This is a new article dedicated to creative and talented Ukrainians who now live in different parts of the world. Do you remember "Little Parisian Varenyk"? As I’ve already written it was founded by two friends Maria and Marina. Just imagine these girls have been friends for long 24 years and are still the best ones. Both being full of ideas and desire to create something unusual they can reasonably be called idea’s generators. Marina is a philologist by her heart and specialty, being in love with James Joyce and having studied Ireland literature in France. Mathematician by Ukrainian education and economist by French education Maria has really brilliant hands and is crazy about art and handmade.
So, today I’m going to introduce you Maria Belash, one of the most energetic girls I’ve ever known! We have an excellent opportunity to get to know her better, because she agreed to answer my questions.
- Hi, Mary! I’m very glad that you agreed to be interviewed for my blog. To start with a few words about yourself. What kind of person are you and what can be called your motto?
- I am an optimist with a good mood by nature. I love life in all its manifestations, I like to go bananas, but I can be a terrible bore at the same time. I like to settle for a lot of different adventures at once, and then do not know how to go out of them =)) I remember how not long time ago I've read somewhere "how do different zodiacs solve the problems?" So that's about the virgo, it was all about me for sure - "Virgro is upset. Especially if this problem is not planned. Virgo thinks, finds a solution, makes conclusions" It's me =)
- How did such a brilliant idea come to your mind?
- The idea came long ago. I love dumplings. In Paris today there is no Ukrainian restaurant, which I personally would like to go to. There are several Russian restaurants, with such a dusty king's touch, and there are no Ukrainian ones. And then, I'm sure that our dumplings are slightly better than Italian ravioli, Chinese dumplings, Lebanese pies (I don't know what they are called) and the Spanish empanadas. We decided to try to make the first POC (proof of concept) using the concept of ephemeral (by the way, it is very convenient when you do not have money and time to launch a comprehensive daily business). The idea of our ephemeral restaurant is very simple: we find a restaurant which is closed on Sundays, and offer it an extra source of income as a percent to sales. Then we strongly broadcasts in over a month and collect the people. We come to the restaurant early in the morning, with our utensils, and cook on the spot. Lunch begins at about one o'clock, and people often leave at about 6 pm.
- Do you usually cook the dishes for "Little Parisian varenyk" yourself?
- Yes, of course, we improve our skills on a regular basis: borscht, dumplings, galushki. We try some new recipes, add la touche française: eg dumplings with foie gras sauce. We haven't tried snails yet. It will be necessary to try =))
- Are there many people who visit "Little Parisian varenyk"? Who are your visitors, the representatives of Ukrainian diaspora or the Parisians
- Every brunch gathers about 30 people. Like everyone who starts a business, we started with friends and friends of friends =) But I would like to progressively increase the scale of events and find new trendy location for it. 70% of our visitors are French, and I am very happy, every time people like soup, dumplings and bacon with bread and cucumber cherym, buckwheat (which is not eatten here). I am overdone with national pride! And of course, we welcome all compatriots, as we expect to mainly on the nostalgic people who do not know how to cook =)) well, and those who love to spend time mentally.
- Do you have any plans concerning "Little Parisian varenyk"? Would you like to open your own restaurant of Ukrainian cuisine?
- We want to start delivery (only on weekends), "Ukrainian breakfast in bed" - soup, salty and sweet dumplings plus a portion of vodka, all delivered by bicycle to your table Sunday, beautiful Ukrainian women in the wreaths =) Let's wait for the spring!
- For those who study English it’s interesting to know if the knowledge of English helped you through your life.
- I am sure that English is very useful to us, when we are visited by the guests from the capital (and there are many) - the Italians, Spanish, Japanese or Americans. We are happy to feed them all and tell all that we know about our beautiful country and its traditions.
- Do you miss your Motherland?
- Of course! I have been for 9 years in France, but I go home 2 times a year - in summer, because of the family, river, cottage, barbecue, hot Poltava dust, vegetables from the garden, and in the winter, because of again the same: family, Christmas, snow, and other pleasures of life. I need to be regularly charged by Ukraine and its wonderful inhabitants! =)
- What would you like to wish our readers?
- Learn languages, communicate with people, travel if you can, if not, use the new technologies to make new acquaintances, start new projects, looking for marketing ideas.Today the world is opened!
- Thank you very much! It was pleasant to chat with you! We wish you good luck and hope to visit "Little Parisien Varenyk"!