We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Krystina Kalapothakos . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Krystina below.
Alright, Krystina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have two businesses I own. I am a proud owner of Kouzounas Kitchen (food blog) and I have just launched my own travel business; Travel Mazi Mou. I love both businesses equally but I would love to share how Travel Mazi Mou came about.
My father is from Greece originally and he moved to California for a better way of life many years ago. He instilled Greek culture and traditions in our family. He took us to Greece many times, and I grew fondly of the land. I later on became fascinated with the Greek islands (6,000) and I launched my own food blog, Kouzounas Kitchen, where I share mostly Greek recipes. My last cookbook, A Drop of Ladi & My Greek Soul, actually pushed me to launch Travel Mazi Mou. I intertwined Greek recipes, stories, and different regions of Greece. For many years I thought about working with Greek companies that would combine food & travel together, but it never worked out. I then decided in 2022 to launch Travel Mazi Mou when friends or family members ask me to build their Greek itineraries for them. It actually made perfect sense because my concept is “Live Like A Local” in Greece. Explore the hidden gems of Greece, cook like a Greek, and immerse yourself in the culture. This idea was simple, but to create it was a different story. As a travel operator or, as I like to call it, “culinary travel guide”, you need various licenses, and tons of research to ensure you work with the right vendors to create a beautiful experience for your travelers. I did just that though, I ended up getting the licensure I needed for California and then I created 2 adventures. One adventure that is fully packed for September 2023! While I launched my new business, my beautiful golden retriever Cosmo, who was only 8 at the time, was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to give up everything and just focus on Cosmo. I gave 150 % to Cosmo and fought really hard, but in the end, I lost my best friend, unfortunately. I want to dedicate Travel Mazi Mou to Cosmo. He gave me the strength to continue going.
Today I am happy to say I am following my dream and I will meet 8 American travelers with me in Greece this September. We will embark on a beautiful journey to Thessaloniki & Halkidiki and experience a full week of adventure. Why I think Travel Mazi Mou is different from other companies is that we actually walk the adventures before they take place. This ensures a smooth adventure, and it helps build positive relationships with our vendors.
Some of the key highlights:
Seaview villa
Cook like a Greek with our professional chefs
Enjoy a day on the water on a beautiful yacht
Your own personal driver
Dine at some of the most unique restaurants
Daily breakfast and some dinners cooked by the chefs
I just want to share that if you have a dream, do it! Don’t wait around to follow your dreams because life is short.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I am chef Krystina Kalapothakos! Author, chef, food blogger, farmer, and culinary travel guide.
My love for food started at a very young age. Both my parents are wonderful cooks, and we have many cooks on my dad’s side of the family in Greece. Growing up in a crazy Greek family, who appreciates food was a good start towards my love for cooking. At the age of seven, I was officially making my own Greek recipes including spanakopita, keftedes, baklava, and much more.
In 2008 I acknowledged the passion I had for the culinary arts and enrolled in the pastry chef program at Le Cordon Bleu in Sacramento, California, and in 2009 graduated with my pastry degree.
Kouzounas Kitchen is dedicated to my yiayia Stavroula Kouzouna Kalapothakou. Yiayia was from Mani, Greece, and was a fantastic home cook. I learned many of her traditional Greek recipes and now I share them through my blog. (I hope yiayia is looking down upon me smiling as I share many of her delicious recipes with my very own twist.)
I fulfilled a long-awaited dream of mine recently. Back To My Roots cookbook was published on February 28, 2016. Back To My Roots is not only packed full of mouth-watering recipes, but I also share my personal story, kitchen tips, and tricks, bits and pieces of the history of olive oil and its benefits, and much, much more! In 2019 I self-published my second cookbook A Drop of Ladi & My Greek Soul. You can find both books on Amazon worldwide.
Nowadays you might find me in Greece walking around with my Travel Mazi Mou travelers or you may see me catering up some yummy Greek food.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn. I am sure we all have a few unlearned lessons that we can share.
I once learned it matters what people think of you Krystina. Well, this concept has been in my head for years, so I was always trying to impress. If you go around always thinking about what will people think of me it will drive you bonkers and you won’t succeed. Rather, step back and do what you do best and don’t care too much about what others think. If you go in this direction I think you will feel 5 million times better.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
I send them a quick “thank you” email or text message letting them know I appreciate their customer service. I have built some beautiful friendships with my customers. I also include a “free” sample spice or tea whenever they order and they really appreciate that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kouzounaskitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kouzounaskitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KouzounasKitchen/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystina-kalapothakos-27b987139/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fkouzounaskitche
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzZbZqdQRWR3bNafgbvYRRw
- Other: If I can include Travel Mazi Mou links that would be great! Instagram: https://instagram.com/travelmazimou?igshid=MmU2YjMzNjRlOQ== Website: www.travelmazimou.com
Image Credits
Photos by: Krystina Kalapothakos