![\"Ingrida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdomaitisPinkSoup2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>Ingrida Galkauskien\u0117. Photo: Clark Adomaitis\/Brooklyn Eagle<\/p>\n\u0160altibar\u0161\u010diai is known for its striking pink color and refreshing taste, typically made with beets, kefir or buttermilk, cucumbers, dill, scallions and hard-boiled eggs. It is traditionally served chilled, often accompanied by hot boiled or fried potatoes on the side.<\/p>\n
Among the participants were two mothers of students at Brooklyn\u2019s Maironis Lithuanian Language School, Elena Valainyt\u0117 and Jolita Crosland, who teamed up to prepare a traditional version of the bright pink summer soup. They competed alongside Ingrida Galkauskien\u0117, a Lithuanian language teacher at Maironis, who also submitted a recipe in the contest.<\/p>\n
Valainyt\u0117 and Crosland are Brooklyn-based mothers whose children attend the Maironis Lithuanian Language School, which is housed at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg. The parish, part of Msgr. Jaime Gigantiello\u2019s Brooklyn ministry, serves as an important cultural and educational hub for Lithuanian families working to preserve language and traditions in New York City.<\/p>\n
Galkauskien\u0117 emphasized the importance of cultural education and community building. \u201cI\u2019m really involved in the Lithuanian community. I work at the school. I teach Lithuanian language to children and adults. I also sing in the Lithuanian choir. I have some small roles in Lithuanian theater, so basically a lot of activities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Much of her work is connected to the Maironis Lithuanian Language School in Williamsburg, which she described as a central institution for the community. \u201cI think school itself is the core for the whole community. They grow with the culture, living cultural life, and heritage is crucially important. The school is everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She also noted that classes at the school serve a range of students every Saturday. \u201cSome of them have Latino heritage, some of them are married to Lithuanians,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n For Valainyt\u0117 and Crosland, the competition was less about winning and more about friendship, heritage and family life in Brooklyn. The two said they decided to enter together as a way to step away from their busy routines and focus on their shared cultural identity.<\/p>\n \u201cElena and I are a team, and we wanted to make it a celebration of friendship and coming together and having a good time,\u201d Crosland said.<\/p>\n Valainyt\u0117, who is originally from Lithuania and has lived in New York for over three years, said the event was also a way to connect with the community before an upcoming move back to Lithuania. \u201cWe decided to celebrate our friendship, to do something fun together, not kids-related, just focus on us and our Lithuanian identity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/a>Pink Soup Fest contestants wore pink and Lithuanian flag colors to celebrate the day. Photo: Clark Adomaitis\/Brooklyn Eagle<\/p>\n