about kikiclassics

I’m Karina — friends calls me Kiki. It became a nickname in high school.

I’m a California native, having grown up in London, lived in Florence, divided some time between Northern and Southern California, and now residing in Seattle, WA.

I am a bit of a wanderer, seeking new adventures in new places. My wanderlust centers around food, history, and travel. I’m also a skincare fanatic, enjoy really good wine, and could get lost in a good book, escape to a piece of music. This blog combines all things that are classically me in one place.

Growing up, my appreciation for good food was apparent. I was always asking for second helpings of my favorite meals, and absolutely loved collecting recipes from the supermarket or magazines and trying them out at home. My grandfather owned a pub, serving up fish and chips and other British pub fare, and his passion for technique and taste left me with a great yearning for more. He encouraged me to experiment while cooking, introducing new ingredients along the way. I came to appreciate his tenacity for sharing his knowledge, love for cooking, and feeding friends and family, which in turn, led me me to choose cooking as my creative outlet in life. 

Fast forward to my college years, where cooking for roommates and friends, and experimenting with whatever was left in my pantry, taught me to appreciate various ingredients and their versatility. Although my tastes have refined, and my pantry more consistently stocked, my love for food has not waned. I started with a simple blog to share recipes and ideas aptly called The Unstocked Pantry.

Over the years, I started seeing this space as a place to share lessons learned, current obsessions, and fun adventures in hopes that my stories could help even just a single soul as they navigate life.

So, I hope my experiences inspire you to explore new places, elevate your culinary experiences, and expand your thirst for learning. Welcome to Kikiclassics.

Kiki x