Mother-daughter duo Tetiana Yermolova and Inesa Zolotarenko helm Touch of Ukraine, a Ukrainian concept eatery that settled into the eastside’s Union Corners development just over a year ago.
The pair opened the restaurant in July 2023 with an unconventional team. Just a year and a half prior, most of Touch of Ukraine’s staff was still living in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, before the Russian military invasion. When the crew arrived in Madison, they wanted to find a way to contribute to their new community.
In October 2022, five of Touch of Ukraine’s immigrant employees arrived in Madison with a crew of seven others. Nine months later, they opened Touch of Ukraine with the help of their American sponsor. Operating a restaurant was one of the few ways they could find immediate work without English language skills. Yermolova, the only one with food industry experience, helped to flesh out the menu concept: a homey mixture of Ukrainian dishes and local Midwestern favorites.
Zolotarenko describes Ukrainian food as simple, healthy and affordable. While the dishes are straightforward, the preparation is not. “Americans cook more quickly,” says Zolotarenko. “Ukrainian food takes longer to prepare. It’s hard to find cooks who work this way.”