Kitchen

The Ponoi camp has become as famous as the fishing that it accesses. Many guests who come to the ponoi for the first time marvel at the standard of service, facilities and food quality that come together in this true wilderness location. A combination of long-serving, well-trained Russian and Western staff makes up an impressive and proud, service-orientated, in-camp team. The camp enjoys the luxury of no less than four mechanics and four chefs, as well as many other equally important back-up staff who ensure that the camp is clean and working effectively at all times. It is the attention to detail in camp, as well as the logistics of piecing together supplies from as far away as the US and UK through to Helsinki, St Petersburg and Murmansk that makes this operation great - we are truly proud of our team.


	Natasha Zhurina - Head Chef Natasha has been part of our kitchen team since 1999, although she did work in the camp before that. Nothing ever seems to faze her and she is extremely reliable and a great dancer! Everything she makes is delicious but her soups receive continual praise from clients and staff alike. Along with her husband Sergei, it would be difficult to find two more amenable people and we were all pleased this summer when their daughter Marina was able to join them in camp for the first time.

	Anton Sidunov - Chef Anton Sidunov rounds out the team of Chef's at Ryabaga, bringing to the kitchen years of cooking experience in professional kitchens. He looks forward to making the most of the wonderful fesh ingredients available in-season at Ryabaga, namely the glorious salmon. Anton looks forward to a great season overlooking the Ponoi.

	Sergei Soshin - Chef Sergei hails from Palernia Zori, Russia, and has joined our team of chefs at ryabaga, having served in the kitchen of our Brevyeni camp. Sergei’s skills in the preparation and care of meats and fish will be highlighted throughout Ryabaga meals. Outside of the kitchen, Sergei enjoys his frequent swims in Russia's cold water, camping, and preparing traditional barbeque. He aspires to be his own boss some day, operating his own restaurant.

	Tania Vihot - Pastry Chef Having graduated from the Culinary Techical School, Tanya Vihot has been working for the company since 2002 as the chief pastry chef. She has a huge experience in this sphere as all her life she has been working and had an interest in the bakery side of cooking. She is a wife of the very popular and vital camp barman Sergei Shemyakin. They have a son Alexey of 11 years old.