England’s beautiful Yorkshire Dales are famous for their rolling hills, picturesque market towns, delicious Wensleydale cheese and farmers’ markets. And on Saturday March 19, local residents of one historic town added traditional Ukrainian borscht to their collection of favorite things.
Ukrainian citizen Elvira Kasimova has been staying in the UK as a visitor. She decided to give something back to her local community of Richmond, North Yorkshire, by cooking a gargantuan helping of borscht from her family recipe and dishing it up in charity servings to raise money for the Ukrainian Army.
“I can’t be in Ukraine at the moment so I wanted to do something to help,” Elvira told the Kyiv Post, after rolling her sleeves up at the stove of her host family.
The delicious helpings of the Ukrainian national dish – a tomato, beetroot and pork-based broth, topped with a dollop of sour cream – were served up on a warm and sunny Saturday at Neeps & Tatties Greengrocers in Richmond town center.
Co-owner of Neeps & Tatties, Laura Morton, was thrilled at the opportunity to get involved.
“We were pleased to be able to offer a venue for Elvira’s fundraiser. We know our customers and the wider public in Richmond would come and support it as the conflict in Ukraine has been on the minds of a lot of people and it’s often a talking point in the shop.”
Elvira’s borscht proved hugely popular, with Laura adding that “people were generous in donating and we hope the funds can make a real difference in Ukraine.”
A special order of three portions were dropped off to hairdresser Sarah Baird, owner of Sarah’s Salon on the other side of Richmond. “It was delicious”, said Sarah. “Elvira is so lovely, we can only imagine what all Ukrainians are going through, and it’s a well-worthy cause for the Ukrainian Army. We are all in this together and for the sake of all humanity we need to stick together and help the Ukrainian people.”
Richmond resident and retired deputy head schoolteacher, Austin Lynch, was one of the day’s biggest donors, adding £75 (equivalent to US $100) to the total. “We are all appalled at the invasion of a sovereign State by an aggressive, cruel and evil expansionist”, said Lynch. “Like so many people, we have been moved by the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian Army and people.”
A few remaining cups of Elvira’s tasty borscht have been frozen for Neeps & Tatties customers on request, who couldn’t make it to the shop on the day.
The culinary event has so far raised £251, equivalent to about US $330 and 9,700 Hryvnia. The final total could go higher still.
Richmond castle, Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK. Photo credit: yorkshire.com
