Odyssey Kitchens, Inc. 

2472 Roxy Street 

Simi Valley, CA 93065

 805.579.9776

Fax:  Available

The Odyssey Kitchens Story:

President and co-founder, Carol Kallinikos Gangey, has always felt a great deal of pride in her Greek heritage, in combination with her deep roots as an American! It’s a passion that is now shared by her husband and partner, Stephen Gangey.

Carol learned some of the cooking basics and traditions of the Greek kitchen from her father, Adamantios Nicolaos Kallinikos (1901-1990). Adam was born in the port city of Athens (Pireaus), Greece and came to the United States with his large family in 1907. The Kallinikos family settled in Bergenfield, New Jersey where Adam grew up on a farm. It was here that he was able to easily observe his mother and his aunt prepare many of the fine Greek dishes that remain so popular today. Because of his love for the ‘soul food’ of his native Greece, he enjoyed taking the time to cook many of his favorites as he’d seen prepared as he grew up.

He married an American, Doris Mary Bastian (1913-1977), whose Irish-English roots extended deep into the history of the founding of the United States of America. She had, however, a love for all things Greek. And soon, she became a fine Greek cook in her own right. Adam was fond of calling her by the nickname “Penelope” in reference to Odysseus’ wife. Carol remembers her mother’s sound advice: to remember when preparing a new dish for the first time…or even an old favorite… “as long as the ingredients are good and fresh, the meal will be delicious!”

The Kallinikos family has a rich heritage that extends back to at least the 3rd century BC. By way of Assyria and Byzantium, the Kallinikos family migrated to Greece. For just over 500 years, this Byzantine Greek family has had its ancestral roots on the Island of Ithaca, in the small village of Kioni, located in the Ionian Sea.

Ithaca was the legendary home of Odysseus whose faithful wife, Penelope, waited patiently for her husband to return from the Trojan War. While waiting for Odysseus’ return, she was faced with fending off a palace full of suitors vying for her attentions. Odysseus and Penelope’s story is one that has endured centuries of retelling. Now, they inspire and reign over a line of gourmet foods that are sure to please.

Odyssey Marinade takes its Greek heritage from the Kallinikos-Gangey family kitchen, presided over by Carol Kallinikos Gangey. For over two decades, friends, family and colleagues have enjoyed good times and great food at the Gangey table. It has been at the persistence of these friends that Carol “bottle that yummy marinade…it’s incredible” that finally resulted in the development of Odyssey Kitchens, and the production of its flagship product: Odyssey Marinade.

Now, you can enjoy Odyssey Marinade and make it a part of your family’s cuisine! We know it will find a comfortable spot in your kitchen, enhance your cuisine, and inspire your creativity. This gourmet marinade is available at an increasing number of retail and specialty food stores, and it is also available online.

We invite you to try our product. We are offering an Internet Special: a twin-pak of two 10-ounce bottles, which are offered at a discount. Explore the website and learn more about Odyssey Kitchens and Odyssey Marinade. Be sure to visit the recipes page for a sampling of some favorite Kallinikos-Gangey family recipes…some of which do not even call for use of the famous marinade! Feel free to email us and let us know of your successes using our products and we are always looking to add new recipes to our online collection. Send us your favorite Mediterranean-style recipe and we will gladly share it along with posting your name as contributor.

Thank you for visiting our website and we look forward to your return visits as we continue to grow.

Carol K. Gangey