Both immigrants and Americans love: what they feed in the only Ukrainian banquet hall in New Jersey

Thanks to this principle, the only banquet hall of Ukrainian cuisine in this state began to operate several years ago. The edition told in more detail "Voice of America".

Since then, the owners - a married couple - also live and work according to this principle and are grateful to the Ukrainian community for its support.

Despite the fact that New Jersey is home to one of the largest Ukrainian communities in the United States, there is not a single Ukrainian restaurant here.

The Wojtsitskys' spouses decided to at least partially correct the situation several years ago.

“Only his own can understand what is needed for a wedding or christening. We all go to American restaurants - they have their own culture, they have their own presentation. We want a little differently, - says Mikhail Voytsitsky. “We try to meet the needs of our customers as it would be at home.”

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It all started 16 years ago, when the couple moved from Ukraine to the United States with their young son and daughter. Maria is a chef by training, in order to earn a living, she began working as an assistant chef in one of the stores of Eastern European cuisine, where customers were offered ready-made meals.

“I studied back in the late 90s, then there was no such presentation of dishes. I really liked it, I wanted to show it in Ukrainian cuisine, ”says Maria.

This is how Maria started her business. First she prepared set meals and delivered them to offices. Then friends started encouraging more volume and catering to holiday events, and even came up with a name for the business.

“Our friends called us“ Mish and Mash ”. When they came to visit us, they said: "We are going to MishMash." And already when we opened our business, we gave it that name, ”says Maria.

The spouses say that in the beginning the Ukrainian community, in particular the local church, helped them a lot, and then other organizations followed up.

“Our first order was from the Ukrainian Church of Jersey City. They trusted us, - says Mikhail. "And when we completed the order, they said they would cooperate with us."

The spouses do not forget this help of the community, and all additional services for their banquets - musical accompaniment, decoration, cakes - are ordered only from Ukrainians.

“Our own to our own, according to our own - this principle accompanies us all our life. There are many Ukrainian organizations that we help, ”says Mikhail.

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The MishMash team is also 99% Ukrainian. Exception, Maria's assistant in the kitchen, Ksenia, she came from Uzbekistan. However, the spouses joke that in 5 years of joint work they have already Ukrainized her. The girl even studies the Ukrainian language.

“If you offer meals to guests, you should know their names, because many Ukrainians do not know English, especially older ones, and you need to serve them in the language they understand,” says Ksenia.

Olga Nefedova and her husband work at MishMash as waiters. She says it was difficult right after the move.

“We lacked Ukrainian support here, we visited the church. I was looking for a job then and the priest invited me to meet Maria, ”says Olga.

Robert Weisberg is a regular client of MishMash.

“Every time we come, we enjoy. Their cuisine is incredible, says Robert. "Besides, here you can always be sure of the quality of food."

Maria herself explains the secret of the popularity of her dishes and banquets simply.

“If it's tasty, then it should be beautiful and attractive, so that a person wants to try it, and for it to be home-like,” says Maria. "I don't call people clients, I call them guests."

Despite the popularity and established reputation among the community, business was not easy due to the pandemic last year.

“In the first months, the situation was critical. My wife fell ill, and only after 3 months we began to work slowly. It’s better now, but people are scared anyway, ”says Mikhail.

The couple say they are not going to stop at the banquets. Maria's dream is to open her own country holiday complex in the Ukrainian style.