Photos by Anelya restaurant
The Ukrainian restaurant Anelya in Chicago has been included in the Michelin Guide.
The restaurant is named after the grandmother of chef Johnny Clark, who was born in Kharkiv.
The menu takes a product-focused approach to traditional specialties. An array of hors d'ouevres is displayed on the zakusky cart loaded with the likes of sunflower seed hummus, tart roe tarts, and carrot salad. Green borsch is enhanced with dill and nettles, stocked with boiled egg and slices of fingerling potato, while the freshly baked, butter-glazed, challah-like pampushky bread is a perfect pairing with the soup. Stuffed cabbage, or holubtsi, features finely ground locally raised beef.
For desserts, they offer options like "Napoleon," "Kyiv Cake," "Medovik," and more. The restaurant also features a variety of beverages, including craft cocktails and wines.
"Johnny Clark first visited Kharkiv in 2023, an experience that inspired him to open a restaurant to promote Ukrainian traditional and modern culinary traditions in the U.S.", according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
