ARBOM sums up results of contest dedicated to Bulgarian cuisine in Moldova

Chisinau, 28 November /MOLDPRES/ - The Colibabovca village was filled by an inviting smell of spices and smoke on a cloudy morning of November. Ivan Ischimji, the winner of a culinary contest titled, Богата българска кухня” (Rich Bulgarian Cuisine), organized by the Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community from Moldova (ARBOM) on the occasion of the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians, was cooking the recipe with which he gained victory.    

„I saw on social networks that ARBOM organizes a culinary contest. We have an old woman, Ivanta, who lives in our village; she is almost 80 years old. She informed me about an old recipe for a traditional dish, Тушено Ягне в бяло вино по Хайдушки. I ruled to participate and cook a young lamb. During one week, the video clip posted got over 1,000 visualizations. I received appreciations on behalf of people from 15 countries, all born in our village,’’ said Ivan Ischimji, the mayor of the Colibabovca village, southern Leova district, the winner of the contest.   

Along with ARBOM director Alexandr Borimecicov, Ivan cooked a roast lamb in white wine. One of the secrets of this kind of food is the cooking in open air. This is an intense, but fascinating process. Ivan impressed everybody not only with his original recipe, but also with the unusual presentation of the dish.    

„Your specialty, the specialty coming from Colibabovca, as well as the extraordinary video clip brought you the first position. ARBOM gives you the grand prize – a certificate worth 5,000 lei to buy the accessories you need in the kitchen,’’ ARBOM director Alexandr Borimecicov said.    

Ivan Ischimji, who is the mayor of the Colibabovca village, ruled to donate his prize on a noble purpose.   

„My goal is to help the kindergarten and the church from the village. All money will be used to buy plates and dishes, cutlery and other articles necessary. This will be a contribution for the development of our community,’’ Ivan Ischimji said.   

On the same day, a Harvest Festival took place in Colibabovca. Guests from different regions of the country, as well as the other participants in the contest, Богата българска кухня, came to both events. They came to support the winner, as well as to take their prizes awarded by ARBOM.   

„We thank everybody for participation! There was an acerb confrontation on social networks for victory. The participants were creative and presented surprising recipes! Another nine participants will be awarded prizes of stimulation on behalf of ARBOM,’’ Alexandr Borimecicov also said.    

Under the contest’s regulation, the winner was to nourish with the cooked dish low-income people from the settlement. Thus, seven socially vulnerable families from Colibabovca enjoyed the dishes by Ivan Ischimji.

The contest, „Богата българска кухня” was held on the period 26 September – 27 October and was organized on the occasion of the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians, which is annually marked in Moldova on 29 October.