Transnistria, officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), is a self-declared republic located in Eastern Europe. It lies between the Dniester River and the border of Ukraine.

Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova in 1990, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but its sovereignty is not internationally recognized. Despite not being widely recognized as an independent state, Transnistria has its own government, military, currency, and other state institutions. The region has a complex history and has experienced political tensions and conflicts, particularly with Moldova and Ukraine. It remains a unique and disputed entity in the region.

During my trip to that part of Europe in 2021, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit this little known part of the world. During my first day in their de-facto captial Tiraspol, I went to a small cafe with a very limited menu. What they did have that caught my eye were these little eggplant rolls, which I ordered along with mashed potatoes and a mystery fried meat.

While there's lots of controversy about Transnistria, there was nothing controversial about the friendliess of the welcome in many shops, restaurants and bars. Many locals were happy to share their unique culture with me, explain the current situation as it stands in their eyes and show me a bit about what makes this little sliver onf controversy special and prideful.

As a traveler, I have no stake in this fight. I understand the history and controvery, but our mission as humans is to listen, understand and process, with little prejudgement to cloud our experiences. My time in Transnistria was one that I will always reflect on positively and the good news is that I brought a recipe with me, which you'll find below.