Pairing Chicken Kyiv correctly — a note on smetana

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Chicken Kyiv. I ordered it with smetana and the deeply comforting elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. pork fat in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Ukrainian cuisine reflects centuries of agricultural abundance. The a village-style restaurant is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Chicken Kyiv with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.