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A special cocktail made with Ukrainian vodka, called "The Zelensky," is being offered for a limited time at Main Prospect, the Southampton Village restaurant that was formerly John Duck's. One hundred percent of the proceeds from sales of the cocktail, as well as sales of special Ukrainian dishes like chicken Kiev, borscht, and pierogies, will go to World Central Kitchen, which is on the ground in Ukraine helping citizens. SEAN ZANNI
Main Prospect co-owners Binh Douglas, left, and Sean Curneen. SEAN ZANNI
Like many people who have watched the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine unfold in real time on TV and over the internet, Binh Douglas and Sean Curneen felt both the urge to do something, coupled with the frustration of trying to figure out an effective way to help people on another continent whose lives are being ravaged by war.
The co-owners of Main Prospect — the Southampton Village restaurant on Prospect Street that was formerly John Duck’s — had heard about other restaurant and food establishment owners showing their support for Ukrainians by refusing to serve Russian alcohol products, with some even taking it a step further and dumping those bottles in the street. Douglas and Curneen were interested in doing something that was more than symbolic, something that instead of maligning or casting aspersions on the entire country of Russia would actively help people currently trying to escape from or survive in Ukraine.
“It’s a travesty, what’s going on there,” Douglas said last week. “You hear people saying, ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with them,’ or ‘Our hearts go out to them,’ but we thought, ‘What can we do? How can we actually support the Ukrainian people?’”
They decided to stick with what they know.
In keeping with the kind of community spirit that Main Prospect’s predecessor, John Duck’s, was known for, Binh and Curneen have added several traditional Ukrainian foods to the menu, along with a signature cocktail, made with Ukrainian vodka. One hundred percent of the proceeds from sales of the dishes and the cocktail are being donated to World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit organization founded by chef Jose Andres. The organization has been on the ground in Ukraine, serving free meals to citizens since the start of the war.
Main Prospect, a 225-seat establishment which opened in November, is offering, for a limited time, several Ukrainian foods, including chicken Kyiv, pan-seared pierogies; borscht; stuffed cabbage; and potato pancakes with black caviar. They have also created a signature cocktail, named “The Zelensky,” after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is made with Ukrainian Heritage Vodka and blue Curacao, and garnished with lemon and blueberries to symbolize the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
“A sizable percentage of people on the East End are of eastern European descent,” said Curneen. “Our restaurant sits a block away from Our Lady of Poland Church. It’s the right thing to do.”
Douglas said that creating the special menu items to honor Ukraine, rather than symbolically trashing any Russian-made products, felt like a better way to honor the Ukrainian people and promote solidarity and understanding.
“All Russian people aren’t bad,” Douglas said. “They have a dictator doing horrific things to people, but we don’t want to judge people for their leader.”
Douglas and Curneen said there was “no better” choice than World Central Kitchen to disperse the funds they collect from the sale of the menu items.
“They’ve been on the ground and doing their thing from the start,” Douglas said.
The owners also chose to have four flat screen TVs in the restaurant dining room display the Ukrainian flag.
“This is a way for people to come in to eat, have a great time, and still feel like they’re doing some good in the world,” Douglas said.
Cailin Riley on Mar 14, 2022