Joyce’s family recipe for Kharpertsi kufta – Armenian meatballs from the historic Armenian city of Kharpert – has been handed down for generations. Special thanks to Phil Tavlian, the first to record this recipe. If I had to pick one, executive summary-style...
Growing up, I would get super excited when we attended a function where kheyma was served. I would load the perfect bites onto my crackers, take my plate off to a quiet corner, and go straight to hog heaven, as my mother would say. This recipe was developed by a...
My obsession with Armenian food stems from my Aunt Mary and Uncle Jack Sherijian’s restaurant, The Peach Tree. I loved going there as a child and (like to many Fresnans at the time) always started with the lentil soup. Mary passed away in December of 2021. During our...
These are often marketed as pinwheels or caravan sandwiches; Armenians call them Aram sandwiches. And here in Fresno, we refer to them as Hye Rollers. Made with softened lahvosh bread and your choice of fillings, these spiral sandwiches are a real treat, savory or...
I’ve eaten my share of chicken kebabs around town, and I honestly cannot think of a single restaurant that rivals Zee’s marinade. The sour cream makes them so rich, while the vegetable spread brings a very nice flavor and color. Don’t have to worry if you can’t find...
My mom is a bulgur pilaf fanatic: she could eat it every day, and often she does! I have several recipes at hand, but this version – taught by Zarouhie (aka “Z”) Bedrossian during my 2019 Acta Apprenticeship – is the real classic. It rivals anything you...
Like his grandmother before him, my friend Geoff loves to preserve the yearly olive haul that can be found throughout Fresno each November. A viticulture researcher and instructor at Fresno State, Geoff’s got street creds when it comes to this stuff, but even so, he...
Aunt Jeanne was my late grandma Florence’s niece; we share Beatrice and Harry as ancestors. Beatrice was born in Aintab, Turkey in 1897. She married Harry Shirejian at age 13 and survived unimaginable circumstances before reuniting with him in America. Jeanne’s mom,...
Jamee Moltini (née Ashjian) and I grew up together in Fresno. Our fathers were great friends in their youth, and remain so to this day. Another commonality? Jamee’s dad’s mom and my dad’s mom were both named Florence, excellent cooks, and joyful conveners of their...
Fasulia – green bean and tomato stew – is one of my favorite Armenian dishes from childhood. The pronunciation reminds me of facile (French for “easy”), and thus it seems aptly named. My cousin Lisa converts this vegetable side dish into a complete meal with ground...
