Ukrainian Experience attracts large gathering as Ukrainian Village in Lansing prepares to begin carry-out meal venture this Sunday
February 26 Ukrainian Experience kicks off Ukrainian Village venture ... Family and friends of Lesya Ryzhenkova are pictured above with her during the Ukrainian Experience open house event they offered Sunday, February 26 at Lansing Office Works. The event provided an introduction to the carry-out meal venture Ryzhenkova and her family are beginning this Sunday, March 12, called Ukrainian Village, which allow local residents to experience traditional Ukrainian meals. Submitted photo.
Ukrainian Village in Lansing, a new carry-out restaurant starting up March 12, presented a Ukrainian Open House and Experience, serving over 150 visitors Sunday, February 26. The experience included a variety of Ukrainian food specialties, such as Varenyky, Borscht, Milyntsi and Holubtsi, Ukrainian songs and dance, and information about Ukraine, all taking place at Lansing Office Works.
Owner Lesya Ryzhenkova, along with her sisters, mother and partner, as well as friends from the Twin Cities, provided a variety of folk songs, accordion music by Michael Petelin and performances by Natalia Scoville. Also helping with the event were Iryna Fink and her mom, Luba. Her team also prepared 10 different food items for a buffet style meal throughout the weekend for the event.
The Ukrainian Village in Lansing ordering menu is available online for Sunday carry-out beginning this Sunday, March 12. By going to https://www.jotform.com/230255600750143, those interested can order their carry-out meals and indicate the Sunday date and time (between noon and 2 p.m.) they would like to pick up their meals. Lesya Ryzhenkova and her family will be preparing and providing their meals at Lansing Kitchen Works, located at 274 Main Street in Lansing. Orders must be submitted by midnight Friday before the pick-up date.
Lansing Kitchen Works is a commercial enterprise kitchen available to those who would like to offer their food creations in retail outlets or for carry-out. Information about each week’s offerings made by Ryzhenkova and her family can also be found on Facebook at Ukrainian Village in Lansing.
Should the demand support her efforts, Ryzhenkova hopes to open a restaurant in Lansing in the future. “It is my dream to bring Ukrainian food to Americans in the Midwest. Lansing has been a very welcoming and supportive community and I hope to create a place where we can continue to share our specialties and culture.”
As an example of this support, Andrew Boddicker, an educator and community volunteer in Lansing, worked with Ryzhenkova to create the online ordering form that will allow people to explore the food options and place their orders.
In addition to the opportunity to share Ukrainian culture with the community, visitors also made free will donations totaling over $1,600 to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine. Donations from the February 26 event will go towards equipment and supplies needed for the defense of Ukraine. On behalf of all Ukrainians, and her brother still in Ukraine, Ryzhenkova would like to thank all Americans who have been so helpful with their support throughout the past year.
