Shashlyck!

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 grill masters to shame.

But it's easy, buddy, you just put meat on a stick over fire. Okay, my friend, you keep your magical Cossack meat marinading secrets. I'll watch. I'll learn your ways.

Over ten years later, and I still do not know what kind of wizardry my friend Denis used on this shashlyck feast—but I watch, I learn... I'm hungry now.

• 

• 

• 

• 

•