Meet Christina Kalfaian

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Kalfaian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Christina with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

Work has been ingrained in me since I was a tiny kid! I remember practically bursting through the doors of my parents’ restaurant at four years old, ready to lend a hand. My parents, both incredibly dedicated, really instilled that work ethic in me. My father is a Greek immigrant who’s been cooking up amazing food since he was practically a teenager by opening his restaurant at 17. While my mother handled the front of the house with grace, he crafted amazing dishes in the kitchen.

The partnership between my parents served as the basis for my journey, which shares many similarities with theirs. Throughout my life, I have taken on various roles, including being an educator in the Juvenile system, a realtor, a mother, and an entrepreneur, always exhibiting a strong work ethic. The reality is, that I have always had an unstoppable drive for success, which my parents instilled in me through their example of resilience and commitment. Their guidance has been invaluable to me in all my endeavors, helping to shape the person I am today.

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?

I am the owner and CEO of Papa’s Kitchen Dressing & Marinades which was launched in 2021. Our dressings offer more than just the typical household name brands. We are WBENC and Made in Michigan company that turns your ordinary meal into something extraordinary. Often used for salads, dips, or a marinade. We take extreme pride in our products by controlling the quality in small batches and refraining from artificial products.
Often copied but never duplicated, we offer The Original Pink Greek dressing which is a Metro Detroit favorite crafted by my father. Our Pink Greek is the smoothest and silkiest Greek dressing you’ll ever experience. It combines the perfect blend of sweet and savory with fresh Grecian herbs, oils, red wine vinegar, beets, and a touch of love.
SIMPLY DILL-ICOUS! Creamy Dill takes any Ranch dressing to a new level of dill-icousness. The perfect blend of fresh dill, sour cream, mayonnaise, and a hint of garlic. It complements salads, veggies, and seafood.
TASTE OF THE GREEK ISLES. Experience Papa’s Kitchen Fresh Herb Vinaigrette. Made with fresh chopped oregano, parsley, mint, basil, garlic infused into oil, and red wine vinegar, this vinaigrette is the perfect addition to any salad or marinade. Harvest Vinaigrette
AUTUMN IN A BOTTLE. Papa’s Kitchen Harvest Vinaigrette will surprise and delight you. A bountiful blend of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and pumpkin. You will FALL in love.
Papa’s Kitchen displays brightly in the refrigerated areas of each market’s produce section.

YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE. Green Goddess is an emerald temptation crafted in Papa’s Kitchen with a blend of olive oil, lemon, chickpeas, and fresh herbs. It’s the vegan delight of dressings that makes all others green with envy.

Find our dressings at over 120 retail locations in Michigan. Visit our website to locate the nearest store and grab a bottle today!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back on my journey, I realize that three qualities were particularly important to my success: passion, ambition, and goal-setting. These qualities served as guiding stars, fueling my progress and propelling me toward success. So, to anyone embarking on their journey, I encourage you to embrace these qualities. Let your passion, ambition, and goal-setting be your compass as you navigate the path ahead. And above all, don’t give up. The road to success may be tough, but with determination and resilience, you can overcome any obstacle.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

In my journey, my mother has been a constant source of love and support, serving as both my guiding light and trusted business partner. Her encouragement and never-ending affection have guided us through all obstacles. Her love is invaluable, offering insightful guidance through life’s challenges. With our shared dreams and determination, we’ve been able to triumph through resilience and unity.

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