On 5 September 2022 "Borscht Theater" charity dinner was held in Norway with famous Ukrainian chef Ievgen Klopotenko. Almost a hundred guests of the event had the opportunity “to taste” Ukraine, as well as learn more about Ukrainian culture and history.

Taking into account the great popularity of the event among the Norwegian audience, it was once again proven that culinary diplomacy is the shortest way to people's hearts.

"Borscht Theater" takes place within the framework of the "Ukrainian Unity Borscht" campaign, the purpose of which is to hold charity events with Ukrainian borscht in the menu and consolidate an unlimited amount of people in the world for the purpose of support and humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian people. In particular, during the charity dinner in Oslo, about 12,000 EUR was collected for the organization “International Headquarters of Aid to Ukrainians”, which will spend the collected funds on the purchase and delivery of food kits to critical points in Ukraine.

“I would like to thank Ievgen Klopotenko, the Ukrainian chef redrafting Ukrainian indigenous cookbook and showing Ukraine to the world through our food and tastes. I am sure Norway isn’t an exception when it comes to lovers of Ukrainian borsch. Especially when it’s introduced by widely known Ievgen Klopotenko, who is in 50 Next, a list of professionals changing the world of gastronomy and campaigner who helped to get cultural heritage status for borscht, that Russia for a long time was trying to steal. I would suggest that his Cult Food could be a very good initiative for Norwegian schools that would increase even more the cross-cultural understanding between Ukraine and Norway,” – said Сhargé d'affaires of Ukraine in Norway Dr Lilia Honcharevych.

We thank Ievgen Klopotenko for the excellent representation of Ukraine and for the gastronomic and aesthetic pleasure received. We also express our gratitude to the Ukrainian community of Eastern Norway, NGO “Institute of culture of Ukraine” and Sentralen for organizing the event.