The man known as Papa, Jimmy Papadopoulos, left Greece for America in 1965. He and his mother came to join his father, who had immigrated in 1956 in search of a better life. To help support the family, Jimmy joined his father (a cook) at his uncle’s restaurant (Rialto’s), first as a dishwasher, then as a busboy. Jimmy watched, he listened, and he learned.
When Jimmy became a cook, he began to make subtle improvements on his father’s and uncle’s recipes. He had learned from his mother the importance of using only the finest ingredients and cooking with love. So that is what he did. A little of this, a little of that. A pinch of this, a pinch of that. Customers started to notice, and Jimmy enjoyed making people happy.
A Passion for Cooking, a Love of Family
Papa’s passion for cooking led him to buying his first restaurant, located across from a police station and down the road from a Ford Plant. When he sold that restaurant, he went to work for a variety of other places, constantly learning and honing his craft. Eventually he opened Sophia’s Family Dining, a family restaurant where he would perfect his recipes, sauces, and dressings, constantly drawing inspiration from his family.
From Papa’s Kitchen to Your Table
Today, Papa is proud to share his original recipes with you. Creamy Dill Dressing, Fresh Herb Vinaigrette, Maple Harvest Dressing, and Papa’s legendary Pink Greek Dressing. Small batch dressing to help you turn an ordinary meal into something extraordinary…with a touch of love from Papa’s Kitchen.
