Concealed in the basement of the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen sits, unassuming and quiet; the only indication that it exists is a small sign on the window listing the hours of operation. Inside, however, I found a welcoming little treasure. A fundraising operation run by a small group within the church community, Streecha is like the cozy home of a Ukrainian grandmother. The beige walls are decorated with religious paintings, and there are old photographs and traditional pottery atop shelves with lace coverings. Decorative crosses hang on the walls, an old grain press sits covered in doilies and bundles of wheat are beside the door. It almost felts as though we were at someone else’s family home, a guest for Sunday dinner.
The Manhattan Sideways team ordered the varenyky with onions, a typical Ukrainian dumpling, buttery, doughy and filled with potato. As we sat munching on our treats at one of the long, communal style tables, a television in the corner of the room reported the daily Ukrainian news.
