Nina Popova tried a range of professions before she understood that cooking is her life’s work; today she is the chef at Café Centaur in Lviv.
I’m 54, and I’ve been working as a cook for 9 years. My milestone is the chef’s position at Café Centaur.
Right after school I worked as a cook for several years, because I had loved cooking since childhood. But I had to change my occupation, and I tried a range of professions until I finally understood that cooking is my life’s work.
My favorite cuisine is Ukrainian, because it has been close to me since childhood, and I also took over some traditions from my mother and grandmother. All my hobbies are connected with cooking one way or another. I like to experiment, try new products, create new dishes, and invent new ways of serving traditional ones.
I have little grandchildren, and I spend my free time with them. Together we bake cookies and pies and have a joyful time doing it.
Duck stew with couscous is a traditional Lviv dish. For some people, it brings back the taste of childhood.
