A woman who fled the Russian attacks on her homeland of Ukraine is celebrating her successful business venture in Kelowna.
Tetiana Kopets officially opened Ready To Cook on Canada Day 2023 in The District on Bernard. It has become a mainstay for downtown workers and visitors who can purchase tasty flash-frozen Ukrainian specialties to take home a cook for their families.
The unique feature of the store is a large glass viewing window where shoppers can watch experts preparing pierogies or varenyk, as they are known in Ukrainian.
“For me, I prefer to see how it works,鈥 Tetiana said back in 2023. 鈥淵ou can see it鈥檚 clean and what we put inside.鈥
She understands the challenges of juggling a busy schedule while trying to get dinner on the table.
鈥淢y previous life was very busy and I understand when you鈥檙e back at home and you don鈥檛 have time. At the same time, you want to prepare food for your family and this food you will prepare at home. It鈥檚 ready to cook.鈥
Kopets came to Kelowna in 2022, not long after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. Her business, which she started a year later, has been so successful that a second store now operates at Orchard Park Shopping Centre.
Kelowna is invited to help celebrate the second anniversary of Ready To Cook this Friday. Kopets is hosting a Sip, Taste & Celebrate at the downtown location (465 Bernard Ave.) with samples, music and special treats throughout the day. Festivities will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.