Bread: A Symbol of Ukrainian Heritage, Resilience, and Revival (DRAKE HALL)

Chef Tetiana invites participants to join her on an exploration of 7,000 years of Ukrainian bread history. Learn about the first grains grown in fertile black Ukrainian soil, the sacred bread-making rituals of village ovens, the resilience of families who preserved these traditions through times of hardship, and the powerful revival of heritage bakeries in modern Ukraine. Participants will discover how bread in Ukraine is more than a source of nourishment—it is also identity, memory, community, and cultural connection. Over two engaging sessions, participants won't just learn about Ukrainian bread—they will experience it. They will see how three simple strands of dough are transformed into a meaningful cultural symbol and taste this centuries-old living tradition. Participants will leave with a recipe for Pletinka with poppy seeds, allowing them to recreate this bread at home and become part of a tradition that has linked Ukrainian families across generations. 

Tetiana Sherman is a professional chef from Ukraine who arrived in Colorado in June 2022. Formerly the owner of a successful culinary school in Kyiv, she brought her passion and expertise to Colorado, founding Culinary Discovery, where she teaches people to create simple, delicious, and nutritious meals in their own kitchens. Tetiana offers popular sourdough bread workshops and beer-pairing cooking classes that connect food, culture, and community. Her refugee story was featured on Colorado Public Radio, Voice of America, and The Coloradoan, and her traditional Ukrainian varenyky recipe appeared in Cocina Libre: Immigrant Resistance Refugees. An active member of Ukrainians of Colorado and a speaker with the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau, Tetiana also supports numerous fundraising initiatives for Ukraine. She lives in Timnath, Colorado, with her family.

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