Community Kitchen: Kazakhstan

You are invited to Community Kitchen, an interactive culinary experience where people from different cultures meet and explore flavours, stories and traditions through food.

This time, we will discover the flavours of Kazakhstan.

Together, we will prepare a Kazakh menu, learn about traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, and share the stories behind individual dishes. The aim of the workshop is not only to teach recipes, but to create an open and welcoming experience where people can cook, learn and connect around the same table.

Menu

Pumpkin manty
We will make dough from flour, salt, water and egg, and fill it with pumpkin, onion, black pepper and vegetable oil.

Samsa with cheese
We will prepare savoury pastries made from puff pastry with cheese, egg, dried coriander and sesame seeds.

Achichuk salad
A fresh salad made with tomatoes, onion, black pepper, vegetable oil and fresh coriander.

Zhent
A traditional dessert made from millet, butter, sugar, honey, dried apricots and walnuts.

By taking part in the workshop, you will enable free participation for one person from another community.

Community Kitchen continues the pilot project launched this spring in Center Rog’s Cooking Lab in cooperation with ZRC SAZU and migrant, refugee and immigrant associations in Slovenia. The project is dedicated to connecting through food, exchanging experiences and discovering different cultures.

The programme will be held in English, while the recipes will also be available in Slovenian. Language should not be a barrier.

The workshop will take place on Friday, 30 October 2026, from 16:00 to 20:00 in the Cooking Lab.

No prior knowledge is required.

About the hosts

The workshop will be led by members of the Kazakh community in Slovenia, with the support of the Cooking Lab mentors.

Ilja Korepanov is an experienced chef with more than 20 years of professional experience. He has worked in cafés and restaurants in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in various roles, including developing and introducing new menus and managing kitchen work. In addition to Kazakh cuisine, he has strong knowledge of wider Asian, Italian, Ukrainian and Georgian cuisine. He moved to Slovenia with his family in 2025.

Olesja Žir is Ilja’s wife. For more than 13 years, she worked at one of the leading publishing houses in Kazakhstan and took part in numerous events representing Kazakh publishing, including internationally. She is currently pursuing a second higher education degree in Slovenia.

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Participants should gather in the entrance hall of Center Rog 15 minutes before the programme begins. Please store your personal belongings in the lockers indicated by the mentor. Do not be late, as this disrupts the working process. In case of late arrival, entry to the lab cannot be guaranteed.

The programme will be held in English, while the recipes will also be available in Slovenian.

The programme is intended for participants aged 14 and above, unless stated otherwise.

In case of cancellation, you will be notified two days before the planned start of the programme.

If you are unable to attend the programme, the fee is non-refundable and the date cannot be changed. You may transfer your place to another person by notifying us at least 24 hours before the start at kuhanje@center-rog.si.

We look forward to your company and cooking together!