A Boy Who Dreamed of Becoming a Chef — Now His Croissant Recipe Is Sold Across Ukraine
© Photo: shotam.info
Last year, 12-year-old Yaroslav was having lunch with his family at their favorite bakery. While enjoying his croissant sandwich, he said: "I dream of making a croissant in this kitchen — to see how they bake them and how they come out so crispy. I wonder what secret ingredients they use."
His mother, Nataliia, replied that it was a wonderful dream, but he’d have to wait until he turned 16 to work. Yet she didn’t forget the conversation and soon applied to a charity project that helps make Ukrainians’ dreams come true.
#ShoTam tells the story of how Yaroslav’s signature croissant recipe was created — and how it’s now available across Ukraine.
“Dreams Do Come True”
At the end of 2024, Ukrainian public figure Yaroslava Gres held a series of performances titled “The Blue Dress”, where she read her texts and shared personal stories. Part of the proceeds went to charity — and right during the events, the organizers granted gifts to attendees. To participate, people had to submit an application.
So Mrs. Nataliia wrote to the project, explaining that her son dreamed of becoming a chef.
Immediately after the online program, Nataliia and her son were invited to the head office of Lviv Croissants. The first meeting lasted nearly four hours: Yaroslav met the team and saw the production process firsthand. For the first time, he watched with his own eyes how his favorite crispy croissants were baked.
The young boy began experimenting on his own with the ingredients he would use for his signature sandwich. Later, when the brand’s head chef returned from a business trip, they continued working together.
After almost nine months, the bakery chain unveiled a new menu item — a croissant with turkey, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and two types of sauce.
The dish was named simply: “Yaroslav’s Dream.”
“It only seems that a year is a long time. Making a dream come true is a process — you can’t just sit and wait for it to happen,”
says Nataliia.
Previously, when Yaroslav talked about his dreams, he would always add: “when I grow up” or “when the war is over.” He still can’t believe his wish has already come true — and his mother admits this moment changed their whole family:
“I keep telling him: yes, you did it. Dreams do come true. It’s like a reminder to myself — Nataliia, don’t stop dreaming!”
Today, “Yaroslav’s Dream” croissant can be found at Lviv Croissants bakeries across Ukraine. The collaboration also has a charitable mission: 5 hryvnias from each croissant sold are donated to the “Blue Dress” project — to help fulfill the dreams of other Ukrainians.
Read also:
FAVBET Tech ranked among Top 5 taxpayers in Diia.City
Russian Army Has Lost a Record 32,000 Vehicles Since the Beginning of the Year