“Gourmet Routes†is a unique project meant to tell Ukrainians about the tastiest spots of the country and become a driver for domestic gastro tourism.
In Ukraine, the ecosystem of craft producers has been growing rapidly. They sell their products to large retail networks and occasionally may present their products at food festivals several times a year. Local gastro tourism is usually associated with city establishments. Tourists do not have a gastronomic map with information about Ukrainian craft food producers.
The “Gourmet Routes†project was initiated by RDS, a Ukrainian road-building company that has been constructing roads throughout the country for 16 years already. As a socially responsible business, RDS aims to give every Ukrainian the opportunity to travel on good quality roads and visit the tastiest spots of our country.
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Independence, the first ever printed gastro guide has been created in Ukraine. It lists 100 craft producers from all oblasts of the country. You can find them, as well as other farms, on the gastronomic map of our web site.
The “Gourmet Routes†project was initiated by a Ukrainian group of road-building companies, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Independence of Ukraine. We are proving — not in word, but in deed — that Ukraine is a European state. While travelling around Europe, people always try to visit a Hungarian wine chateaux or a German craft brewery. Why not do the same in Ukraine? Especially since pandemic has significantly limited opportunities for travelling abroad. Yet, at the same time, it has spurred domestic tourism.
Yuri Shumakher, RDS group co-founder
The gastro guide and the online gastronomic map will help food connoisseurs taste Ukrainian craft foods and drinks right where they are produced, and the producers — to find admirers for their products.
The gastronomic map shows craft farms from all around Ukraine. There are three selection criteria:
- one should be able to get to the location by car;
- the producer offers tasting sessions and guided tours;
- gastro-tourists are welcome there.
The mission of the project is to develop gastro tourism in Ukraine and raise awareness about local craft producers. “Gourmet Routes†is a project to help those seeking new tastes to get bright gastronomic experience and learn about producers of Ukrainian craft foods.
Chernihiv wine. Kyiv sturgeons. Mykolaiv oysters. Sievierodonetsk bananas. And then there are dandelion jam, kachana porridge, veselyanyk honey gingerbreads, and emotional beer. It sounds like a joke, yet these are real things you can get to by Ukrainian roads.
Yevhen Konovalov, RDS group co-founder
The “Gourmet Routes†project was initiated by RDS, a Ukrainian road-building company that has been constructing roads throughout the country for more than 16 years. As a socially responsible business, RDS aims to give every Ukrainian the opportunity to travel on good quality roads and visit the tastiest spots of our country.
Every year, new craft farms emerge in Ukraine. And the existing ones open their doors to guests. That is why we have created a web site where new locations can be added.
Yevhen Konovalov, RDS group co-founder
Have a delicious travel!
