Edmonton, as one of the largest centers of the Ukrainian diaspora in North America, not only offers a wide selection of Ukrainian restaurants and shops, but also actively develops its cultural and educational infrastructure. Over the past few years, especially after 2022, when many Ukrainian refugees arrived in the city, the demand for authentic culinary experiences has grown significantly. In response, Edmonton has seen the emergence of various master classes and culinary workshops that allow both Ukrainians and interested Canadians to learn how to cook traditional dishes from real masters. Authorities and community organizations actively support these initiatives, recognizing their value in preserving culture and integrating new migrants. This article provides a detailed overview of the main organizers, class formats, programs, and practical information on how to get involved in these culinary events.
Don'ya Ukraine's Kitchen: The flagship of Ukrainian cooking classes
Don'ya Ukraine's Kitchen is one of the most well-known and active organizers of culinary master classes in Edmonton. Founded in 2023 as the first project in Canada run entirely by Ukrainian refugees, this institution has set itself the mission of preserving culture through food and creating peace through varenyky from the very beginning. For their team, master classes are not just about teaching, but a way to share the history, emotions, and traditions they brought with them from Ukraine. Don'ya's popularity has grown so much that in May 2025, the team was invited to the popular Canadian TV show Dragon's Den, where they presented their business plan to investors.
Class structure and format
Classes at Don'ya are held regularly, usually several times a month, at their main location at 12225 Fort Road NW and separately for private events at 10405 Jasper Avenue. Each class costs only $35 per person, making it completely accessible to a wide range of people regardless of wealth. The team deliberately keeps the price low in an effort to make Ukrainian culture accessible to everyone. For this price, you get much more than just a learning experience.
Each class includes: hands-on instruction from real members of the Don'ya team who have been cooking these dishes their entire lives; a step-by-step, detailed breakdown of traditional recipes, with the instructor sharing not only the technique but also the history behind each dish; complete recipe cards in Ukrainian and English that you can take home and use in the future; the opportunity to taste and enjoy the dishes you have just prepared with your own hands; the atmosphere of a warm, family-like place where everything is taken with fun and humor, without rigidity or pedantry.
The theme of the classes changes every month, covering a wide range of Ukrainian dishes. The Don'ya program offers classes on making varenyky with various fillings (meat, cheese, potatoes, mushrooms, plums), holubtsi, nalysnyky (both savory and sweet), borscht, zraz, traditional borscht soup, maslyuky, perepichky, and many other dishes that characterize Ukrainian cuisine. The schedule is published monthly on their website and social media, allowing people to choose the dates and dishes that suit them best. For example, a typical monthly schedule might look like this: the first Monday — pancakes, the third Wednesday — stuffed cabbage rolls, the second Friday — classic varenyky, the fourth day — a mix of popular dishes for beginners.
Instructors and approach
The key figure in the classes is Anna, a Ukrainian woman who came to Canada with her family after Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2022. She is not only an experienced cook with ten years of practice, but also an energetic, warm-hearted teacher who knows how to turn a class into a lively, warm conversation, similar to a family dinner. Anna works with her son, who also helps run the business by organizing the logistics of the classes and even started a local bakery where they use the same authentic Ukrainian recipes to make bread and pastries. Together, they create an atmosphere reminiscent of a home kitchen, where there is no distance between the instructor and the participants.
Participants don't just sit and listen, but actively make varenyky, stuff cabbage rolls, roll out nalysnyky, receiving personal advice and corrections from Anna. She goes from person to person, watches how everyone is working, suggests tactical tricks (such as how to pinch the edges of a varenyky so that it does not open during cooking), helps those who are lagging behind, and drinks hot tea with the group. Anna often tells stories about how she cooked these dishes as a child growing up in Ukraine, how her mother and grandmother cooked, and how she adapted the recipes to Canadian ingredients while preserving their authenticity and spirit of tradition. She is not afraid to add modern variations to classic recipes — such as vegan versions of varenyky or vegetarian stuffed cabbage rolls — to make them relevant to today's eaters.
Special Programs and Gift Sets
In addition to regular group classes, Don'ya offers the option of booking private cooking classes for corporate events, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, family gatherings, and team building. The minimum group size is 10 participants, and the price is $40 per person, which includes the full experience: hands-on cooking under Anna's guidance, the joy of creating together, a shared lunch where everyone sits down and enjoys what they have prepared, and the opportunity to take leftovers home in special containers. This is a popular option for companies that want to organize an unusual corporate event that people will actually remember and enjoy talking about afterwards, or for groups of friends who want to spend time together learning something new and interesting in a relaxed atmosphere.
For those who want to give a culinary experience to a loved one for Christmas, a birthday, or another important date, Don'ya has created special gift sets called “Ukrainian Cooking Class Gift Set.” For $50 per person or $100 for two, you get a beautiful set in branded packaging, which includes: a beautifully designed apron with a traditional Ukrainian pattern or ornament, which can be used not only in classes but also in everyday life; a voucher for one cooking class of the recipient's choice, valid for one year; a set of authentic Ukrainian chocolates imported directly from Ukraine, which serve as a small gift inside the set; a complete set of materials needed for the class (recipes, ingredients except for vegetables, which are sourced locally). The sets are so beautifully designed that they can be presented as gifts without additional packaging. They are the perfect choice for giving someone not just a thing, but an experience, a memory, and an opportunity to immerse themselves in culture.
Expansion and future plans
Don'ya's success has not gone unnoticed by the wider Canadian business community. In May 2025, the team received an invitation to travel to Toronto and participate in the popular Canadian TV show Dragon's Den, where entrepreneurs present their business plans to professional investors who may decide to invest in the project. On television, they talked about their mission: how Ukrainian refugees use food as a way to preserve their culture, integrate, and build peace in their new country. Their goal is to obtain funding to scale up their business, which includes opening new locations in Edmonton (the western and southern parts of the city, where many Ukrainians also settle) and expanding to other provinces in Canada. The team publicly announced an ambitious plan to open 300 new service points (cafes, restaurants, cooking schools) over the next ten years. This shows that Don'ya's master classes are not a temporary project or fad, but a long-term, well-thought-out institution that will develop, change, and expand in the coming years.
Practical information about booking
To sign up for one of the regular group classes, visit the Don'ya website at donyaukraine.ca/cooking-classes/ and select the desired date and class topic. All available slots are published on the website every month, and you can immediately see which dates are already full and which still have places available. Classes often fill up quickly, especially popular dates before major holidays or on weekends, so it is recommended to book in advance to guarantee your spot. All materials and ingredients are provided on site and included in the price. Participants only need to come with an appetite, a desire to learn, and a willingness to spend a few hours of enjoyable work and fun. For private classes, you need to contact the team directly via the contact form on their website or via social media to discuss the details, agree on the number of participants, the theme, and the date of the class.
Get Cooking: A professional approach to Ukrainian cuisine
Get Cooking is a renowned and professionally run cooking school in downtown Edmonton that has been offering both offline and online classes since 2015 for home cooks of all skill levels, from complete beginners to those with some cooking experience. Although their program covers cuisines from around the world — from Italian and French to Asian and Mexican — Ukrainian cuisine occupies a place of honor thanks to unwavering demand from the community and requests from participants.
Class format and content complexity
Get Cooking offers interactive, lecture-based offline classes in its renovated studio in downtown Edmonton, where participants physically work alongside chef instructors using fresh, often locally sourced ingredients from Edmonton suppliers. The classroom is equipped with everything necessary: stovetops, knives, cutting boards, bowls, and other kitchen equipment so that each participant can work comfortably.
The “Taste of Ukraine: Pierogi & Cabbage Rolls In-Person Class,” taught by Mai Nguyen, is an example of their pragmatic and pedagogical approach. In this three-hour class (usually 3-3.5 hours depending on the pace of the group), participants learn how to make classic pierogi dough, practice kneading, rolling, and shaping it. Mai then demonstrates how to make several basic fillings: classic meat with onions and spices, potato with cheese, cheese with herbs, and sweet with cherries or plums. Participants practice shaping varenyky, receiving tips on how to pinch the edges correctly so that the varenyky do not open during cooking, and how to control their size and shape. At the same time, hot borscht is served and stuffed cabbage rolls are prepared: Mai shows how to choose the right cabbage leaves, how to stuff them with meat or rice, how to roll them up and place them in the garnish. Participants have the opportunity to help with all these stages to understand the technology in practice.
At the end of the class, everyone sits down at a shared table and enjoys hot, freshly cooked dumplings, stuffed cabbage rolls, and borscht with bread, sour cream, and kopecks — just as they are eaten in Ukraine. The class shares conversations about what went well, what was difficult, and exchanges impressions and anecdotes. Leftovers can be taken home in special containers to continue enjoying the dishes.
The cost of the Get Cooking class is $115 per person (excluding taxes), which is higher than Don'ya, but this is due to the professionalism of the environment, the long history of the institution, and the comprehensive approach to teaching. Groups are intentionally limited to a maximum of 10-12 participants to ensure a personal approach, the opportunity for everyone to ask questions, and receive individual advice from the instructor.
Online options and flexibility
Get Cooking also offers the option of participating in classes via Zoom, where two instructors work together in sync: one leads the main course, showing everything step by step, while the other actively answers participants' questions in the chat, facilitates discussion, and helps those who are falling behind. This allows people from different parts of Canada, even outside the province (and theoretically anywhere in the world with internet access), to join authentic Ukrainian cooking classes without leaving home, in the comfort of their own kitchen. For the online class, participants receive a complete list of ingredients and links to where they can be purchased, as well as detailed recipes in advance so they can prepare. In addition, with online classes, you can choose whether to participate actively (cooking with the instructor in real time) or remain a passive observer, taking notes and asking questions during the session.
It should be noted that online classes on Ukrainian cuisine are currently suspended on the Get Cooking platform, but they are planned to resume in the near future when more instructors are involved. This is clearly due to the success of offline classes, where demand exceeds supply.
Corporate events and team building
Get Cooking also specializes in corporate culinary events, where company teams can cook together, participate in friendly cooking competitions where two teams compete in speed and quality of preparation, or simply enjoy the shared process of creating food in a relaxed atmosphere. Such events have proven to be a very popular tool for team building and shaping corporate culture, as people who cook together form deeper bonds than during a typical office event. Ukrainian classes are a particularly popular choice for companies that want to celebrate St. Nicholas Day (December 19), Christmas (January 7 according to the Julian calendar), Ukrainian Independence Day, or simply organize team building with a cultural, authentic touch.
Cobblestone Freeway: Culinary Tours and Master Classes
Cobblestone Freeway, located at 9534 87 Street and known as an organizer of cultural tours to Ukraine, also offers specialized culinary master classes both as part of its tours to Ukraine and locally in Edmonton. Their approach differs from others in that it focuses not only on practical cooking techniques, but also on a comprehensive immersion in the cultural context, where food is seen as an integral part of a broader experience, history, and tradition.
Culinary Tours to Ukraine
Cobblestone Freeway organizes special, carefully designed culinary tours of Ukraine, choosing routes so that participants visit the regions where certain dishes originated and developed, have the opportunity to learn to cook from local masters and chefs who have generations of tradition, and explore the history and deep traditions behind the recipes. For example, their long-term “Culinary Tour of Ukraine” includes visits to different regions of Ukraine: participants can choose the regions they are interested in and receive a specialized program designed specifically for them.
During these tours, people have the opportunity to learn how to cook traditional Cossack dishes from older women in villages, varenyky from different regions with local variations, borscht, and other national dishes in their historical and geographical context. For example, you can visit a village in Bukovina and learn how to cook Bukovinian varenyky with their characteristic embroidery and ornamentation on the dough, or go to the Carpathians and learn Hutsul dishes with their characteristic stallion and names used high in the mountains.
These are not just cooking classes, as they are usually held, but full-fledged cultural expeditions that are transformative in their depth and authenticity. Participants learn to cook from real people, not “professional” instructors, people for whom these dishes are part of their daily life and family tradition.
Local master classes in Edmonton
In addition to overseas tours, Cobblestone Freeway periodically organizes local culinary master classes in Edmonton, especially in preparation for major Ukrainian holidays, celebrations of cultural events, or special community events. Their classes are often held in their gallery and store (located at 9534 87 Street), where participants not only cook but also learn about the history and symbolism of the dishes, explore regional variations, and discuss how traditional recipes have been passed down across oceans and generations in the diaspora.
In addition, Cobblestone Freeway has launched a special project led by Taras, a renowned chef and enthusiast who has launched a series of themed classes called “Taras' Cooking Classes.” These classes often focus on the intricacies of cooking, the history of a particular recipe, and how to adapt traditional cooking methods to modern conditions.
Other organizers and special events
Ukrainian Cultural Centre
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Edmonton, located at 11018 87 Ave NW, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture in the city. The centre periodically organises cooking classes and workshops, especially in preparation for major holidays such as Easter, Christmas, Ukrainian Independence Day, Constitution Day, and Holodomor Remembrance Day. These classes often invite older members of the community to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, especially young Ukrainians born in Canada or new immigrants.
The centre also organises group events and festivals, during which demonstration cooking sessions are held, i.e. when people watch how a dish is prepared and then taste the finished result.
Community organisations and charitable institutions
Various community organizations associated with Edmonton's Ukrainian community occasionally organize culinary events as part of their charity and integration programs. The Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers, for example, occasionally holds cooking sessions for newly arrived refugees, allowing them to cook together and enjoy familiar foods in a communal atmosphere.
Private offers and instructors
In addition to official institutions, Edmonton has a network of private cooking instructors, often migrants themselves or children of Ukrainian immigrants, who offer private or semi-private classes by arrangement. Such classes are often found through Ukrainian Facebook groups, local advertisements, or through recommendations within the community. Prices for these classes usually range from $30 to $60 per person, depending on the instructor and the topic.
Practical recommendations for people who want to attend a master class
For a newly arrived Ukrainian or anyone else who wants to begin their journey into the world of Ukrainian cuisine, it is recommended to first determine your level of experience and the price you are willing to pay. If you are a complete beginner and want to try something inexpensive for a quick test, Don'ya Ukraine's Kitchen for $35 is the perfect starting point. If you need a more professional, structured approach with more details and a theoretical component, Get Cooking for $115 is a good choice. If you are interested not just in recipes, but in a deep dive into the cultural context, then Cobblestone Freeway is worth considering.
It is also recommended to check the calendars and schedules of these establishments before planning your time, as slots often fill up quickly, especially on the eve of major holidays. It is worth booking in advance to guarantee a spot on your desired date. In addition, it is worth bringing an apron or clothes that can get dirty during cooking, although many of the organizers provide aprons as part of the class.
In addition, it is worth following social media and local Facebook groups of Ukrainians in Edmonton, where new classes, special offers, volunteer opportunities, and community events related to cooking and culture are often announced.
Conclusion: A living tradition passed down through food
In the 21st century, Edmonton is becoming a place where Ukrainian culinary traditions are not only preserved but actively experienced, developed, and passed on to future generations. From the popular, accessible group classes at Don'ya Ukraine's Kitchen, where Ukrainian refugees share their history and skills, to the professional, structured educational programs of Get Cooking, to the deep cultural immersion offered by Cobblestone Freeway, there are almost endless ways to join in this exciting and enriching experience. Ukrainian cooking classes in Edmonton are not only practical cooking lessons, but also a way to preserve memory, culture, identity, and human dignity in times of great change and displacement. Through varenyky, borscht, nalysnyky, and holubtsi, people tell stories about their roots, their families, what they are proud of, and what they want to pass on to their children and the world.