Ariana Tolka co-founded Balkan Bites along with her aunt, Alida, in 2019, to introduce Balkan food with a modern twist to a broader audience. “It all started when I asked my aunt Alida to teach me traditional Albanian recipes in memory of our late grandmother, Magbule,” she explained. Ariana and her aunt turned their family’s recipes into a business, making Bureks, a Southeast European comfort food made from phyllo dough stuffed with a variety of meats and vegetables. Balkan Bites burek are available in three flavors: spinach & cheese, beef & onion, & cheese medley.

Ariana joined WEALF in 2021 and grew her business further, expanding her distribution to include national grocery stores, including DeCicco & Sons & Foxtrot Market, and winning that store's fan favorite award. In 2024, Balkan Bites launched a new product, Mini Phyllo Rolls in cheese medley, spinach & cheese, or beef & onion.

In 2025, Ariana sold her company to Djerdan Burek, the beloved manufacturer of Balkan phyllo dough pies known as burek. “As someone who grew up eating at Djerdan’s restaurant in Astoria, this transition feels deeply personal,” Ariana shared. “They were pioneers in bringing Balkan cuisine to the U.S., and I’ve looked up to them since I was a kid.”