Tkachuks bring a tasty slice of Ukraine to Amish Country

Not all that long ago the sound of bombs and horror of war were ringing in the ears and festering in the hearts of the Tkachuk family, as they struggled to come to grips with the war in Ukraine.

A tight-knit family, the Tkachuks were living in fear for their lives as Russia attacked and war broke out. Father Ivan, who goes by John here; mother Tetiana; son Roman; daughters Solomia and Zlata; and Tetiana’s mother Olha were forced to flee to a new life.

Fast-forward a year or so later and the family is safe in the arms of a welcoming community of Amish and Mennonite people in Holmes County, where the family fulfilled John’s dream of opening a restaurant in early May.

The Ukrainian menu, along with the gratitude and joyful presence of the Tkachuk family, has made Solo Way an instant hit in the community.

“We’ve been warmly accepted, and we’ve heard very positive feedback,” Solomia said. “Oftentimes, people are afraid to try something different. We were excited to offer something that was unique that would give people a taste of another culture.”

The restaurant name, Solo Way, has special meaning to the family. In Ukraine that means the only way, and they chose to begin this business as one family, a united effort, a common bond in their faith that has brought them to feel very much at home in an area that thrives on its Christian Anabaptist roots.

The family brainstormed for a couple weeks while coming up with the name, and Solo Way not only defined their close-knit family, but also is in honor of the Ukrainian bird that represents freedom.

“We were excited to bring part of our country here to this community,” said Solomia, who will be a senior at Hiland High School next year and hopes to pursue a degree in premed.

With Solomia serving as his interpreter, John said of the move to America and the joy of fulfilling his dream of creating his own restaurant, “To us this represents faith, family and freedom and expressing our culture and bringing part of who we are to the people here. Our main goal is to share with others who Ukraine is and who we are. We don’t want it to be just a restaurant.”

And because the family works together at the restaurant, it represents one more place they can gather together to enjoy their new lease on life.

“This place is like another home to us,” Tetiana said. “We are able to express our culture in a new way to people here in our new home.”

Much like Amish Country, life in Ukraine revolves around the family bond, celebrating love and each other at the heart of their world.

As for the food, John said in Ukraine it is commonplace for everyone to be in the kitchen preparing dishes for meals, much like the Tkachuks are doing now in their restaurant.

It is a family affair that brings plenty of Ukrainian flavor to an area known for chicken, noodles and mashed potatoes.

John said one reason their food tastes so good is the high quality of ingredients they are able to purchase in Amish Country.

In his homeland John was the general manager of more than 20 Eldorado stores in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan, a company similar to Best Buy. Yet his dreams were always in the restaurant realm.

“It was always in my heart,” John said.

Tetiana said Ukrainian recipes have been passed down through generations, and John said his recipes have come through generations of his family.

With four flavors of pierogies, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, honey cake, grilled sausage and borscht soup, the menu is peppered with authentic Ukrainian food that John brought with him from his homeland.

The menu has brought raves from diners, who love the authenticity of the food.

Jim and Diane Clark, who were visiting from Northwest Indiana and had no idea the restaurant even existed prior to visiting Amish Country, were dining earlier this summer, and having spent time serving as a missionary in Ukraine on seven different occasions, they were inspired by the cuisine and the company.

“This food tastes exactly like Ukraine and brings back some fond memories,” Jim Clark said. “But what’s even better is hearing the family chatter away in their beautiful language. That takes me right back there to the Ukraine.”

Solomia said creating the restaurant and working together as a family is the best way to move on from the past and embrace their new future here in Amish Country. She said while they one day hope to return to their homeland to visit, this is their new home.

“We don’t want to ever forget Ukraine. It is part of who we are, but at the same time, we are excited about bringing our culture here to our new home,” she said. “This is our new life.”

That life includes sharing their passion for food, with each dish inviting diners to share a small piece of their native homeland through the language of taste.

Solo Way is located at 4857 E. Main St. in Berlin.