Varenyky is a traditional Ukrainian dumpling and a national dish. Its preparation is somewhat similar to ordinary dumplings from Ceris, with a similar shape, but with a notable difference: cheese is added to the dough. The filling also varies.
Jack tried different fillings—potato, minced meat, sautéed cabbage, and a variation with mushrooms and olives instead of cabbage and potatoes. These dumplings are dipped in sour cream, which might seem unusual but, once accustomed, tastes quite good.
The sour cherry filling was rather unusual. To balance the sourness, a generous amount of sugar is added, creating a distinctly sweet dumpling—one that might shock any dumpling enthusiast back in Ceris.
The pork aspic was much simpler to make: a whole pork leg is stewed for an entire day, the bone removed, and the meat shredded before being refrigerated to set. Jack recalled a similar dish from his childhood in southern Jiangnan, except that lamb replaced pork, resulting in a dish known as lamb jelly.
Making Chicken Kyiv was more complicated: chicken breast is minced and mixed with a butter-and-vegetable stuffing, then coated in flour and breadcrumbs before being fried. Although there's debate about its origin across Eastern European countries, it's renowned throughout both former Soviet and European countries.
Borscht, similarly widespread, can be found across Russian-speaking countries and even has a variant called Russian soup in Eastern countries. The primary ingredient is beetroot, with additions like carrots, cabbage, and tender chunks of braised beef. In Ukraine, a dollop of rich sour cream is added, creating a distinct local flavor.
There's also cabbage rolls—cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of minced meat and other vegetables, then simmered in a tomato-pepper sauce, a taste that's widely appreciated.
Three days after the case concluded, Jack hosted a large banquet—the first since his arrival in New York. Hannah, the young heiress, reserved an entire, small Chongqing noodle restaurant, inviting all the analysts from the operations center and NYPD officers Danny Reagan and his colleagues.
Also present were the young women rescued from captivity, the true guests of honor. Under the guidance of federal marshals, they would soon go their separate ways once they recovered.
Most of them didn't even speak English and lacked employable skills, bearing emotional and physical scars. Their future would undoubtedly be challenging.
Some chose to return to their hometowns and families, but most opted to stay in the USA, despite it being a place of sorrowful memories.
Among them was a girl named Bogie, with her silver hair, pushing her sister Hailey, who was still in a wheelchair. Both sisters solemnly thanked Jack and Hannah. Fortunately, Hailey didn't have red eyes, which would have been eerily reminiscent of someone else.
"You're quite the chef—I never knew Ukraine had so many amazing dishes," Dana Morje commented, holding a glass of wine as she approached Jack with a smile.
American cuisine's reputation as a "food desert" is often due to industrialized food production. The further south one goes, where life moves at a slower pace, the food variety grows richer. Traditional agricultural regions like Ukraine offer a variety of dishes that, while perhaps not as extensive as Italy's, are not far behind.
"So, are you subtly suggesting they should return to their hometowns and families?" Dana teased.
Jack chuckled. Dana might have overinterpreted things a bit. Why would he try to persuade them to return? Even with this world's deviations, certain events were still expected; who knew if there'd be a clash between the major powers next year?
"It's simply that they're the guests of honor tonight, so I chose dishes from their homeland, just as I often make Italian food when in Los Angeles.
"These girls are still young, the oldest barely 20. I hope their pasts become scars that only make them stronger. At least Hailey didn't give up hope—she's a fighter, isn't she?"
Dana nodded in agreement, adding, "We should be grateful that Stepan Tesako's gang didn't use drugs to control them; otherwise..."
Jack sighed, consoling himself with the thought. Statistics showed that one in five women in this country suffered some form of assault. Compared to forced addiction, these traumatic experiences, while harsh, might eventually fade with time. After all, waking from a nightmare in the middle of the night is a small price compared to addiction's torment.
With the case over, Jack and Hannah were given a short break—a five-day vacation, including the weekend. They decided there wasn't much left to explore in New York, so they'd venture to the nearby sights.
Rather than bars and nightlife, both of them were drawn to natural scenery. They settled on Niagara Falls at the US-Canada border as their destination.
Niagara Falls straddles both countries, located between New York State and Ontario, Canada. At about 400 miles away, it's a six-to-seven-hour drive from New York. But Jack didn't plan to drive straight there; they'd take a detour to spend two days camping at the Finger Lakes.
The Finger Lakes aren't just one lake but a series of fourteen long, narrow lakes running north to south, resembling fingers. According to Native American legends, these lakes were marks left by the gods blessing this land, though it seems this god had a few extra fingers.
The lakes eventually flow into Lake Ontario, part of the Great Lakes watershed. They're known for their pristine environment and for being among the most famous fruit and wine-producing regions in the country, with top-tier wineries scattered throughout.
Jack came here specifically to fish. After some research, he found a safe freshwater fishing spot within New York State.
Seneca Lake, the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes, has excellent water quality and supports the largest trout population in the country.
Although Seneca Lake also faces an invasion of Asian carp, Jack welcomed these bony intruders, as he'd been craving spicy fish head and carp soup for a long time.
Nearby, Seneca Lake State Park is an excellent location for hiking and cycling, with warmer temperatures making it comfortable at night without heavy clothing, and without pesky insects or heavy crowds.
After confirming there was no "Crystal Lake" nearby and no tales of masked figures haunting the area, Jack set up his tent in a secluded forest clearing, fully reassured.
This was a trip, not a monster hunt. Though Hannah sometimes expressed regret about not sharing in life-threatening encounters like the ogre incident, Jack suspected she was just jealous of Jeje.
Once the tent was pitched, Jack arranged a stone firepit, lighting a campfire that warmed the area, with a small stove beside it.
Although rainbow trout, like salmon, can be eaten raw—and his healing ability made parasites irrelevant—Jack preferred grilled fish to sashimi.
Hannah was quite skilled at setting up the tent, but her cooking skills were limited to Texas-style barbecue. She was more of an "eat whatever's served" type.
But she loved watching Jack cook. At home, her favorite thing was to stand nearby (or more often lean against Jack's back) while he moved about the kitchen.
To her, Jack was most attractive when cooking in the kitchen—though she wouldn't mind if he cooked in nothing but an apron.
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