The Cambridge Literary Festival hosts events throughout the year, featuring a wide range of writers, artists and speakers. This winter, Olia will be in conversation with Zuzanna Lachendro, to talk about Strong Roots, Olia’s new memoir.

Tickets available here.

Olia Hercules and head chef Sophie Downer are bringing Ukrainian and Georgian flavours to East London! Sophie joined Olia’s culinary tour to Sakartvelo (Georgia) in September and through friendship decided that it would be amazing to bring the vegetarian Kartuli flavours to London. There’ll be a brief talk about the amazing, hospitable and brave Georgians, their delicious food and culture, and then we’ll feast . There’s a welcome drink included in the ticket price but there’ll also be some fantastic Georgian wines (Pheasants Tears) available at the bar.

The menu includes mushroom broth with tarragon and sorrel; varenyky with syr and brown butter; borlotti with adjika and herbs; roast squash with chicory and beets; winter tomatoes; and some baked milk ice-cream with clementine marmalade to finish!

Tickets are £60. Please DM Sophie at @central_park_cafe_east_ham to book.

The Seaside Boarding House has invited Olia to be part of its whistlestop guest residencies, the final dinner of their 2025 guest chef series. It’s a one day event and on the menu will be wild mushroom borsch with smoked pears and pampushky buns; slow roasted pork on a bed of kraut, dried fruits and onions, served with a fermented salad and ‘cowpat’ potatoes; seeded pumpkin korovai with baked milk ice-cream.

Guests will be invited to support a mobile bakery in Mykolayiv where Olia’s parents are from, via a QR code. The bakery produces sourdough loaves and delivers them free of charge to communities hardest hit by the war.

On the night, Olia will be signing copies of her new book, Strong Roots; A Ukranian Story of Food, Exile and Hope.

Olia will read from her new book and there will be a Q&A with the audience. Tickets can be bought via this link.

Olia will be cooking flavours of Ukraine. From beef rib borsch to rose geranium honey cake, Olia will transport guests from our restaurant to her home, Ukraine.

Profits from the ticket price will go to the Humanitarian Headquarters of the DOF Volunteer Centre, a hub in Mykolaiv, serving and delivering bread and other humanitarian supplies to military units as well as displaced and vulnerable people in the region. 

On the night, Olia will be signing copies of her new book, Strong Roots; A Ukranian Story of Food, Exile and Hope. The book can be pre-ordered when you reserve your table or purchased during the event. 

We will also be hosting a talk with Olia Hercules and Felicity Spector at 5pm on the evening of the event - read more here. Tickets can be bought via the link below.

Friday 24th October, 2025

12:15 - 13:30 Salmagundi Coffee Club. Tickets here.

18:00 - 19:00 UCF: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

Voices of Occupation: Stories of Cultural Survival. Tickets here.

Tickets available here.

1.30pm

The Enduring Spirit of Ukraine.

Olia will be in conversation with TV producer and journalist Felicity Spector, whose new book Food and War asks how you source, cook and take joy in food in the midst of war and loss? Chaired by Nic Miller.

Tickets available here.

The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square (off Portobello Road) London W11 2AY

Tickets available here.

Marlborough Town Hall (The Assembly Room), Wiltshire, SN8 1AA

Saturday 27th September 2025 11.30 am

Tickets available here.

Tickets available here.

time tbc

Join Olia and Sarah Rudder to talk about Olia’s new memoir, Strong Roots. Tickets available here.