On 24 May 2025, the Ukrainian contemporary design store Objekty in Antwerp hosted a charity dinner unlike any other.
The event, titled United by Food, brought together a team of Ukrainian chefs led by Oleksii Shpionov to present a curated four-course menu that introduced Belgian guests to the depth and diversity of Ukrainian cuisine. But beyond its gastronomic ambition, the evening carried a vital humanitarian goal: to raise funds for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian military medics.
“This is more than food,” Shpionov told EU Today in an exclusive interview. “It’s a message. It’s a connection. It’s a way of showing the world who we are, and why we fight—not only for territory, but for our culture, our people, our dignity.”
The culinary team—comprising Mikhailo Fortuna, Boyko Igor, Andrii Kovalenko, Oleksandra, Maria Shpionova, Nataliia Aleksieienko, Marina Piskarova, Marina Pasichnyk, and Lora Kucherenko—travelled by car from Kyiv to Antwerp, arriving three days early to prepare. All are part of S.E.T. Volunteer Kitchen, a grassroots initiative that began in a school canteen in Irpin following the liberation of the Kyiv region in spring 2022.
Volunteers in Irpin preparing meals for residents affected by the war.
Before the war, Shpionov worked in event catering, preparing elegant wedding menus and high-end corporate dining experiences. That changed when Russian forces advanced on Kyiv. “We had no funds at the start,” he said. “We just began cooking—first in the school kitchen, then for displaced people in Bucha and Irpin.” The team quickly grew, supported by World Central Kitchen and the José Andrés Foundation.
“In Irpin, we served more than 5,500 meals,” Shpionov recalled. “And later, with help from Ukrainian Railways, we started operating a mobile kitchen on a train. Today, we serve up to 4,500 portions a day along the front line.”
At Objekty, the chefs showcased a version of Ukrainian cuisine rarely seen in the West: refined, inventive, and expansive. “Ukraine is not just borsch and vareniki,” Shpionov said. “Though of course, we honour those too.”
The menu began with a choice of bograch—a spicy Carpathian meat stew—or kholodnyk, a refreshing beetroot soup served chilled. The second course featured banosh, a creamy maize dish, accompanied by mushroom soufflé, spinach, and brynza cheese.
The main course was shpundra—pork neck braised in beetroot kvass, an 18th-century recipe with a bold, earthy profile. For dessert, diners were served vareniki filled with cherries, accompanied by a meticulously crafted, potato-shaped confection that blurred the line between art and patisserie.
The event, which also featured live music, was attended by Belgian officials, civil society guests, and members of the Ukrainian diaspora. Set in Objekty’s modernist interior, the dinner reflected the same principles as the cuisine it served: minimalism, precision, and story.
“We cooked for high-ranking officials to show that Ukraine is also fine dining,” said Shpionov. “That it’s variation, seasoning, presentation. It’s flavourful, sophisticated, and sometimes even surprising.”
The chefs worked intensively in the days leading up to the event, preparing each dish with care and intention. “This is already my third time taking part in this adventure,” one team member commented. “And every time, I feel grateful—for the experience, the team, and the chance to represent Ukraine.”
Part of the proceeds from the event—totalling €2,190.34—will go to a Children’s Support and Protection Centre in Mykolaiv, with the remainder directed towards supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
When asked what message he would give to Vladimir Putin, Shpionov did not hesitate. “Stop war. Stop war now.” Around him, his colleagues nodded.
Despite the exhaustion, the team expressed pride and determination. “We will go back to Ukraine and continue,” said Shpionov. “Our work doesn’t stop here.”
United by Food team at work at Objekty
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United by Food: A Culinary Fundraiser for Ukraine’s Front-Line Medics
📍 Objekty, Anselmostraat 13, Antwerp 📲 Instagram: @objekty
👨🍳 Chefs: Oleksii Shpionov, Mikhailo Fortuna, Boyko Igor, Andrii Kovalenko, Oleksandra, Maria Shpionova, Nataliia Aleksieienko, Marina Piskarova, Marina Pasichnyk, Lora Kucherenko
🍽️ Featured Dishes: Bograch, Kholodnyk, Banosh, Shpundra, Vareniki
🎗️ Purpose: Fundraising for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian military medics
📲 Instagram: @set_catering | @shpionov | YouTube: Volunteer Kitchen Ukraine
