Varennyky! A Ukrainian Must
You might know them as pirogi, or dumplings, but I know these delicious bites as Varennyky! Varrenyky are a dish that any traveler in Ukraine needs to try. They are dumplings that are filled with a variety of things. The most common fillings are potatoes, farmers cheese (similiar to cottage cheese), and meat, but it is not hard to find ones filled with mushrooms, cabbage, or fruit (usually served for dessert).
The Varennyky dough is cut into circles, filled, and then closed into a half-moon shape. Sometimes they are sauteed with salo (bacon bits) or with a mushroom sauce, and then served with sour cream. If they are of the fruit variety they can be sprinkled with sugar. They are delicious!
To find the best Varrennyky I suggest you find your nearest babusya, but if you can’t make it to Ukraine today you can try making your own!
Heres a great recipe! http://www.shesimmers.com/2010/04/best-vareniki-dough-recipe-from-valya.html
The best way to get from Kyiv to Odessa is train. It will be overnight (about 14 hours). Those leave at least once a day from Kyiv. If you are interested in over countries. Istanbul is amazing and their is a boat that will take you from Odessa to Istanbul. It is a little expensive but very nice. There are also flights once a day from Kyiv to Istanbul. Finally, Prague and Budapest are also fantastic and can be reached by train or plane from Ukraine. I would recommend prague, or krakow for that matter, if your time is crunched.
from kiev, what is the best way to travel to odessa?
i am coming from the usa and would like to spend a couple of days in some european countries i.e. prague or budapest or moscow or istanbul.
what would be your best recommnedation? i have 12 days total (including 3 days of seminar). i would like to use train system as well.