Ukrainian chef to host February Feast at Ingestre Orangery
Oksana Harris married Steve in Ukraine before moving to the UK and getting a blessing at Ingestre church where his parents married
There are not many chefs who can lay claim to returning to the scene of their nuptials for the simple reason of cooking up a storm for the community.
But that’s exactly what Oksana Harris, of LET’S COOK! Ukraine will be doing in the beautiful surroundings of Ingestre’s very special and restored Orangery on February 12 - and everyone is invited to her Ukrainian c.
Oksana, formerly of Odessa, Ukraine, received the blessing of Ingestre church on herself and her British husband Steve in 2018. The pair had met online and after several meetings on Ukrainian soil, Steve decided that a life without Oksana in it would not be one that he wanted. She just happened to agree with him.
On April 30, 2015, just after the war with Russia began, they married in Ukraine surrounded by Oksana’s family and shortly afterwards made the permanent transfer to England.
It was here in May 2022 that Oksana, with her armfuls of food knowledge gleaned from both her mother and grandmother, met Stafford-based entrepreneur and presenter, Ingrid Wagner who was on the lookout for a Ukrainian chef, and LET’S COOK! Ukraine was born.
Oksana’s husband Steve was on the trail of his own adventures too. He already knew that his parents had worked at Ingestre Hall and had married at Ingestre church and a visit there confirmed that this was the place for his and Oksana’s blessing in the UK after their Ukrainian marriage, for all of his family.
Oksana says that she fell in love not only with her man but with the quiet elegance and beauty of Ingestre church. The couple are now regular members of the congregation and Oksana’s cooking is well known among her fellow communicants.
But Oksana, it’s safe to say, wanted to do something more at Ingestre. The recent restoration of the nearby Orangery at Ingestre brought her idea of holding a Ukrainian three course Feast in February, to life - and Steve will be one of the waiters.
She explained: “I want to do this for the whole community, to bring a taste of my home to this very special place where Steve and I received a blessing on our marriage in the church and which helped him to feel close to his parents.”
Ingrid adds: “Sharing food is a great way to connect and communicate. We want to introduce visitors to Ingestre and to each other.
“And what better way to do it than with a three course meal where everyone will have the time to say hello, chat and, of course, become firm converts to Ukrainian cuisine.”
Aaron Chetwynd, Chairman of the Friends of Ingestre Orangery, and himself distantly related to Walter Chetwynd, the man responsible for building Ingestre church, the design of which has been attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, agrees.
He said: “We are very excited to be hosting this marvellous and really rather unique event.
“We’ve held weddings and parties here, but we’ve never had a cooking event before.
“It’s a real chance for people to meet each other and learn more about the Ukrainian community here in Stafford, about their culture and traditions.”
Oksana and Ingrid are hoping that LET’S COOK! Ukraine will become a regular presence amongst the growing number of events set to take place at the light-filled and spacious Orangery, bringing Ukrainian cooking lessons to the place which bills itself as a hidden secret.
Take the path to the left of the church and you will find, in the tranquillity of its Capability Brown landscapes, the reason why Oksana and Steve found, and still find it to be so special.
You are invited, with your friends and family to the Ukrainian three course February Feast on Sunday
February 12 at 1pm, at Ingestry Orangery. To book or call 07717036213 or visit their Facebook page. For more information on Ingestre visit their website.
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