Yurii Kovryzhenko

Yurii Kovryzhenko has been a devoted champion of Ukraine’s proud culinary traditions for near enough a decade, but his role as culinary ambassador has taken on even greater significance in recent months.

Stranded in London since the outbreak of war, superstar chef Yurii has been working around the clock to spearhead an astonishing fundraising campaign on behalf of the Ukrainian people, cooking alongside the great and the good of the capital’s food scene – Jamie Oliver included – to bring the cultural heritage of his homeland to life, one ruby red bowl of borsch at a time. Donations to José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen already run into the hundreds of thousands, but Yurii and his partner Olga are just getting started.

Returning to Carousel for a full week this time, Yurii will be doing what he does best, celebrating the classics in his own inimitable style. Among the reimagined favourites are ‘Courgette Pancake, Smoked Chalk Stream Trout, Courgette Flower stuffed with Sour Cream and Herbs’; Yurii’s transcendental ‘Duck Borsch with freshly baked Pampushki’ (because you can’t not play the greatest hits) and ‘Poppyseed Cake with Condensed Milk, Black Sesame Ice Cream’. Bursting with unmistakably Ukrainian aromatics – coriander seed, black pepper, horseradish, mustard and thyme – the menu is a soulful elegy to home.

£10 from each ticket sold will be donated to the First Aid Ukraine, but this week is all about celebrating Yurii, a pioneering chef and a stand-up guy.