Walk into Mom, Please — a restaurant nestled down a dead-end street in Playa Vista and you immediately hear staff and patrons speaking Ukrainian. A miniature blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag is displayed on a shelf and near the entrance, a painting of blue and yellow flowers hangs on the wall. Below it, white letters spell “UKRAINE.”
The restaurant is owned by Oleksii and Inna Kochetkov, natives of Mariupol in the eastern part of Ukraine. The city was laid siege by Russian forces for months before surrendering in 2022 and it’s been occupied ever since. The Kochetkov’s were forced to leave Mariupol, where they owned Alice Cafe, which specialized in traditional fish dishes. Here, along with Oleksii’s mother, Olena, they opened Mom, Please. Olena had cooked porridge for others in Mariupol amid Russian bombing and food shortages.
Manager Danylo Drobot, 26, who was forced to leave his home in Mariupol last year, talked to us about the restaurant and about coming to America. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
LION: You’re very proud that you speak Ukrainian.
DROBOT: Yeah, now my whole family and friends speak in Ukrainian. It is important for us to realize that it is part of our culture. Mariupol being occupied by Russian forces, Ukraine citizens learn Russian growing up. This being where the leadership lies so language follows as do laws that are written in Russian.
How did Mom, Please get its name?
Mom please is the most touching and warm phrase that responds in the hearts of most people, because as children we have always turned to the most important person for us – mom, with a request to cook something delicious, read a fairy tale for the night and many others. And since Oleksii’s mother was engaged in all production processes, there can be no other options to call this Family Business.
What foods on your menu best represent your country and culture?
It’s definitely Borch because Borch is a traditional Ukrainian soup. This soup has a lot of history. It was passed down from generation to generation, Borch came from more than a thousand years ago. Many countries try to steal it, Unesco said this is officially a Ukrainian dish. Unesco stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, they approved it. Because you know Russia always tries to say it is a Russian soup.
Why would they say that?
Better ask them why, it’s a hard question, because it’s beautiful, it’s a perfect soup, it’s not right. Russia having the goal of land in mind does not care as much about the soup. Beauty or not, everything should be known as Russian. In dictator Putin’s eyes. Whether that be soup, land, politics. Danylo expresses his concerns for Russia’s plans after Ukraine as well.
Why does what they say matter?
Because they’re bigger.
The summer drink, tell me about it and what is the drink actually called on the menu?
Komopot it is made of apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Why did you pick to give me that drink, why did that drink come to mind for you?
Because it’s our traditional one! Because I just wanted to show you what we drink in our country in the summer.
What are your hopes for the future of Ukraine?
I really hope that after everything we win. I believe in our strong brave defenders. Our people who protect our country who fight for our freedom, they fight for our land, that is why we should win. Russia is very big for us, they are a hard enemy. Our history is based on Russia always trying to eat our nation, destroy our nation, destroy our culture, destroy our language, destroy our nationality. Ukrainian children see pure evil in their daily lives. They hear the air sirens everyday, twice per day, maybe each hour per day. It is happening right now, while me and you are talking.
What do you hope the U.S. does for Ukraine in the future?
Russia is not going to stop, they will shoot, they’re going to continue to attack other countries. That is another reason it is really important to have support from democratic [countries]. The U.S. has done a lot for us. A lot. But the U.S. shouldn’t stop.
Are you optimistic?
Our future, of course it’s beautiful. I see a beautiful future without destruction.
