The Career Path of Volodymyr Yaroslavskyi
Ukrainian chef and TV personality Volodymyr Yaroslavskyi began his culinary career at just 11 years old. By 13, he was actively assisting his mother in the kitchen, and after finishing the 9th grade, he enrolled in a culinary college. At 17, he secured a position at one of Poltava's top restaurants, where he worked in the cold kitchen on weekdays and handled the hot and meat sections on weekends.
He felt truly self-sufficient by age 20, having mastered every kitchen station. His path to success included an international opportunity when an American chef offered him an internship in the Emirates during the opening of the FAIRMONT hotel in Kyiv. By 25, he became a head chef, and at 28, while working at the Onegin and Under Wonder restaurants, he was recognized as one of Ukraine's 25 best chefs.
Television and Restaurant Ventures
Yaroslavskyi has also appeared on television shows, including 'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Knives Out.' At 36, he opened his first restaurant, Lucky, which he claims was prepared in just 10 days:
“I made a lot of mistakes at the start and learned a lifelong lesson. We essentially opened in 10 days: from the moment we entered the premises to welcoming the first guests.”
At 40, he became a judge on the cooking show 'MasterChef,' a role he has held for 14 seasons. Later, at 42, he opened his second restaurant, Chef's Table, which follows a Michelin-style concept and has been listed in the 50 Best Discovery guide, though it has not yet received stars. Yaroslavskyi notes:
“We are currently developing the Ukrainian cuisine franchise NAI and preparing to open in Portugal. There is more to come.”
In 2014, Yaroslavskyi received a job offer from Serhiy Kurchenko with a proposed monthly salary of $9,000. His culinary journey continues to inspire many young chefs aspiring to succeed in this competitive field. His story highlights how dedication and a drive for excellence can lead to remarkable achievements in the global culinary industry, demonstrating the growing international appeal of Ukrainian cuisine.