In a nondescript Petaluma industrial park, tucked behind pots of mint, oregano and basil, Mazza Kitchen is chef Kristina Daya’s love letter to Levantine cooking. Surrounded by breweries, medical offices and contractors, her catering business and newly opened grab-and-go cafe are rooted in warm spices, good olive oil and recipes shaped by family tradition.
Born into an extended Jordanian family of restaurateurs and home cooks, Daya has spent a lifetime around food. One of her earliest memories is rolling grape leaves in her grandmother’s kitchen at age 9, her grandfather beaming nearby. Her father is Adel Atallah, of the much-beloved Adel’s diners, and her uncles run several brunch restaurants in Sonoma County.
“That memory never fails to remind me that my love of being in the kitchen started there,” Daya said.
Now the co-owner of a successful wedding and event catering company she operates with her husband, Safwan, Daya remains focused on Levantine cuisine, most at home in the kitchen where herbs and spices are always within reach…