Welcome to Belarus!
Summer is the right time for travelling and outdoor festivals,
but some people should work hard
so that others could take a holiday.
To make such relaxation even more interesting,
sometimes it is worth inviting a person from abroad!
Let's see how one untiring foreigner introduces Belarusians to the things
that have long been common in France, but are still exotic in our country.
Meet Boris Boignard.
Boris, who is now a resident of Strazhevichy village,
came to Belarus from France 5 years ago;
he married a girl from Vitsebsk.
Boris is a professional chef.
At the age of 16, he started working as a bartender and sommelier in a restaurant,
then he became sous chef and finally chef.
In Belarus, he was going to produce foie gras.
He breeded geese and pigs
but then found a much more interesting occupation...
"I came to Belarus,
because it is a beautiful country with wonderful nature.
Now I know that there are many people looking for something special.
And I am the person who really loves to put them up to such things –
I show them recipes, dishes, food...
For example, locals are not in the habit of eating snails.
So, when I can treat them, it's my pleasure.
I would like not only to introduce snail dishes to Belarusians,
but to help overcome the feeling of disgust
that often arises when talking about them.
As a rule, it comes off when I deal with young people.
However, many local residents and people of a certain are still reluctant.
To make up the shortfall of snails,
the French breed them in many parts of their country.
In Belarus, it is not necessary, because they are many of them."
Boris is often invited to present French cuisine.
This time, he is a participant of the Sprava festival.
The open-air stands out for its artistic atmosphere,
but one should do their very best to make its vision a reality.
"When one realizes what its organisers are doing,
they are eager to be part of it.
There is a small island that used to be unknown and unattended.
Today at least 1,000 people are here.
And they are still coming!
-Carrot ready? - Yes.
We have a field kitchen, we serve meals to lots of people.
About 500 persons come to have a breakfast;
up to 1,000 – lunch,
and 500-800 are expected to sup in the evening.
There is a whole lot of people!
"Cooking for the Sprava festival,
I use only the products bought from villagers:
eggs, cream, milk."
-Natasha!
-Come in!
-Two dozen eggs…
-How much? -Five.
-And later... -Another two dozen? -Yes. -Ok.
-Here you are. -Thank you!
- Take a smell.
- I will grind it then.
- It is used in making a Belarusian spice –
cumin, coriander, dill are milled.
-Thank you. - You are welcome.
-Some tomatoes?
-Even yellow! -Yes, taste them!
Make something interesting!
Thank you very much, goodbye! - Bye!
Meanwhile, the preparations for the festival are also underway
in a community centre of Chareya agrotown.
These women have been members of the vocal band Natkhnenne (Inspiration)
for over 30 years.
They have repeatedly performed at the Slavonic Bazaar festival
and it is their second appearance at Sprava.
Valyantsina Chumakova: "This is a welcome change from our daily routine.
One can always come here, hold a rehearsal and have a talk.
I am very happy to be here, in this town, with these people."
-Thank you! - The same to you!
Tatsyana used to work as a cook.
We wonder if she has some specialty.
Tatsyana Maksimovich: "Specialty? Hmmm…
What do you think is my specialty?"
-Marrow cake! -Yep, that's it!
-The marrow is ready...
Well-well, the marrow has fallen down.
'Marrow' is masculine, who is in hurry?
-My husband must be coming home.
-After work? -No, he helped to fork hay.
Let's press this…
That's going some!
That's our life...
Supper time!
One can refresh and relax.
'Vyachera!' (Supper!)
"Indeed, one can take me for a workaholic.
When I arrived in Belarus
and fellow villagers in Strazhevichy saw me working,
some came and asked me to take a break,
because, according to them, I worked too much.
Here many people have a nap in daytime; I don't."
Only after having installed his foodtruck,
Boris goes to the countryside to cook desserts.
What a restless person!
But there is no other way:
only he who works hard, shall reap the harvest of labour.
Now I am going to cook tiramisu.
It is an Italian dessert.
Every-inch tiramisu is made with coffee and cocoa.
I add fresh berries - for example, cherries.
There are lots of red berries in Belarus.
In my opinion, it is the best option.
The eggs that can be found in the villages
have yellow and even orange yolks
while those sold in shops have white or light yellow yolks.
As a child, I used to eat eggs from farms
or from people who bred chickens,
so I can't take shopbought eggs seriously.
People from all over the country are in rush to Belaya Tsarkva (White Church).
We may be in for a full day!
The organisers call the open-air
a 'festival of interaction with the historical and natural landscape of Belarus
through contemporary art and music.'
Let's see what this might mean.
Boris does not have a spare moment to enjoy the performance,
because he is set to carry out his culinary and educational mission.
"Working for the festival, I have used about 300 eggs for a month,
10-15 litres of cream, 10-15 litres of milk.
I have picked more than 2,000 snails.
This year has been unfavourable.
Usually I start looking for them in April or May,
but this time it hardly rained.
I had to wait for the beginning of July."
There is a long queue to Boris' stand -
people indulge in grape snails (they are called Burgundy's)
Apparently, Belarusians like the foreign treat.
"Young people are usually quick to taste snails.
As for older people,
I have not yet managed to convince anyone to have a go.
They consider it unacceptable.
-Shall we start?
-Lovely!
Taking part in such a festival is like a miracle.
Look, snails!
Have you ever tried them?
-No, I haven't.
-Let's do it! I ate them!
The cook comes from France.
Last year we ate here, it was super!
You won't regret it!
-Ok, I trust you.
-It's delicious and healthy!
Take it out with a toothpick...
-Thank you. - You are welcome.
-Bon appetit! - Thank you!
-You see, it is such an exclusive recipe...
-I can't imagine that one can make something like that of a small snail.
The cook does really well.
-Ok, let's have it.
Have a nice meal! - You too!
-Come to light!
-Pin it on... and eat!
-I would never have thought it is so delicious.
Firstly, there is some seasoning…
Could one believe it is a snail?
Yummy!
-You know, we should learn from him!
-We should ask for a recipe.
There is garlik, onions,
parsley, salt...and butter.
No big deal,
but it turns out that snails need to be pan-readied for 2 months
before being cooked...
In France, this costs 15 euro.
For one jar.
It is a gift!
-Thank you very much! -You are welcome!
We say goodbye to a place
where people come together to live their ideals and values.
Boris, thank you for doing your best
to acquaint us with never-before-seen dishes.
We hope we make a feast of your delicious food more than once.
Authors - Katsyaryna Markavets and Maksim Shved
Script and directing - Maksim Shved
Assistant director – Alyaksandr Mikhalkovich
Filming - Anton Rabtsau, editing – Illya Bazhko
Translating – Yuliya Novik
Sound recording - Yury Batalyonak, Kanstantsin Voranau
Animation - KniKni studio, music for animation - Uladzimir Patapenka
Mentoring - Yury Kalina
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