Handcrafted, Fully Cooked Sweet and Savory Crepes, Made with Real Ingredients

By Jenya Semenkova, Founder of Ptashka Crepes

It started with a craving—not just for food, but for comfort.

I was a busy mom, racing through weekdays and trying to make mealtimes feel a little more meaningful. One day, standing in the frozen aisle, I realized something was missing. Waffles? Check. Pancakes? Plenty. But crepes—the kind my mom used to make back in Ukraine—nowhere in sight.

So, I called her.

She pulled out her old handwritten recipe book, and together, we decided to bring those flavors back—not just for my family, but for others too. The result was Ptashka Crepes: handcrafted, fully cooked sweet and savory crepes, made with real ingredients and a whole lot of love.

We started small. Just my mom and me, renting a commercial kitchen in Michigan and selling at local farmers markets. Week by week, crepe by crepe, something magical happened. People weren’t just eating them—they were remembering. They’d take a bite and say, “This tastes like childhood.” Or, “I haven’t had anything like this since visiting Europe.”

We weren’t just making food. We were telling a story—one you could taste.

Ptashka co-founders Jenya and Galyna Semenkova.

Soon, retailers started to take notice. I still remember how excited we were to deliver that first order to Nino Salvaggio Bloomfield and Clinton locations. It meant the world to us—not just because it was a store we admired, but because it was local. Rooted in Michigan. Committed to quality. And exactly the kind of partner a small brand like ours needed in order to grow.

Partnerships like that gave us a chance to reach more people—without compromising what made our crepes special. From there, we expanded store by store, city by city. Today, Ptashka Crepes are in more than 150 stores across 10+ states, from New York to Texas to Minnesota.

But at our core, we’re still a family business.

My mom still oversees production. My dad left his job to join us full-time. And I’ve traded my corporate meetings for forklifts and farmers market tents. Every crepe we make is filled, hand rolled, and flash-frozen right here in Michigan, using the same methods—and the same care—that we started with.

The name “Ptashka” means “little bird” in Ukrainian. It’s a tribute to where we come from, and a symbol of what’s possible when you take a leap.

I believe deeply in the power of local retailers like Nino Salvaggio. They give brands like mine a shot. They help us stay connected to our community while reaching for something bigger. And most importantly, they understand that food isn’t just about convenience—it’s about connection.

So next time you're shopping at Nino's and see Ptashka Crepes in the freezer section, know this: they come from a real kitchen, a real story, and a whole lot of heart.

We’re honored to be part of your shelves—and your meals.

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