Ingredient appreciation — what makes Borscht special

What sets Borscht apart is the handling of sour cream. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the subtly sour result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Ukrainian cuisine reflects centuries of agricultural abundance. The a traditional Ukrainian home kitchen atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had smetana as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Borscht is the place to start.