Vyacheslav Popkov

 Vyacheslav Popkov is the brand chef at the River Side Hotel and Restaurant, located in Chernihiv.

The chef’s philosophy is a game of flavor combinations, a balance of textures and the use of modern techniques. In the dishes, the chef embodies his passion for working with local, local products, adding his own, unique interpretation to each dish. “My grandmother inspired me to become a chef,” recalls Vyacheslav. — she was a confectioner and always prepared something delicious for me, I often helped her as a child and it was interesting to me.” It was this experience that shaped his future career, and his childhood memories inspired him.

Vyacheslav has a master’s degree in food technology, completed an internship abroad at the “Ferrandi” culinary school in Paris and at the famous “Basque Culinary Center” in Spain.

The chef is a co-author of the book on culinary diplomacy “Ukraine. Food and History”, is a regular participant and speaker of many culinary events in Ukraine.

Represented Ukrainian cuisine in Paris at a charity event dinner together with “Paris Ukraine Ile de France”. The restaurant where the chef works is the winner of the International Hospitality

Award 2020 in the nomination “best restaurant at the hotel”. The acquired knowledge helps Vyacheslav realize his ambitions, dreams and be successful in his business. The chef is always developing and “pumping up” his palette of tastes. “Ukrainian cuisine is one of the keys to the development and self-identification of our country. Thanks to the work and efforts of Ukrainian chefs who revive old recipes, popularize and modernize them, Ukrainian cuisine is becoming more and more famous and continues to make the whole world fall in love with it.