecture, names of streets thousands of tourists come to different place – it was supposed to decorate a and buildings. For example, the oldest fountain Bukovyna to see the masterpiece high cliff over the river. This means it wouldn’t in the city is called the Turkish Well. The historic of the Czech architect Joseph have been in the city center at all, but in the site originates from the times when Chernivtsi Hlavka. The history of this site outskirts. The German engineer Adolph was a part of the Ottoman Empire. This fact is goes back to 1864. At that Martin was against this and severely featured in a love story. Once a Turkish pasha met time the Austrian Emperor criticized the government. Discussions a simple Ukrainian girl at the fountain and fell gave permission to build lasted for a long time, but the process of in love with her. He asked her to become one of a new grand residence. purchasing the title to the land plot was his wives, but the girl proudly refused. Then the Several facts speak much longer. Finally, the first foundation pasha prohibited the townspeople from taking for the great scale of stone was laid in April 1843… A few gold Small cozy restaurants, balconies decorated and people’s behavior, their way of life. The city, existed much earlier than this date. Unfortunately, the spring water. The next day, the girl came to the building project. coins and a message to posterity written with flowers, centuries-old architecture, and situated on the River Prut, is famous abroad the original document didn’t remain in the city. the well, but when the Turk approached her, she In order to supply on a parchment deed were placed along narrow streets that were meant not for a noisy for its former residents: accordion player Yan Currently, it is kept in the archives of the Russian jumped into the water and drowned. workers with all the with this stone. stream of cars, but for the easy pace carriages. Tabachnyk, singer Sofia Rotaru, actor Ivan State Historical Museum. The most fruitful period for Chernivtsi began necessary materials, The Town Hall is nearly fifty meters When you come to Chernivtsi, in the south-west Mykolaychuk, and many others. They brought it Scholars still argue about the origin of the with the advent of Austrian rule. At that time several quarries high and is built according to a typical of Ukraine, you feel as if you are somewhere in worldwide fame. name of Bukovyna’s capital. Some believe it received its unofficial name of “Little Paris.” and three factories Austrian project. Not only magistrates, the center of Europe. This atmosphere can be The official history of Chernivtsi started back that Chernivtsi originated from the ancient They say the city obtained from Austria not were opened in but also firemen held their meetings in the attributed not so much to the architecture, in 1405. That was the year when it was mentioned city Chern. It used to lie on the River Prut as only its exquisite architecture but also its strict the outskirts of building. It also had a special post from where constructed during the period of the Austro- in the letters of Alexander, a Moldavian hospodar, well, but on the opposite bank. When in 1259 laws and European discipline. According to the Chernivtsi. In the to see what was going on in the city. From Hungarian Empire, but rather to the culture called the Good. Of course, the settlement had it was ruined by the Mongolian conqueror city’s legends, people wearing dirty shoes were first two factories the bird’s eye view, all the buildings were in prohibited from walking on certain squares, brick was fired, and plain sight – the Town Hall was located in an and what is now Olha Kobylyanska Street in the third one ideal place for this. Today there is one vibrant was washed with perfume and swept with rose tile and building tradition tied with the building. Every day, bouquets. Workers responsible for cleaning it stones were made. at exactly noon, a trumpeter, dressed in folk Welcome to our happy team! were thoroughly selected. Preference was given Now it could seem costume, loudly performs the song “There, on We are always happy to welcome young and energetic men and women eager to work hard and to become professionals at what to educated people with knowledge of foreign unbelievable, but the other bank, lives Marichka…” they do. Every focused and enthusiastic employee will get an opportunity for career growth. languages so that they could speak with foreign at that time each So, if you want to see this interesting custom A unique feature of our HR strategy is to employ not only the experienced professionals, but also young people, which results in tourists about the city. Who knows, maybe it is brick was checked. with your own eyes, drink aromatic Viennese- an effective team. just a fascinating legend, but we know that there First, it was checked or Turkish-style coffee, or walk along the street is always a shard of truth in fiction… for uniformity, then that once was swept with roses, then you are Our job openings: Administrator Cook Hostess Cashier Waiter Delivery operator Bartender Doorman A flourishing city where writers discussed for its sound. Though welcome to Chernivtsi, a beautiful Ukrainian We offer: convenient flexible shifts + free meals + social package + career growth + high corporate culture + competitive salary. the latest European publications in clubs and there were plenty of city. Requirements: nationals of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, aged 18 to 50. Enthusiasm to work, grow and improve. new performances were staged in theaters had no workers, each one was Human resources department: Moskow, Aeroport metro station, 3 Chernyakhovskogo St. right to be called a dull or boring city. Therefore, allowed to lay only one Text: Stepan Hrytsiuk it is no surprise that Chernivtsi became known hundred bricks per day. Photo: Yuriy Helytovych Phone: 8-926-904-41-54, 8-926-461-21-71 [email protected] Note! We are now hiring to work in Korchma “Taras Bulba” restaurants in Kyiv and New York. 8 | Jubilee Jubilee | 9

When fifteen years ago a Ukrainian national Yuriy Beloyvan was opening his first restaurant in Moscow, he couldn’t have imagined that eventually his idea would be the foundation for a large-scale business project, and that Korchma would outgrow its restaurant status and turn into a sociocultural phenomenon. Now, his company owns eighteen restaurants in Moscow, Kyiv, and New York. The brand covers a publishing house, a marathon club, a newspaper, and since recently a children’s magazine. Everything began with quite a prosaic story… Yuriy Beloyvan, in an interview to Bulba NEWS, talks about the idea as a driving force, I told them: “There is money in the envelope, how much would you like to get always full, thus we stay afloat. As a result, our business here is very profitable. for the picture?” They answered: “Two thousand.” I gave them the envelope and It’s a pity that there are no possibilities for my restaurants to flourish in Ukraine secrets of the design, and his personal culinary said: “Here you are, I put five thousand away for you…” so that way Taras Bulba and the USA. However, if business in the USA goes as well as in Russia, of became the logo of Korchma. course we’ll open more places. We’ve already received offers from Tokyo and tastes. London. This is quite interesting, because we can gain some great experience. Just imagine, when we open Korchma in Tokyo, our visitors will be welcomed The Menu by a samurai at the reception… Our menu is translated into 36 languages. There are some very interesting Korchma Taras Bulba: languages... For example, Chuvash. Once somebody made the translation, but Personal Culinary Tastes probably there was no need for it since Chuvashia is a small republic in Russia. However, I think that the menu should be translated into all languages. There’s I won’t say that I like cooking, but I can cook. I like simple food. For example, nothing bad if they stay unused in the cabinet, but it is so pleasant to read a I don’t boil porridge, but just pour boiling water over it and let it stand for twenty menu in your native language. Though occasionally we receive some complaints minutes. Then I add salt and honey; it’s very delicious. My wife looks at me as I about small discrepancies. Once we got such a letter from a Belarusian. He wrote eat it and says: “You’re my sweet horse.” Nevertheless, I can cook borsch, meat, 15 Years of Success that we messed up his language. My attitude toward this is rather philosophical. and other dishes. I remember that in the army my friends told me: “You’re from Sometimes it happens that in the West translators make mistakes translating Ukraine, so cook us varenyky!” I knew how to prepare it, but I wrote a letter to something into Ukrainian or Russian. Nevertheless, it is very convenient to my mother asking her to give me the recipe for the dough. At night I rolled it read a menu in your native language! out with a bottle. I prepared varenyky stuffed with potatoes, because it was the The Beginning Interior Design only product available. It was 1984, fifteen years before Korchma appeared. If I had been more quick-witted, I would have understood immediately what kind When I came back to Kyiv after military service, I was thinking about I myself work on all the decorations and designs. When I opened the first Business Plans of restaurant I should open. Though, there is a wise saying: “If you don’t hear a starting my own business there. I opened a gym but soon went bankrupt. I restaurant, I went to Pyrohovo (the Museum of Folk Architecture and Tradition whisper of your fate, then you’ll feel thunder.” understood that in Ukraine it was necessary to have either an affluent relative in Kyiv. - editor), but I didn’t like it. Then I went to Pereyaslav, as well to Lviv In the future I plan to actively develop my business in Russia, because the Text: Stepan Hrytsiuk or wealthy parents for this. That’s why I decided to go with my friend to to visit Shevchenkivskyi Hai. I took some pictures there, then bought furniture market dictates our behavior. Here, we are in demand, our restaurants are Photo: Yuriy Helytovych Moscow. There I had a lot of different jobs… You know, we started to feel that and antiques, such as buckets, samovars, and embroidered shirts, and started to there are bosses and we are their slaves. They tell us what to do, how to live decorate the restaurant. Today people say that this looks banal, because Ukraine and earn money. I probably tried everything. You can read my workbook as a is already known for its borsch and embroidered shirts, but fifteen years ago all real BOOK! Then I started working at a furniture delivery company. There of that was forgotten. People wanted to try world cuisine, like sushi and so on. I received a salary and took a share in the business. I employed my relative The Ukrainian restaurants didn’t have a chance to gain a cult status, especially who cooked well and prepared Ukrainian lunches for us. The food was so tasty here in Russia. that other people started coming to our office for lunch. In the neighboring When I decorated the first restaurant I understood that the interior looked building, there was a restaurant. I noticed that cooks didn’t prepare anything really great. When you work with an idea to please your visitors instead of just exquisite, but there were always a long line of people. I said to my relative: placing decorations here and there, everything runs smoothly. People think the “Let’s open you a small café and you’ll earn money.” And so at the beginning design comes from an authentic dwelling. However, some consider this kitsch and I opened a restaurant not for me, but for somebody else. I launched my first others say that the interior reminds them of their grandmother’s house in a village. restaurant with a partner and promised my relative a half of my share, which Then I ask: “Who has such paintings and all this stuff in a village? They were lost was 25%. After the first earnings, she moved on. But the restaurant was many years ago.” There is a Museum of Folk Art in Moscow, where people have to already functioning successfully, and therefore we decided to open one more. pay to view the rarities. But in my restaurant they can see them for free. So, this is how it all began… As a result, the restaurant Korchma Taras Bulba became my main business. Origin Crisis as a Motivation of the Name and Logo The first Korchma was actually opened in 1998, but the official start is I had a few ideas concerning the name. One of them was “Taras Bulba.” I don’t considered to be in 1999, when we received all the documents. Till that time we remember why I chose it, maybe I read the book by that name around that time. worked almost in the shadows. In the 1990s it was possible. The crisis stimulated The first logo depicted a man with a cauldron. Then my father-in-law brought me to set up my own business, because many restaurants were closed, and the Ivan Malkovych’s book (a Ukrainian publisher - editor) and said: “Look, here’s most important thing was that the price of both rents and salaries dropped. Thus a real Cossack, not the man with varenyky you have hanging there. Taras Bulba we didn’t need a lot of money to open our own restaurant. Now I would rather has to look like the man in the picture!” I asked him: “Should I pay them for stay away from a new, unknown business. I don’t understand how people can the use of the picture?” He replied: “No, they will be proud that the idea of the invest millions of dollars in a restaurant not knowing what to expect. Back then, book cover is used in Moscow, there’s no need to pay them.” I started thinking: the project cost fifty thousand dollars. We could venture that sum of money. At “But this is someone’s work... What can be the price of this picture? Maybe that time there was a serious crisis and even rich people didn’t have money to one or two thousand dollars, although the picture is issued for commercial visit expensive establishments. Some stars, businessmen, and politicians came purposes, as a brand, therefore it can cost even five thousand!” Finally I put that to eat at our restaurant. Even now they visit us, although anonymously, because amount of money into an envelope. Once the publishing house found out that some people don’t consider Korchma a very trendy place. In Moscow there are we used the picture of the Cossack, the angry Ivan Malkovych and the artist some fashionable establishments you can visit and then brag about it, because Vladyslav Yerko came to my office. They started threatening to sue me. I told it will make you look cool. them: “Let’s have dinner.” We ate our dinner, drank a bit, and went to my place. 10 | private collection private collection | 11 Exotic Collection: Indian Conch Shell, Wooden Drymba, and Corn Violin…

Lyubomyr Kushlyk is a well-known Ukrainian musician and collector. No wonder, since he is the owner of the greatest collection of ancient musical instruments My students gave me several instruments. Among them there is a sacred Indian – so that he or she will play it. A good specialist doesn’t just play, he or in Ukraine. He owns nearly seven hundred of them! instrument – the oceanic conch shell. Lamas play it, they greet the sunrise and the New she prolongs the instrument’s life. Year with it… It’s white and there are cosmic symbols on it. To be honest, I have no right Some of his pieces were found in villages or in the to hold this conch shell, because for common people there are colorful conch shells, not collections of musical experts, others are real white ones… It has a very loud sound. Like a train is coming. By the way, a conch shell Symbols and Superstitions is played in the film Amphibian Man. Academic musicians don’t understand a lot of things. They are rarities. These are a children’s violin made of a corn focused only on artistic and aesthetic value and don’t take into account extramusical factors. Very often the sound is not the primary factor stem, a wooden drymba, and a ritual Indian conch The Instruments’ Migration in the instruments – their magical, sacral, healing, or other functions are more important. For example, why did people play on horseshoes? shell. The collector can talk about his treasures Same instruments exist in many cultures of the world. For example, our kobza or We know that it is good luck to find a horseshoe. That’s why before for hours on end because each object has its own bandura. It’s considered to be an exclusively Ukrainian instrument, but according to a wedding musicians and even common people very often clanked scientific theories they are of Eastern or Western origin. We just made our own version horseshoes in order to bring happiness to a newly married couple. The fascinating story. Lyubomyr Kushlyk shares them of them and our own repertoire. Thus, for instance, Poles, Czechs, Germans, and Italians instrument’s protective functions are the most important. The same is also have a violin. It’s all over Europe. That means that instruments migrate. with mahlivnytsia – a board used by housewives for washing clothes. with the Bulba NEWS journalists. It was played because symbolically it was identified with purification. Take for example a horn. Since ancient times, it was believed to bring The First Instrument and Start of the “That’s it. I’m going to give it to you as a present.” real, not just theoretical work. As a result, I started The Most Unique Exhibits wealth and prosperity. That’s why on the New Year’s Day, when the I took the present and paid the family. They didn’t to collect instruments. Ukrainians sang carols, wished their relatives and friends health and Collection want to take money, and so I sent them some food Wooden drymbas (jaw harps) are the most unique well-being, they always played horns. Trembita is like its ancestor – items that were in short supply in the Carpathians: instruments. They were made of the yew-tree. They sound such a long horn… Instead, drymba was considered to be a therapeutic When psychologists research different green peas, pepper… It turned out that I bought Origin of the Rarities much worse than the metal ones. That’s why it is already a instrument. Today it’s been scientifically proven that such assumptions personality problems, they naturally go back to enough food to buy two trembitas. This was my first historical rarity. I have a corn violin which I searched aren’t groundless. Witch doctors used to play it. Most of my instruments are bought at my own childhood (he laughs). Mine is a similar case. My instrument. for for eight years. Once, I found out that there used to be Text: Stepan Hrytsiuk expense. No more than fifteen instruments were father sang in the Trembita choir and I grew up in By the 1990s I had collected only eight or nine a child’s toy made of corn stems. I set myself a goal to find Photo: Yuriy Helytovych a musical environment. Hence, from early on I was instruments. The main collection started to be given to me as a present. People gave me really it at any cost. You know, many years ago I decided to collect craving for musical instruments. I painted them and formed after 1991. At that time, the conservatory old instruments that didn’t play and served as first of all folk instruments. After some period of searching I conducted with them as if they were musical toys. opened the first major in ethnomusicology in showpieces. I purposely went to different festivals, found a woman who said: “I remember those violins, because hay markets, to the remotest villages. This is how my grandmother made them for me. Then I made them by I got my first instrument – trembita (alpine horn) Ukraine. Somebody had to teach a subject about www.tarasbulba.ru [email protected] – in a rather unusual way. Once, our ethnographic real folk instruments and I was that somebody. Then I bought a painted shepherd’s horn. It seems to me myself.” That woman made me a corn violin. She has to expedition went to the Carpathians, to the Hutsuls. I set myself a goal not just to talk about them, but that a map of a mountain valley is depicted on it. It renovate them often, because after some time they become We waited in the village for a musician. He came right to show them and even let students play on them, so was the first time I saw such a thing. People already so dry that it’s impossible to play them. They play for quite after some celebration, a little bit “in high spirits,” that it would be a know about me and often they find me themselves. a short period – not more than a week. One man told me and immediately wanted to play the trembita for Sometimes they jack up such the price and I that for this toy to play longer, it’s necessary to cover it with us. But he failed, because this instrument is a cannot afford to buy what they are selling. saliva and then salt it. This is a kind of conservation (he little whimsical. Often, before playing For example, several thousands laughs). It’s embarrassing to say, but without my efforts, the trembita, players soak it in samohon hryvnias. I’m not a rich Ukrainian culture would lose the children’s corn violin. (moonshine vodka) for the oils man, I don’t have a car or in it to close up the holes. I a country house, decided to play, and I and I cannot pay so was better than that much. The Oldest Instruments Hutsul. He The oldest instruments are the Austrian harmoniums, made in the mid-nineteenth said, century and banduras dated back to the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, I don’t have very old instruments.

Hromovytsia Trembitas were made of a tree that was struck by a lightning. It was called hromivne tree, and the trembita a hromovytsia. It is considered that this instrument plays better. That’s because of the peculiarities of the acoustic processes, since in the result of a composition mineralization 1-2 g/l lightning strike, the wood dries momentarily. But it doesn’t mean that these are the best chemical composition of water mg/l ones. Even musicians admit that they don’t feel great difference. Rumor has it that it is Sodium+potassium (Na+ K+) 4.5 Chlorides (Cl) 3.5 very good when a tree that, grows near a waterfall is used to make a trembita because Sulphates 4.6 Hydrogen carbonates 95 the wood moisture content is ideal. The third kind is the best one: in spring or winter Calcium 77.2 people remove the bark from a fir tree and so that it dries up slowly. Magnesium 20.67

Longevity for the Instruments

Museum workers always say that it is prohibited to touch the showpieces, to play the instruments, and so on. I always tell them that at least once a year it’s necessary to play the instruments, because it is good for the instruments. Even when a winner of an international violin competition in Italy is given a Stradivarius, it is done for a reason 12 | calendar calendar | 13

with intellectuals and made friends with are authorized to strictly superintend him March 1 them. He made up for everything that he was so that he doesn’t have the possibility to International Immunity Day deprived of in his youth. write revolting and libelous compositions International Cat Day Taras Shevchenko: At that time he began to write his first of any kind.” Nicholas I personally added to Forensic Expert’s Day poems and, in 1840, his poetry collection this: “Under the strictest control with the The Sweet Standard: Kobzar was published. It was met with a prohibition of writing and painting.” March 3 great acclaim. However, if the Ukrainians State authorities were afraid that his International Writer’s Day responded to it with enthusiasm, the Russian poetry “could disseminate among people Alenka Chocolate The Beginning of Great Lent the 200th anniversary literati accused the young poet of writing in the idea of the happy golden times of the the “peasant language.” Cossack Hetmanate, the intention to bring March 7 During a break from the Academy in those times back, and the belief in Ukraine’s Day of Sergeant in Ukraine 1843, Shevchenko traveled to Ukraine. existence as a sovereign state.” March 8 of the genius’ birth From everything that he saw there he was Shevchenko spent many years in Day of Land Surveyor in Ukraine inspired to write new poems. Next year, casemates and in the military service. Only International Women’s Day in St. Petersburg, “Chyhyryn Kobzar,” in 1857, after a number of petitions, was he “Haydamaky,” “Hamaliya,” and “Tryzna” released from the army. The Academy of Arts He lived only forty seven years, out of were published. Then the poet finished the gave Shevchenko a small two-storied studio, poem “The Dream.” At that time he had where he lived. Nevertheless, the man them twenty-four years he spent as a serf no idea that everything he wrote would be cherished his plans of returning to Ukraine. reason for prosecution. According to a secret In the summer of 1860, he decided to buy and ten years in exile. He was enslaved order, Shevchenko was arrested and with all a land plot on the Chernecha Mount and physically, but his spirit wasn’t broken. A his papers was immediately deported to the build a house there. However, his dreams 8 capital of the Russian Empire. didn’t come true. In March 1861, the poet poor serf from the small Ukrainian village of “The painter Shevchenko,” went the passed away. A week after his death, serfdom march judgment, “on charges of writing instigating in the Russian Empire was abolished, but Moryntsi became one of the most famous and extremely defiant poetry and as a man Shevchenko, himself a serf for many years, poets in the world. Many writers of that with a strong build, has to be appointed as didn’t live to see it happen. a private soldier in the Orenburg separate time had the honor of being friends with unit with the right of service. The superiors Text: Stepan Hrytsiuk him. The popularity of Taras Shevchenko is proved by one fact: the greatest number of monuments in the world has been built to him – from Washington to Buenos Aires and Moscow. The ninth of March is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the The history of Alenka Chocolate started back in 1964. Ukrainian genius. That was the year when at the plenary session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR, the Soviet confectioners were commissioned to produce delicious chocolate that was accessible to the masses. It had to be milk chocolate. Krasnyi Oktiabr, the already Taras Shevchenko was born on March 9, 1914, is a meadow, then a valley, and in the quiet valley legendary confectionary factory, began carrying out the in the village of Moryntsi, Zvenyhorod County, there is a still barely rippling creek, covered with task, where the confectioners provided the chocolate with International Women’s Day Kyiv Province. His parents served Lieutenant- willows and snowball trees and wrapped by dark General Vasyl Engelhardt, a landlord, who green large-leaved burdocks...” its creamy and smooth taste. owned 50,000 “human souls” and about 160,000 Despite the difficult conditions, the boy found In a short time Alenka became a top seller and left desiatynas (432,000 acres). The fate of a serf joy in the simple things that surrounded him. But its competitors behind. People brought it to maternity March 9 didn’t pass the child. At the age of two he was everything changed after the death of his parents. hospitals, gave it as birthday gifts, and rewarded the people Day of the Workers of Geodesy and Cartography of the Russian also included in the list of peasants who had His mother died in 1823, and his father in 1825. for their accomplishments with it. It’s no wonder, because Federation to serve the magnate. This is despite the fact For many years Shevchenko was wandering as a the confectioners searched for the right proportion for a World DJ’s Day that Taras’s family was freedom-loving. His serf, looking for an opportunity to learn to read, long period; when too much milk was added, the chocolate grandfathers and great-grandfathers served in write, and draw. bar would lose its shape, when the amount of milk was March 11 the Zaporozhian Cossacks Army, fought in wars At the age of 14 he became a household reduced, the taste wasn’t right. The classical Soviet Alenka Day of the Worker of Drug Enforcement Agency in Russian and liberation struggles. Just half a century servant of Pavel Engelhardt. There, his talent consisted of sugar, powdered milk, cacao butter, cacao Federation before his birth, his native land became a center was noticed and they decided to send the boy as liquor, lecithin emulsifier, and artificial flavor. Naturally, of the Haydamachyna insurrection movement an apprentice to the famous European portraitist March 15 at that time no one resorted to chemical additives, which World Consumer Rights Day that was later on celebrated by the poet in his Jan Rustem. When the Engelhardts moved to St. poem “Haydamaky.” Petersburg, Shevchenko joined for four years the today are widely used. March 18 From the village of Moryntsi the family workshop of the craft master Vasyl Shyryayev Rumor has it that the name Alenka wasn’t random. Day of Russian Tax Police moved to Kyrylivka. There, in his grandfather who painted interior murals in private and The chocolate got this name as a tribute to the daughters Ivan’s small house, lived thirteen people! Besides public buildings. Together they painted the of Velentina Tereshkova and Yuriy Gagarin, who were March 19 the main character of our story, there were six theater in St. Petersburg. The Ukrainian boy met growing up at that time. The problem with the package Russian Submarine Sailor’s Day more children in the family: Kateryna, Mariya, Yevhen Hrebinka, Alexey Venetsianov, Vasiliy design was more challenging. First, each new chocolate Mykyta, Yaryna, Mariya, and Yosyp. Later, in his Zhukovskyi, and Karl Bryullov. They decided batch had its own picture which was constantly changing. March 20 memoirs, Taras not only depicted the house but to free the fellow from serfdom. To raise money, Soon the factory decided to use only one standard wrapper The Vernal Equinox thoroughly described it: “And here stands in front Bryullov painted a portrait of Zhukovskyi, which International Day of Happiness design. They announced a competition. Aleksandr of me our poor old white house with a darkened was put up for lottery for 2,500 rubles. It was Geranis, a photojournalist and Honored Cultural Worker thatched roof and a black chimney, and near the bought by the royal family. There were enough March 21 of the USSR, won the competition with the picture of his house in the yard an apple tree with red apples, proceeds for the native of Moryntsi to throw off International Day of Forests daughter. Her photos had been published before in the World Sleep Day and around it there is a flower bed – a favorite the shackles of a serf... of my unforgettable sister, my patient, my tender When Taras Shevchenko was freed, he became magazines The Soviet Photo and Health. March 22 nanny. And near the gate there is an old branchy a student at the Academy of Arts and started Alena Geranis’s photo was repainted by the artist Maslov. Taxi Driver’s Day willow dried on the top, and behind the willow to study voraciously. He read the works of the He gave her blue eyes, changed the shape of her mouth, facial there is a barn, surrounded with stacks of rye, Russian and world literature writers, explored contours, and direction of her gaze. In 1965, the factory March 25 wheat, and other grain; and behind the barn on the history of Ukraine, took courses in zoology, started to produce the branded name chocolate with her Day of the Cultural Worker of Russian Federation the hillside there is a garden! What a garden!... physics, and physiology, studied French, went to picture. It has been decorating the wrapper for more than Day of National Security Inspectorate of Ukraine thick, dark, quiet ... And beyond the garden there the theater and to concerts. He was acquainted 50 years. Back then, the chocolate wrapper also featured a Birthday of ‘Korchma ‘Taras Bulba’ restaurant chain rhyme written by a Soviet schoolgirl Sasha Egorova. 14 | news from “Korchma” news from “Korchma”| 15

Good deeds for boarding school students The Korchma Taras Bulba chain of restaurants continues to help students from the Pavlin children’s boarding school in the village of Myshkino, Mozhaysk district, To celebrate the 15th birthday Moscow region. Korchma Taras Bulba took them under its patronage last summer. On June 5, Korchma, Sambo 70 Association, and the Internal Affairs Administration in Moscow opened there a new gym with state-of-the-art sports equipment. The manager of Korchma Taras Bulba, Yuriy Beloyvan, also presented the boarding of the Korchma «Taras Bulba» school with a 500,000 rubles certificate. This money went toward finishing the construction of a chapel on the territory of the school. It had been started back in 2010 but the construction was suspended due to lack of funds. Thank to the sponsor’s assistance, the construction was finished and in winter the chapel was ceremoniously chain of restaurants we present consecrated. Now the students and their teachers can pray in their own chapel. But that’s not all! Every time the children visit Moscow, they are invited to have a delicious lunch in Korchma and to have fun in the comfortable and homey a CD of Ukrainian classical atmosphere. music in modern arrangements from Bulba Press.

The exclusive new disc will be available for sale in our restaurants in March! Find time in your life for our music! The War is On but the Lunch should be on Time!

PHOTO CONTEST! Bubla NEWS is pleased to announce the start of a competition for its readers: “We are read around the world!” To take part, please pick up a free copy of our newspaper at any restaurant of the Korchma Taras Bulba chain and take an interesting picture with it. It can be a travel photo, vacation photo, or any

We are now working in the extremely difficult conditions and can only see the smoke rising over Maidan, and inside the restaurant you can feel ‘the staged picture. praise the courage of our staff. Their endurance and optimism are worth the smell of the revolution’ (this is how the protester’s clothes smell). Some are The best pictures will be published and highest admiration! overpowered with the desire to drop everything and flee, others long to join the I spend my nights expecting news and my every morning starts with the people at the main country’s square, but we continue our work and serve our the winners will get Korchma “Taras decision of whether to open the restaurant or not. guests as best as we can. Bulba“ gift certificates of 15, 10 and 5 But hundreds of calls from my friends and guests knocking at the windows Currently we are probably the only restaurant in downtown Kyiv remaining early in the morning, relieve all my doubts. open and welcoming guests: journalists, Euromaidan activists, People’s thousand RUR. You can then use them at Even though all means of transportation in the city are blocked, some people Deputies, and even the police. do manage to get to work. Under such enduring circumstances our small team What we most need in this difficult time is to stay professional despite any restaurant of our chain. does wonders to achieve the incredible results. Waiters substitute cooks and all. These times have shown me what rare and wonderful people work at my Email your photos to cooks take up several jobs at once. I am sincerely proud of these people. restaurant. Andrey Gorbatov: We began reading BulbaNEWS in the Negev and finished the last page on the Outside roar the explosions, protesters fortify the barricades, we can even Director of Korchma ‘Taras Bulba,’ Kyiv Dead Sea!!! On the 18th of January!!! [email protected] We have only fresh and savory news! www.bulbanews.ru Bulba NEWS has its own website now We offer only fresh and savory news! Share the news in social networks, and leave your comments. Send your news to: [email protected] EVERYBODY READS US!

The newspaper office is open for cooperation! Call us at 8-968-665-12-07 or write to: [email protected]

Bulba Press’ Publishing presents a new magazine

г.Москва, ул. Пятницкая 14 for children тел.: 8 (915) 222-15-18 (495) 953-7153, 951-3760 in 2014 – Tarasik.

www.tarasbulba.ru книга-меню

On its 15th Birthday Korchma ‘Taras Bulba’ reveals its secrets. Forthcoming in March is a long expected presentation of the book of recipes from BULBA PRESS. It includes all our delicious and most exotic recipes and culinary tales. Your kids deserve the best childhood!

Grandma’s Cutlets Ingredients (495) 780-77-44 for 1kg of mince: Ukrainian cuisine – • pork - 290 g • beef - 330 g made with love! • pork fat - 70 g Restaurants’ location: • bread - 100 g MOSCOW, Aviamotornaya metro station, • milk - 100 g 6 Krasnokazarmennaya St., (499) 763 5741 • onion - 60 g Avtozavodskaya metro station, • garlic - 15 g 6 Velozavodskaya St., (499) 764 1532 • eggs - 3 pcs Akademicheskaya metro station, • butter - 30 g 16/10 Profsoyuznaya St., (499) 125 0877 • oil - 60 g Alekseyavskaya metro station, 3 Bochkova St., (495) 616 6754 Airport metro station, Preparing the mince. 64 Leningradskiy Prospekt St., (499) 151 9011 Baumanskaya metro station, Clean and wash meat and fat, slice it, and 23/41 Bakuninskaya St., (495) 956 5580 grind it once together with wheat bread Borovitskaya metro station, (no crust) soaked in milk, onion, and 8 Mokhovaya St., 24-hour, (495) 644 8020 garlic. Add to the mixture salt, pepper, Krasnye Vorota metro station, and eggs, butter. Mix the mince until 47 Myasnitskaya St., (495) 607 1762 uniform and beat it. Leninskiy Prospekt metro station, 37 Leninskiy Prospect St., (495) 954 6466 Novokuznetskaya metro station, Preparing the cutlets. 14 Pyatnitskaya St., (495) 953 7153 Novye Cheryomushki metro station, Portion the prepared meat mince, form Nametkina St., 13 г, (495) 331 4211 cutlets of about 70 g each, coat with flour, Smolenskaya metro station, 12 Smolenskiy Avenue. St., 24-hour, (499) 246 6902 and fry in oil on both sides until toasted. Tsvetnoy Boulevard metro station, Then steam them in the oven. 13 Sadovaya-Samotechnaya St., 24-hour, (495) 694 0056 Chekhovskaya metro station, 30/7 Petrovka St., (495) 694 6082 Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station, 6 Borovskoye Road, (495) 980 2051 Grandma’s Cutlets: Vystavochnaya metro station, of 1905 year, of pork and beef server 27 Shmitovskiy Passage, 24-hour, (499) 256-4660 with the Ajika sauce KIEV, “Teatralnaya”, “Zolotye Vorota”,“Kreschatik” metro 115 gr – 290 rur. station, 2-4/7 Pushkinskaya St.,+38 (044) 270-7248 357 West Broadway, NYork City, NY 10013 phone: (212) 510 75 10

Look for this taste treat in our menues! Laskavo prosymo! Certificate of registration PI № FS 77 — 19940. Circulation is 5 000 copies.