The night tumbles soft, one bead slips by and we're caught one thumb away from eternity.

It starts, of course, with a little encouragement. A shot of something dark. A swoosh of something frothy. Then on to a wall and a woosh of tongue-tickling spice. Just enough heat to let the senses know we mean business. And then a stir! And a knead and a flop, and then a rest... But wait! There's more. New wares are presented and brought into action. Chop! Stir! Pour! Round and around! Until... And just in time! Out of the furnace comes... Bread baked, coffee finishes, meals

March 6th, 2015: I was a few months in on my adventure into the nation of Ukraine, a place I would call home for the next four years of my life. The place, the people, balanced up on the cusp of the Eastern Steppe of Europe—it all captured my heart and I've never quite got it back. Never asked for it back, actually. On this particular day, I was out and about in the Ukrainian countryside exploring Kyiv's National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, named “Pirogovo.” Along f

It happened one September afternoon all the way back in 2015... The left bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv, Ukraine The Master, Denis, manning the grill. Two American expats standing in awe of this eastern steppe meat magic show about to happen. "It's simple, buddy," Denis says. "Just meat over fire." But then you take a bite. Tender juicy cubes of meat nestled perfectly between chunks of onion and mushroom. Perfect, melt-in-your-mouth, the flavor, Mmmm...putting any other g