Vilkovo. Bazaar.

They told me that in Vilkovo there are tasty strawberries. Even in our market in Odessa you can find it. But I never even thought that it’s so tasty. But I will tell about everything one after another.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-2

In the bazaar of Vilkovo you can buy absolutely nothing. Just lonely old women sell seedlings and raspberries.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-3

There are many dried fish and fresh, just caught, carps in a fish row. And that’s all that is from their own. All other products are imported. It is no big difference from what they sell in Odessa or any other city in Ukraine.

But near the bazaar, in the road you can find more interesting place. They sell fruit.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-4

Strawberries, cherries, apricots …

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-5

Everything is fresh, everything from Vilkovo. I bought everything in a small number and we continued our road to Kolya for eating the “ukha”. Eating strawberries, we didn’t notice as how it was ended.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-6

Second time I bought a whole box that old woman sold. It was about three kilograms and we went to the waterfront. Sitting on a pontoon pier and looking at Danube, we ate all. A trip to Kolya was postponed.

They say that all strawberrie is exported inVilkovo. Whether this is true or not, but it was the most delicious strawberries I’ve ever tasted. In Odessa, on our market there is not such tasty berry.
The road to Kolya.

Yesterday when I discussed with Kolya about how it is better to reach him, he offered me two ways. So, if you will go, rent a boat and sail through the channels.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-7

I chose the overland option. If you don’t have a jeep, you will sit in the belly of wild swamps, where there are not a living soul for a tens of kilometers, wild birds are flying, gadflies fight in car windows and the wind blows, whistling canes.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-8

Many times we thought to go back, look for the boat and go to Kolya through the channels. But we manage whit this.

That’s how his compound meets us:

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-9

Kolya owns several islands, he has a couple of houses which he takes daily rental and a wonderful wife who kooks very tasty dishes.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-10

When we arrived, he took us to the gazebo, talked with us a few minutes and said goodbye. We were waiting for the food.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-11

The first change. Fried carp, plate with vegetables and baked patties with carp. Patties are incredible. We ate them almost immediately. With the homemade lipovans’ wine and roasted carp. Meaty and tasty.

My disappointment about Vilkovo gradually disappears. We had to go to Kolya at once, spend the night there and than leave on tour.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-12

After an hour, when grilled fish with pies settled in our stomachs, they brought the “ukha”. At first imposed fish with garlic sauce in a separate bowl.

And than the soup.

Vilkovo. Gastronomic journey or how I ate frogs. Part III-13

You eat the fish, watering it with delicious sauce. A delicious homemade lunch.

Conclusions.

It is worth to go in Vilkovo for one time, to bring home a taste of the wonderful strawberry and a taste of salt on your lips when you go with the wind on a motor boat on the reserve. You should go for the Kolya’s pies Kolya, or for other household, which has its pies or other equally tasty dish.

Whether I will go in Vilkovo once again? doubt very much. Once was enough for me. Unless for the sake of strawberry and pies with fish.