Kanapa

November 2018

Rising star Yaroslav Artyuk has breathed new life into traditional Ukrainian cooking with Kanapa, widely recognised as the best restaurant in Kiev. The talented 27 year-old’s vision of modern Ukrainian gastronomy reimagines old favourites like varenky, borsch and, yes, chicken Kiev (made here with pheasant), with innovative techniques and a lightness of touch. In his own words, “We have such a diverse range of produce here, from the Carpathian Mountains in the west and the Black Sea in the south. Together with our country’s rich historical and cultural influences, this has given us a unique cuisine. Ukrainian food is all about balance. Heavier dishes are paired with fermented foods to cut the richness, and fresh produce – like the wild garlic and morels of spring and the cucumbers of summer, which we marinate simply with salt and dill – is treated delicately.”