Ukrainian Cuisine From Chefs In Parsippany Raises Funds For Nation

PARSIPPANY, NJ — While many Americans have turned their attention to Ukraine during recent weeks, one question remains vital to understanding a people: what do they like to eat? While cuisine may go on the backburner during wartime, Jeremiahs Catering & Cooking Studio in Parsippany used Ukrainian food to help the nation's people.

Chef Theresa Navarro welcomed a guest chef to her kitchen last week — Natasha Routhier, whose parents moved to the United States during their teens. Jeremiahs assembled a Ukrainian menu last week, donating a portion to a medical facility in Ukraine.

Delicacies such as borscht, chicken Kyiv (chicken stuffed with herb butter and breaded) and deruny (potato pancakes) became available at Jeremiahs (44 N Beverwyck Rd., Lake Hiawatha). The business's "Let's Cook for Ukraine" efforts raised $350 as of Monday afternoon, Navarro told Patch.

"I’m always looking to support whatever I can in the community and around the world, wherever I can," Navarro said.

Although Routhier's family left their homeland, they brought Ukraine's culture with them. Routhier's fondest memories include sitting in the kitchen, watching her grandmother whip together a giant pot of borscht or preparing stuffed cabbage and chicken Kyiv, hearing stories of her childhood.

While her parents are in the United States, they've still struggled since the Russian Federation's all-out invasion Feb. 24. Routhier's parents run engineering businesses in both Ukraine and Russia. The war and its economic effects financially decimated them.

"As of right now, there really aren’t any next steps," Routhier said. "Everything’s on hold. They can’t do anything while the conflict is going on."

Patrons can still gift a meal for Ukraine via the Jeremiahs webpage, which will aid hospitals in the nation.

Many in Parsippany have come together to support Ukraine since the Russian government's Feb. 24 invasion. The Township Council passed a resolution March 15 to support Ukraine and its people, and township officials raised the Ukraine flag April 2.

Since the invasion, the war has killed 1,842 civilians as of midnight Sunday (Ukraine local time), according to the United Nations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights believes the actual death toll is "considerably higher," as the agency deals faces delays in reporting and must corroborate casualties.

Thanks for reading. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Parsippany Patch Facebook page.