Unity is our strength

After the full-scale invasion of the enemy on our peaceful land, the Association of Culinary Chefs and the community of chefs from Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia began to organize charity events in support of the Armed Forces. The Charitable Gastro Dinners project is a nominee and the winner of the public vote of the Wine Travel Awards 2023-2024 in Enogastronomic Events/Event of the Year and the winner of a special award – “Jury’s Choice” WTA.

The main purpose of charity dinners is to raise funds for the urgent needs of the armed forces and other defense forces. For this purpose, the Culinary Association and the community of Chefs from different countries organize dinners with Ukrainian dishes in their original interpretations.

The events bring together soldiers and their families, government officials, the public, charities, businesses, patrons and artists. As part of the gastro-events, auctions with exclusive lots are held: a granite plaque-replica of the stamp with the famous phrase – direction where to go to the russian warship, with the signature of the border guard Roman Hrybov; the Victory panel, consisting of 100 combat chevrons of various military units of Ukraine; boxing gloves signed by Oleksandr Usyk, etc.

Drinks+ & Wine Travel Awards communication media group is the information partner of the Charity Gastro-Events.

To date, 15 dinners have already been held, and it is not only about Ukraine. Events were also held in Germany, Austria, Poland, and France. The total collection amounted to $606,386. With the proceeds, the organizers provide fighters with cars, drones, walkie-talkies, generators, repeaters and many other things that save lives and accelerate our Victory.

The latest dinners were held in Odessa (03.02.24), Cannes (05.19.24), Chernivtsi (06.01.24), Lviv (06.15.24), Ivano-Frankivsk (06.24.24).

The main concept of the event in Odessa was the popularization of Ukrainian cuisine from different regions of Ukraine. The chefs presented the Crimean Tatar, Galician-Prycarpathian and Central Ukrainian cuisines. Guests were treated to author’s cocktails by Yevhen Komarov, and the menu of the evening perfectly illustrated the presented regions: sarma in grape leaves, pilaf with chickpeas, and author’s dessert “Nazly Kiz” by Zemfira Bektymirova – reflected the Crimean Tatar cuisine; potato kremzliks with lightly salted trout, pork fillet with banosh, cheese and porcini mushroom sauce, Lviv cheesecake with chocolate ice cream and fudge from Vitaliy Momotyuk and Maksym Prykhidko – demonstrated the Galician-Prycarpathian cuisine; saltison with three types of meat and horseradish sauce, Kyiv-style cutlet with potato and pea puree and cream and beetroot sauce and honey cake with notes of elderberry with fruits and berries and honey caviar performed by Andrii Magaletskyi and Oleksandr Yarosh – these acquainted the guests with the cuisine of Central Ukraine .

At the event in Cannes, chefs presented dishes in the format of finger food – offering appetizers, main courses and desserts in the form of exquisite miniatures. The charity evening in Chernivtsi was dedicated to the International Children’s Day (the event took place on June 1), namely, to the support for children affected by the war; as in Cannes, the event was held in the format of finger food. In the city of Lviv, eight dishes of author’s modern Ukrainian cuisine and a set of three craft liqueurs were served, the head of the Lviv Regional State Administration Maksym Kozytsky visited the charity gastropodium and expressed his deep gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the defenders of our country. The event in Ivano-Frankivsk had prepared a lot of  surprises for visitors and a menu of interesting dishes and drinks.

Organizers try to make every charitable event (Charitable Gastro Dinners) unforgettable. And every time, in every place, the work of the chefs finds a response – they receive great support from local and international brands.

The next stop is the city of Dnipro. Join a great cause! Unity is our strength.

For more detailed information about the events, please call:

• Andrii Magaletskyi – President of the Association of Culinary Professionals of Ukraine (+38 068 805 08 05)
• Anastasia Khomenko – administrative director of events (+38 099 362 52 42)