Barrel House Korchma, a brand new Ukrainian Restaurant founded by Mykhaylo Barylko and his wife Nadiya Barylko, is now open for business.
The pair moved to Canada in 2002, leaving their tiny Ukrainian village of Verkhnia Lypytsia behind, to build a better life in Canada for themselves and their two Ukrainian-born children.
Their 22-year-old daughter Tetyana, a recent marketing graduate, is offering up her expertise whilst overseeing the restaurant's social media. She mentions that setting up shop in Toronto has played a pivotal role in solidifying their Ukrainian roots in Canada, due to the cultural history tied to the name of the establishment as well as the lack of Ukrainian representation in the city.
"[A korchma] was a bunker type of restaurant... a safe place for soldiers during the Cossack period to come and grab a bite to eat without being attacked by the enemy," said Tetyana.
Though korchmas are a time-honoured component of both Ukrainian and Eastern European culture, they remain sparse outside of the region. Tetyana explained that Toronto, despite it's reputation for being diverse, is lacking when it comes to authentic Ukrainian food served in an environment mimetic of korchma convention. But, Barell House, with its self-proclaimed tavern-like atmosphere, will provide an experience defined by Ukraine's history during the Cossack times in the spirit of ancestral tradition.
The family is immensely proud of what they have created and hope to fill a void by becoming a landmark for the Ukrainian food scene in the city. That being said, they acknowledge the many similarities that exist between Ukrainian food and the cuisines of other Eastern European countries, such as Russia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania among others. But, Barell House isn't about pulling from other cultures or claiming Eastern European food as its own, according to Tetyana.
"I grew up with almost all the food on our menu, so to me, that’s what authentic Ukrainian food is. Most of the recipes from our menu have been passed down in our family for many generations in Ukraine," said Tetyana, adding that her parents wanted to open the restaurant to "showcase [their] heritage and culture," here in Canada.
If you're wondering about the menu, of course they serve homemade pierogies, which happen to be one of Tetyana's favourite dishes. There's also Pelmeni, another Ukrainian-style dumpling filled with either chicken, pork or beef and topped with sour cream, along with potato pancakes, and Chicken and Pork Schnitzels, just to name a few.
Perhaps most importantly, much of what Barrel House Korchma serves gives rise to fond memories of Tetyana's childhood.
"It warms my heart seeing people enjoy the food that I grew up with," she said, certain in the knowledge that her families contribution will only sharpen the vibrancy of this ever-growing city.
Currently, only take-out is available whilst the patio is under construction, and as they wait for that all-important liquor license to arrive. But, they do have some seating set up outside if those who order out can't wait till they get home to dig in. Though, the patio, according to Tetyana, should be up and running in the next two weeks.
Barrel House Korchma is located at 2385 Lake Shore Boulevard West in Etobicoke and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
