I have been on an Armenian food hunt. And other than knowing that Glendale has a large percentage of Armenian-Americans, my knowledge of their culture and food is painfully lacking. So it’s as much for me as for my kids that this adventure continues.
Brian and I went to dinner in Glendale on Monday night. I suggested Armenian. Brian led us to Persian. Shamshiri served a delicious dinner - the highlight was a feta cheese appetizer served with mounds of herbs, green onions and radishes. But it was Persian, or so they claimed: “Middle Eastern.”
So the next day I still had a craving for Armenian - partially because I was still curious. And I wasn't keen on driving an hour for lunch. Not wanting to leave Santa Clarita, I returned to the lovely Manoushee Mediterranean bakery on the other side of town with Ed and Julia in tow. Initially they were less than thrilled - and would have preferred wet burritos from Las Delicias down the street. Claiming that I had yet to steer them wrong, I wrangled them in the car.
Owner and chef Maral was gracious in explaining various dishes, especially after I explained why we had picked her bakery for a stop on our world food tour. When I asked if this was “Armenian food” she explained that yes, it was Armenian-Lebanese. Another layer of complexity to my question of “What is Armenian food?” I can easily say that the kids loved the food at Manoushee. Spicy potato and chicken wraps with pickled vegetables, calzone type bread stuffed with spicy and non spicy cheese and baba ganoush.
I ordered the rosewater-mint lemonade and was treated to the story that this traditional beverage was a special drink that her father used to make for his children in the summer as lemons were only available during that season. Not year round like they are here. Which led us to a small discussion of the seasons and geography in Lebanon. Which then led an even slighter exchange of when she left (“1978, before the war” - she says softly, with a glance that says far more than those words) and how often she returned to Lebanon. She explained that while she used to go once a year, she has no family there anymore. That her last trip was 3 years ago when her father passed - which made the lemonade taste even that much sweeter to me.
After Julia and Ed each picked a dessert (baklava with custard and coconut oatmeal cookie) and we packed up the leftovers for Aidan, we exchanged names, and said our thank yous - and I was taught how to say thank you in Armenian - “shornagal em” which I got on the third try.
So that was Armenian - Lebanese.
Two cultures and countries that I had very little knowledge of before this week. Thanks to the lunches and encounters with these friendly ambassadors who we continue to meet (and wikipedia) I’m a little more educated. As are my kids: while they might not grasp the complexities of mass genocide and civil wars, are at least exposed in a tangible way to the result of such tragic events. Even if it only comes in the form of a tangy drink, spicy bread, or sweet dessert.
So back to Glendale we will go… to continue our exploration of this fascinating cuisine.
