At the bazar

Here in Ukraine lots of things are done differently than they are at home and this includes grocery shopping. At home the "buy local" movement is big, but in Ukraine we are way ahead of you, or maybe behind you. It depends on how you look at it...

Condiments for sale at the bazar, including MAYONAISE!

Most people who live in villages like me have huge gardens and orchards where they get nearly all of their produce to last the entire year. This includes lots of potatoes, cabbage, onions, and carrots. In Konstantinovka, we are known for cherries (which will soon be appearing) and I am told that there are lots of apricots, peaches, and plums to be enjoyed as well.

Produce section at the bazar

Housewares for sale at the bazar. The woman is holding my new garbage can

If people have a surplus of fruits or vegetables, they will usually sell it at the bazar it town. At the bazar you can buy anything from produce to meat to clothing. And going there is always a social event, you never know who you will see or what you will find.

Since I have changed residences here, I now have to cook for myself. And so far its not that bad. Last week I made French Onion Soup, and it actually turned out pretty good. This week I hope to tackle Chicken Enchiladas.

French Onion Soup and Facebook

Sveta

However, my village and my coworkers think I really cannot really cook, I overheard them one day saying so. Truthfully, I am not really sure I can cook either, especially after all of those years of Lean Cuisines and Red Barron frozen pizzas, but as I say "you do what you have to do, when you have to do it."  But in any case, Sveta, my wonderful counterpart, has decided to take me under her wing and teach me how to cook Ukrainian dishes.

The meat counter at the bazar

In order to prepare for our cooking day we went to the bazar and bought fruit, vegetables, this amazing apple vinegar that I am now obsessed with, rice, sugar, spices that were custom mixed for which dishes we were making, a really fresh piece of beef (complete with some skin still on), and fish (which is always eaten with its skin on here).

Plof

After our shopping trip we came back to my house and made plof, which is a Central Asian dish that consists of meat (we used beef), rice, shredded carrots and spices. It turned out pretty well and I ate it the entire week.   We also made fish soup which was pretty good, but I still cant muster up eating fish with its skin on. In due time perhaps. And lastly we made a cabbage salad, which consisted of shredded cabbage, green onions, carrots, and with a dressing of my new fav apple vinegar and black pepper. And of course it did not include MAYONNAISE-most of you know I would rather eat nothing, than eat anything with mayonnaise in it.

In Ukraine there is not only a local food movement, but an age old natural food movement going as well. Nearly all food is labeled with "без гмо" which means it does not have any gmos in it. Most Ukrainians are very skeptical of gmos and believe that they are very, very harmful to your body. Additionally many believe that food from supermarkets and restaurants is also very unhealthy and that homegrown and homemade is always the best way to go.
Initially I was doubtful of their views on restaurants, supermarkets, and food in general-I mean I have to have my guacamole when I eat my quesadillas. But as time goes on and the more I think about it, the more I realize that perhaps their views might be the right ones, eating what is homemeade instead of storebought is better for you. As is eating what is fresh and natural, rather than chock-full of preservatives and gmos.

Part of my job as a Peace Corps Volunteer is to take the country I serve back to the U.S. Perhaps Ukrainian views on food are what I will bring back home in some way. However, exceptions for guacamole must always be made.