Καλώς ήρθατε – Welcome

Welcome to my world of Greek traditional & modern cooking. I am Krystina, the name behind Kouzounas Kitchen, and passionate American-Greek chef who loves to share recipes. Currently, you can find me catering Greek food in the Northern California region or working my booth in Apple Hill.

A recipe has no soul. You as the cook must bring soul to the recipe. —Thomas Keller

Chef Bio 

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 into 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 who 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 with 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!

Check out my cookbooks below:

Amazon – Back To My Roots (available in print and eBook)

Barnes & Noble – Back To My Roots

Amazon – A Drop of Ladi & My Greek Soul: A New Take on Classic Greek Cuisine

[Side Note]

The name Kouzounas originated from my sweet Yiayia, Stavroula Kouzouna Kalapothakou from Mani, Greece who was a fantastic home chef. I learned many of her traditional Greek recipes, and now I can share these recipes with you. Don’t get confused with the Greek word “kouzina” which means kitchen.

Kali Orexi

* Pictured above is my family. To the very left is my yiayia who I dedicate this blog to. Thank you to my wonderful family for inspiring me to make Kouzounas Kitchen happen.