I'm Karina, or Kiki, a nickname that stuck in high school.

Born in California, raised in London, and with a little time in Italy, I lived in six cities before landing in Seattle. I've visited over 30 countries, and all of my experiences sharpened the same three questions. What's worth seeking out. What's worth savoring. What's worth bringing home.

My love for food is rooted in family. My grandfather owned a restaurant, serving fish and chips and proper British pub fare. Some of my earliest memories are of watching him work: his insistence on proper technique, his willingness to experiment, his belief that cooking was both an art and an act of generosity.

Watching him work instilled in me an appreciation for ingredients, process, and the kind of hospitality that makes people return. He encouraged me to try new things and never settle for mediocre when excellence was within reach.

That philosophy extended beyond the kitchen. It's how I travel. It's how I drink wine. It's how I build a home, curated but never precious. My motto has been “open the good wine on a Tuesday”.

In 2012, I started The Unstocked Pantry to document recipes and restaurant discoveries. In 2016, it evolved into KIKICLASSICS, less about recipes, more about the experiences that deserve deeper attention. The hotels that feel like home. The wine I'm drinking. The meals I can't stop talking about. The skincare I swear by.

These are simply the things that bring me joy.

My taste, documented. x