“Motivated, strong and resilient,” celebrity chefs free Ukrainian, La. meal for first responders

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Razom for Ukraine hosted a free lunch for first responders as part of its cultural awareness tour to highlight unity, strength, and connection.

Razom is a leading US-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting Ukraine.

“I just wanted to come here and cook for your local community because I think through food and through conversations, this is how we build connections and this is how we build friendships, and I’m having a whale of a time, it’s so amazing,” said Olia Hercules, a chef, author, and teacher from Ukraine.

Chef Hercules was joined by Louisiana chef and owner of Us Up North, Hardette Harris, to create a fusion menu that included kefir-marinated chicken, cabbage and cucumber salad, fried catfish, Ukrainian flatbreads filled with collard greens, and smoked pork.

An email Chef Harris received sparked the event, and she jumped at the opportunity. She says the food in North Louisiana is similar to that in South Ukraine.

“Everything was just perfect. It’s the fusion but we’re kind of meeting at the crossroads and doing what we do, but it actually fused together,” said Harris.

Anastasiia Sliusarenko, the Public Engagement Coordinator for RAZOM for Ukraine, says the group is honored to give back to the community of Shreveport after having visited it many times.

“In this Ukrainian Louisiana fusion, we’re showing how, not only how our values are aligned, but also flavors in food and generosity,” said Sliusarenko.

In one recipe, Chef Hercules was going to cook collard greens but chose to use those cooked by Chef Harris in a fusion blend.

“Food is love, people come together for food, and you can be heard around food. The great Leah Chase in New Orleans always said people come together around food to talk about those important issues. And even at our homes, we don’t think we’re talking about important issues but when we get together you notice how the conversation just flow, because food brings people together,” said Chef Harris.

One of those issues is the ongoing war in Ukraine. Hercules described the painful reality of Ukraine occupied by Russia.

“My parents have lost their home, they lost their businesses, they had to flee because they were threatened by the Russians that came there, my brother is on the front line in Zaporizhia near the nuclear plant, and my mom is exiled in Berlin,” said Hercules.

She says life is tough, but Ukrainians are resilient. She says they are strong, and they will survive this.

“We know what we are fighting for. We are fighting for our families. We are fighting for our homes and our gardens and our animals,” said Hercules.

“Ukraine is motivated. We are fighting for our kids, for over 20,000 of kidnapped kids that are in Russia right now. We are fighting for our families, and we are fighting for our basic survival in this war, and we are beyond grateful that [the] United States is standing strong with Ukraine.”

Razom has resources to get involved and take action in standing up for Ukraine.