We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Krystina Kalapothakos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Krystina , thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Honestly? The optimism behind Travel Mazi Mou came from my soul—from that deep part of me that’s forever connected to Greece, to my yiayia’s cooking, to the sea breeze in Mani, to sitting around a table with people and watching their eyes light up after that first bite of something real.
I created this because I wanted others to feel what I’ve always felt when I’m back home. Not the rushed, guidebook version of Greece… but the version where you’re in someone’s garden eating figs, or laughing with a fisherman over ouzo, or dancing under the stars in a tiny village square. That’s what Travel Mazi Mou is. That’s where the optimism lives.
Every time someone joins us and says, “I didn’t expect to feel this connected,” it reminds me why I do this. Why I pour my heart into it. Because it’s not just travel—it’s love, food, family, and Greece in its purest form. 💙
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Krystina Kalapothakos, and I’m the founder of Kouzounas Kitchen, a culinary brand deeply rooted in my Greek heritage and inspired by my beloved yiayia from Mani, Greece. What started as a humble food blog over a decade ago has grown into a full culinary experience—offering private chef services, catering, in-person and virtual cooking classes, and two cookbooks that share the stories and flavors of Greece.
What makes my work so special is that it comes from the heart. I’m all about keeping tradition alive, using ingredients from my California garden, and cooking with love—just like my family taught me. You’ll find dishes like dolmades, moussaka, and spanakopita on my menus, but always with a personal touch. I believe food should tell a story, and for me, it always starts with Greece.
To take that connection even deeper, I co-founded **Travel Mazi Mou**—a boutique travel company that brings people to Greece in the most intimate, meaningful way. We offer small group adventures (10 people max) where we cook, explore, dance, and live like locals. Whether it’s rolling grape leaves in my garden, visiting hidden villages, or sipping tsipouro with locals by the sea, it’s all about authenticity and connection.
What’s new and exciting? We’re getting ready for our next curated experience—an unforgettable Ionian adventure in September 2025, exploring Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, and more. And we’re already in the works for launching our 2026 adventures, which will feature new destinations, culinary workshops, and more ways to explore Greece like a local.
And if you’re flipping through your TV guide—you might even catch me on the PBS show America The Bountiful(Season 2)where I share my passion for California olives and Greek cuisine. That episode really captures the heart of what I do: blending my California land with my Greek soul.
At the end of the day, both Kouzounas Kitchen and Travel Mazi Mou are about more than just food or travel—they’re about connection, culture, and sharing the love I carry for Greece with the world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, creativity, and a deep connection to my roots.
1. Resilience – Starting a business—especially one built on passion like Kouzounas Kitchen or Travel Mazi Mou—comes with a lot of highs and lows. There were moments I questioned everything. But I kept going, and I learned that failure and hard lessons are part of the process. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.
Don’t let the copycats bring you down. Don’t let the people who doubt you, dismiss you, or try to minimize your work stop your momentum. Keep showing up, keep doing it your way, and trust that the right people will find you. The most powerful thing you can do is stay consistent and true to yourself.
2. Creativity– Whether I’m developing a recipe, styling a dish, writing, or crafting immersive travel experiences, creativity fuels everything I do. It allows me to take tradition and breathe new life into it. That’s where the magic lives.
Stay curious. Explore outside your comfort zone, experiment, and don’t be afraid to take risks. The more you lean into your uniqueness, the stronger your creative voice becomes. And when others try to imitate you? Let them. They’ll never have your soul.
3. Connection to my roots- My Greek culture is my compass. The stories, flavors, music, and family memories—those are the heartbeats behind Kouzounas Kitchen and Travel Mazi Mou. People connect to that authenticity, and it keeps me grounded through everything.
And most importantly—Kouzounas Kitchen carries my grandmother’s name. She was my inspiration, my teacher in the kitchen, and the reason I fell in love with cooking. Her name being tied to my brand means everything to me. If I failed the blog, in my heart, I felt like I failed her. That’s why I always push to do my very best—because this isn’t just a business. It’s legacy. It’s love. It’s a promise I made to her to keep our traditions alive.
Never forget where you come from. Your heritage, your history, your “why”—those are the pieces that shape your voice. Let them guide you, especially when the path gets hard.
To anyone starting their journey: stay focused on what feels right to you. Not what’s trending, not what everyone else is doing. There will always be noise—copycats, critics, and energy that tries to shake you. Don’t let it. Your light is yours alone. Protect it. Nourish it. And keep growing.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I would love to collaborate with chefs or even travel guides! If anyone loves Greek food and travel and you want to connect please do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://travelmazimou.com
- Instagram: @travelmazimou
- Facebook: @travelmazimou
- Other: I can include my food blog too- kouzounaskitchen.com
Image Credits
Just me * Krystina Kalapothakos
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
