The Monthly Ritual

Three years have passed since I first walked into the powder blue Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Main Street and 11th avenue. It was quieter back then and along with the perogies, cabbage rolls and borscht, were home made church desserts. The perogies were potato and cheddar filled; drenched in butter. The cabbage rolls were filled with rice and meat while the borscht was flushed with beats and a brilliant red.

Every month, I would go back, fill in my little order card and line up to the cashier and was served by friendly, hard working Ukrainian church goers who seemed more and more surprised by their success with each passing month. The crowds ebbed and flowed but they were always friendly faces, surprised by the homemade prairie meal materializing on the wet coast. I’ve sat down at the communal tables and talked to young couples freshly established in the neighborhood or visitors from Montreal. All of them had come from word of mouth recommendations.

Now, they no longer make their own desserts and there are often line ups, but for me, it has become a monthly ritual. The write ups in local and national publications has failed to change the charm of the event nor the warmth that can only be produced by a home made meal.