After two months of training at the Cuisine Mode d’Emploi(s) school in Toulouse, the first group of Ukrainian chefs, consisting of 12 temporary displaced persons from Mariupol, completed their training with a final day in Paris. On Saturday, the Marik brigade was welcomed to the capital for a few days before returning to Ukraine, where they will soon inaugurate the cultural third-place “La Cantine de Marioupol” in Dnipro.
Today, the apprentices took part in a day dedicated to pastry-making alongside the Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx. The program included baguette tradition, brioche, and other iconic French culinary delights. It was a unique opportunity to refine their skills and savor the final moments of this exceptional training.
The day was marked by the official presentation of certificates from the city of Mariupol, awarded by Vadym Boytchenko, Mayor of Mariupol, and Olga Pikula, councilor at the Mariupol City Council. The mayor expressed his gratitude:
“We thank our French friends for everything they have done. A huge thank you to Thierry Marx, a man with a big heart, to Edward Mayor, president of Stand With Ukraine, and to Véronique Carrion, director of Cuisine Mode d’Emploi(s). Today is just the beginning. We have other projects in preparation, such as the opening of a French restaurant in Dnipro.”
As a sign of recognition and solidarity, Vadym Boytchenko also presented Thierry Marx with two powerful symbols of the city of Mariupol: a flag of the city and a glass replica of the Mariupol Tower. The mayor explained that this tower, a symbol of the city, remains intact despite the Russian occupation. “Even though Mariupol is occupied today, it will one day be liberated.”
The emotion was palpable when Thierry Marx spoke, saluting the courage and commitment of the apprentices:
“To go through the harshness of war is something terrible. But as Bertolt Brecht said: ‘He who does not fight has already lost.’ We must fight and stay upright.”
The chef will accompany the team to the inauguration of “La Cantine de Marioupol,” a place dedicated to culture and gastronomy, designed to offer a space of sharing and resilience to the displaced people of Mariupol.
This training is not just a technical learning experience; it symbolizes a renewal, a step toward personal and collective reconstruction. The apprentices leave with a diploma but also a mission: to carry forward the values of solidarity and transmission at the heart of Ukraine.
Stand With Ukraine, Thierry Marx, and all the partners involved in this project are proud of this first graduating class. Congratulations to the Marik brigade and see you soon in Dnipro!”
