Wholesome meals when you’re in a hurry. That is the idea that drove Nick and Evelyn Martselos and partner Jeff Kinney to open Papa Nick’s Global Cuisine.
The take-away restaurant located at the Shops at Polson Park specializes in making meals with fresh ingredients that can be picked up and popped into the oven or microwave.
These aren’t just your traditional TV dinner that longtime chefs Nick Marselos and Kinney are creating.
With more than 81 years’ experience between them, they have an extensive menu that features many Greek items as well as dishes from around the world.
The original owners of the Royal Knight, Nick and Evelyn will be bringing back many of their traditional Greek dishes such as roast lamb, moussaka and souvlaki that made their restaurant a popular spot.
“We believe in making food we would feed our family,” said Evelyn.
“Whole foods that aren’t full of preservatives and additives.”
Kinney, a Vernon native, worked as a chef at the Best Western Vernon Lodge for 12 years, four of them as the executive chef, and for six years as the executive chef at the Mabel Lake Golf Club.
“Nick and I both thought of this idea separately and then we discussed it together,” said Kinney.
“We recognize this is wholesome food made the way it should be made.”
Nick is originally from Greece but moved to Canada in 1958. He started out his career cooking under European chefs in Canada then moved on to work in restaurants in Manhattan, South Africa, and Greece.
He and Evelyn, his wife of 40 years, settled in Vernon, where they raised their family.
“We have a lot of knowledge from all around the world,” said Nick. “We both have our specialities.”
Some of their international offerings are red Thai curry, butter chicken, baked rigatoni and Hungarian goulash. Their menu features new items monthly utilizing seasonal produce and vegetarian options.
