Armenian's have a saying. "Tserkert talar". It's our way of giving the highest compliments to the chef. In the case of Armenians, the best chefs are not often found in the kitchens of upscale restaurants. Rather, they are the real moms, medzmoms (grandmothers) and aunties who have affectionately made amazing food, meal after meal and generation after generation, for their families and friends.

From one generation to the next, the recipes in our own family were handed down, not by precise written instruction, but by watching moms, medzmoms and aunties at work in their kitchens. For the first time, our family's authentic Armenian recipes have been comprehensively documented and, in the process, so many special memories preserved. It is my hope that the wonderful food and memories in this family cookbook can be cherished now and, more importantly, during the generations to come.