Ukrainian chef Yevhen Klopotenko is set to make waves on Netflix as his documentary “Borsch. The Secret Ingredient” releases on March 30. The project is a documentary travel series that focuses on Klopotenko’s journey across Ukraine in search of the secret ingredients to make the perfect borsch.
The Journey Across Ukraine
Klopotenko’s journey takes him to various regions of Ukraine where he meets different people and cultures. The documentary showcases him cooking borsch in different locations, including the Carpathians, a military field kitchen near Berdiansk, the Chornobyl canteen, the center of Uzhhorod, an artists’ residence, a Hutsul village, a Lviv restaurant, and a beekeeper’s house near the border with Belarus.
In each location, Klopotenko explores the unique ingredients and cooking methods used in making borsch. He also learns about the history and cultural significance of the dish in each region. The documentary highlights the diversity of Ukrainian culture through its food.
The Promotion of Ukrainian Cuisine
Klopotenko’s dedication to Ukrainian cuisine and his research on various borsch recipes have made him a popular figure and an expert on the topic. In fact, after working on the “Borsch. The Secret Ingredient” project, Klopotenko submitted a request to UNESCO to recognize borsch as an intangible heritage.
Through the documentary and his efforts, Klopotenko promotes Ukrainian culture and cuisine to a global audience. The film was made with the support of FILM.UA and journalist and producer Natalka Yakymovych. Dmytro Kochnev directed the film, Yevgeny Sakhno was the director of photography, and Yulia Kozyryatzka edited the film.
In his Instagram post, Klopotenko expressed his gratitude to all those who worked on the film. He believes that preparing food is not just about consumption, but also about promoting culture and heritage.
“Borsch. The Secret Ingredient” is a must-watch documentary for food lovers and anyone interested in Ukrainian culture. Klopotenko’s passion for Ukrainian cuisine and his efforts to promote it globally make this documentary even more special.
