What a happiness that Odesa feeds itself. And Savva Libkin feeds Odesa citizens.  

I recall one conversation that I had with Savva several years ago: “You know,” said Savva, “I don’t know after which number of restaurants a restaurateur transforms into a businessman killing the first one in himself…” We had a long discussion on this topic and agreed that all this is individual, but believe me, I can confidently say that Savva will not cease to be a cook, restaurateur and manager, even if the number of his restaurants exceeds 300

Savely - is an ambidexter, a trendsetter, a visionary and a professional! Unlike many of his colleagues who came to the restaurant business after successful cadenzas in the prosecutor’s office and other power structures, Savely is a restaurateur with the appropriate education and mission.

He is a complex, multi-layered, controversial, in one word - Personality. I do not know anyone else for whom the work of a lifetime would be so closely connected with a position in life. What he does always causes response: admiration, irritation, worship, envy, but not indifference. I think this is from the  internal uncompromising honesty. He certainly defined the concept of Ukrainian restaurant culture and for many, he is a reference point in the profession. Undoubtedly, Odesa became a gastronomic capital due to Savva’s restaurants and books. Though he calls himself an artisan, for me it is not true :). A person with such taste and sense of style simply cannot be an artisan. What and how he does  is an art, even if you disassemble it into molecules, you will not repeat it. Next to him you can learn a lot if you have the abilities, character and your inner landmark, of course.