George Mardikian
Encyclopedia
George Magar Mardikian was an Armenian-American restauranteur, chef, author and philanthropist who opened the well-known Omar Khayyam’s restaurant in San Francisco, California in 1938. He is the nephew of Armenian Revolutionary Krikor Amirian
.
, Armenia to Magar Mardikian (father) and Haiganoush Amirian (mother). Mardikian grew up in the city of Sucrati, which was an Armenian community in Istanbul
. Mardikian father’s family was a family of warriors. The reason why there name was Mardikian, was because ‘’Mardik’’ in Armenian means warrior and the Mardikian family and their descendants were warriors. On the other hand, Mardikian’s mother’s family, the Amirians, was a very influential and powerful family in Bayburt. Mardikian’s mother was also the eldest sibling of Mardikian’s idol, Krikor Amirian
.
As a child, Mardikian was very chubby. His nickname in the Armenian community was ‘’shisko’’ which is Armenian for chubby. As the Ottoman Empire
was thrusted into the First World War in 1914, the Armenians faced their own war at home. On April 24, 1915
, 250 intellects and community leaders were arrested and executed. Mardikian’s father, Magar, was one of the 250 that was arrested that day. After his arrest, Mardikian’s mother’s family, the Amirians, were driven out of their homes and marched to Erzincan. Mardikian’s maternal grandmother, Vartanoush Amirian, committed suicide by jumping in the Euphrates River, while the rest of the Amirian family was either beaten to death or burned alive. Witnessing the massacre of his maternal side of his family, Mardikian wanted to avenge there deaths and prove to his mother how much of a true genetic warrior he was. Because of his ambition, Mardikian ran away from his home and joined the Armenian Volunteer Unit
, which his uncle, Krikor Amirian
, was a high ranking member in. Mardikian traveled all across the Ottoman Empire
with his assigned unit in an attempt to overthrow the Ottoman regime from no longer controlling Armenia
. After the end of World War I
, Mardikian returned to his mother as a war hero.
In the summer of 1920, Mardikian worked with Captain Eddie Fox and George D. White of the Near East Relief organization to create an Armenian boy-scout unit. It would be a short lived accomplishment, since war broke between Armenia
, Turkey
, and Russia
. Mardikian called on his fellow youths to continue the fight for freedom. When Mardikian returned to the battlefield, he was quickly captured and thrown in prison. Mardikian served his term in prison in a sauerkraut factory. Even though it was a useless activity, the Turkish guards forced the Armenian prisoners to chop ice. After serving two years in prison, luck had struck Mardikian. George D. White, who Mardikian met a couple of years earlier, had told the Turkish prison commandant that Mardikian was an American and demanded his freedom. . Mardikian eventually gained his freedom and returned to his mother and his surviving family members in Sucrati. Haiganoush (Mardikian’s mother) and Krikor Amirian
, (Mardikian’s uncle) advised him that he must go to the United States like his older sister Baidzar. Within a couple of days, Mardikian left Sucrati.
One hour after Mardikian’s ship left the port of Sucrati, Turkish police knocked on Haiganoush’s door demanding that they reveal the location of Mardikian. The reason for this was that Mardikian stated he was a Near East Relif worker, which led to his freedom from prison. Haiganoush stated that her son had left this world and had entered a new one. Nonetheless, the Turkish police ransacked the home and finally, assuming that he had died.
, New York
. Mardikian (like every other immigrant) went through all the steps in order to gain access into the country. When he was able to take a shower, Mardikian stated “I washed away the grime, I washed away the years. I washed away the Old World, I washed away all the hatred and injustice and cruelty I had known, all the hunger, all the weeping, all the pain’’ He later stated, “As I dried myself with the thick, heavy towel, and saw my clean skin and felt my blood tingle, it was as though I had been reborn, as though I were a completely new human being, a taller, a stronger, prouder man-an American”. Since that day, Mardikian had said that July 24 is his birthday.
Within eight days, Mardikian landed in San Francisco. Through his entire train ride, Mardikian only ate was potato salad (for that was all he could read in English), Mardikian vowed to one day open a restaurant of his own. After arriving in San Francisco, Mardikian got a job working as a dishwasher at Coffee Dan’s and later at Clinton’s Cafeteria. He was later appointed by Eugene Compton as his restaurant manager.
In 1930, he moved to Fresno
, CA where he joined the vibrant Armenian immigrant community. He opened a lunch counter called Omar Khayyam
’s after the famous Persian poet at 1129 Van Ness Avenue. Despite the on-going Depression, customers filled his diner to enjoy his clam chowder, chili con carne, and pot roast. As he frequently noted, his dream was to teach Americans how to eat well.
He would later move his restaurant to two other large buildings in Fresno
and then to the old Coffee Dan’s building in San Francisco in 1938, where he earned praise from critic and local alike.
In 1935, Mardikian arranged the arrival of his mother from Bucharest
, Romania
, where she lived with her brother, Krikor Amirian
. It would be a short-lived life that Haiganoush (Mardikian’s mother) would have in the United States. In February 1936, Haiganoush contracted pneumonia while in surgery. She died a couple of days later. She was eventually buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno
.
In 1945, he donated his services as caterer for the United Nations Conference on International Organization
that was held in San Francisco and established the United Nations
. Even though Mardikian had a very nice life in the United States
, he would get depressed from time to time, over the reason that he missed his uncle, Krikor Amirian
.
After the end of World War II
, Mardikian feared that his uncle, Krikor
, may have been killed. From this fear, Mardikian attempted to find him. In late 1945, Mardikian was able to find his uncle. In order to ensure that he reunited with his uncle and family, Mardikian instructed the local Allied General to shelter them. Mardikian helped his family escape to Austria
and then finally into Italy
. Mardikian’s reunion with his uncle and his family turned into an emotional event.
Other than find his long lost family, Mardikian would travel across the world trying to convince Armenians to moving to the United States. He would travel to Over 5,000 Armenians moved to the United States
because of him and his efforts.
In 1951, Mardikian was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Harry S. Truman
for his work as a consultant to the Quartermaster General of the United States Army. A portion of the citation reads, "With vigorous energy, keen powers of observation and analysis and a dynamic personality, he enlisted the enthusiastic interest of commanders and soldiers alike in the preparation and service of food under varying conditions in the combat zone." He would go on to write and contribute to entrepreneurial and philanthropic causes including the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA). Later that year, Mardikian would appoint Krikor Amirian
(Mardikian’s uncle) as his chief Armenian typist and Soghomon Tehlirian
as his assistant.
Pavilion at Disney's Epcot Center. Mardikian would also help republican candidates all over the country. Mardikian also starred in the show, This is Your Life
.
George Mardikian died on October 23, 1977.
On the left at the bottom of the stairs was the Rubaiyat lounge with velvet banquettes, low Persian lamps, and a gleaming chrome cash register. Tables in the restaurant were contained in curtained chambers out of the Arabian Nights decorated with wall-hangings and inscriptions from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Mardikian would customarily "break bread" (a special flat bread served at the restaurant) with his diners as a sign of hospitality.
The menu was exotic (for the time), featuring a mix of Middle Eastern, African and European cooking adapted for American palates.
In the mid-1980s, Mardikian’s dream was crushed after a fire destroyed the restaurant.
[A link with a matchbook from Omar Khayyam's: http://www.mikehumbert.com/Mike_Humbert-s_Idiosyncratic_Guide_09a.html]
.
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
.
Early life
George Mardikian was born on November 7, 1903 in BayburtBayburt
Bayburt is a city in northeast Turkey lying on the Çoruh River, and is the provincial capital of Turkey's Bayburt Province.Bayburt was once an important center on the ancient Silk Road and it was visited by Marco Polo and Turkish excursionist Evliya Celebi. Remains of its Byzantine castle still...
, Armenia to Magar Mardikian (father) and Haiganoush Amirian (mother). Mardikian grew up in the city of Sucrati, which was an Armenian community in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Mardikian father’s family was a family of warriors. The reason why there name was Mardikian, was because ‘’Mardik’’ in Armenian means warrior and the Mardikian family and their descendants were warriors. On the other hand, Mardikian’s mother’s family, the Amirians, was a very influential and powerful family in Bayburt. Mardikian’s mother was also the eldest sibling of Mardikian’s idol, Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
.
As a child, Mardikian was very chubby. His nickname in the Armenian community was ‘’shisko’’ which is Armenian for chubby. As the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was thrusted into the First World War in 1914, the Armenians faced their own war at home. On April 24, 1915
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, 250 intellects and community leaders were arrested and executed. Mardikian’s father, Magar, was one of the 250 that was arrested that day. After his arrest, Mardikian’s mother’s family, the Amirians, were driven out of their homes and marched to Erzincan. Mardikian’s maternal grandmother, Vartanoush Amirian, committed suicide by jumping in the Euphrates River, while the rest of the Amirian family was either beaten to death or burned alive. Witnessing the massacre of his maternal side of his family, Mardikian wanted to avenge there deaths and prove to his mother how much of a true genetic warrior he was. Because of his ambition, Mardikian ran away from his home and joined the Armenian Volunteer Unit
Armenian volunteer units
Armenian volunteer units, also known the Armenian volunteer corps were Armenian battalions in Russian and British armies during the World War I. Majority of these units support the military activities at the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The origin of these units were varied. Some units...
, which his uncle, Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
, was a high ranking member in. Mardikian traveled all across the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
with his assigned unit in an attempt to overthrow the Ottoman regime from no longer controlling Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. After the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Mardikian returned to his mother as a war hero.
In the summer of 1920, Mardikian worked with Captain Eddie Fox and George D. White of the Near East Relief organization to create an Armenian boy-scout unit. It would be a short lived accomplishment, since war broke between Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Mardikian called on his fellow youths to continue the fight for freedom. When Mardikian returned to the battlefield, he was quickly captured and thrown in prison. Mardikian served his term in prison in a sauerkraut factory. Even though it was a useless activity, the Turkish guards forced the Armenian prisoners to chop ice. After serving two years in prison, luck had struck Mardikian. George D. White, who Mardikian met a couple of years earlier, had told the Turkish prison commandant that Mardikian was an American and demanded his freedom. . Mardikian eventually gained his freedom and returned to his mother and his surviving family members in Sucrati. Haiganoush (Mardikian’s mother) and Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
, (Mardikian’s uncle) advised him that he must go to the United States like his older sister Baidzar. Within a couple of days, Mardikian left Sucrati.
One hour after Mardikian’s ship left the port of Sucrati, Turkish police knocked on Haiganoush’s door demanding that they reveal the location of Mardikian. The reason for this was that Mardikian stated he was a Near East Relif worker, which led to his freedom from prison. Haiganoush stated that her son had left this world and had entered a new one. Nonetheless, the Turkish police ransacked the home and finally, assuming that he had died.
Arrival to the United States
On July 24, 1922, Mardikian arrived on Ellis IslandEllis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Mardikian (like every other immigrant) went through all the steps in order to gain access into the country. When he was able to take a shower, Mardikian stated “I washed away the grime, I washed away the years. I washed away the Old World, I washed away all the hatred and injustice and cruelty I had known, all the hunger, all the weeping, all the pain’’ He later stated, “As I dried myself with the thick, heavy towel, and saw my clean skin and felt my blood tingle, it was as though I had been reborn, as though I were a completely new human being, a taller, a stronger, prouder man-an American”. Since that day, Mardikian had said that July 24 is his birthday.
Life within the United Staes
For his first goal as a new man, Mardikian had wanted to deliver lokoum (Turkish Candy) to General Sebouh Nersesian. Because he was short on money, Mardikian was never able to accomplish this dream.Within eight days, Mardikian landed in San Francisco. Through his entire train ride, Mardikian only ate was potato salad (for that was all he could read in English), Mardikian vowed to one day open a restaurant of his own. After arriving in San Francisco, Mardikian got a job working as a dishwasher at Coffee Dan’s and later at Clinton’s Cafeteria. He was later appointed by Eugene Compton as his restaurant manager.
In 1930, he moved to Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, CA where he joined the vibrant Armenian immigrant community. He opened a lunch counter called Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyám
Omar Khayyám was aPersian polymath: philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music, climatology and theology....
’s after the famous Persian poet at 1129 Van Ness Avenue. Despite the on-going Depression, customers filled his diner to enjoy his clam chowder, chili con carne, and pot roast. As he frequently noted, his dream was to teach Americans how to eat well.
He would later move his restaurant to two other large buildings in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
and then to the old Coffee Dan’s building in San Francisco in 1938, where he earned praise from critic and local alike.
In 1935, Mardikian arranged the arrival of his mother from Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, where she lived with her brother, Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
. It would be a short-lived life that Haiganoush (Mardikian’s mother) would have in the United States. In February 1936, Haiganoush contracted pneumonia while in surgery. She died a couple of days later. She was eventually buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
.
World War II
In 1942, Mardikian was appointed as a food consultant to the Quartermaster General of the United States Army (a position that he would hold until 1954). Mardikian would receive presidential commendations for the drastic changes that he made to the United States Military. In 1944, he published a cook book, Dinner at Omar Khayyam's, that was reprinted numerous times over the next two decades.In 1945, he donated his services as caterer for the United Nations Conference on International Organization
United Nations Conference on International Organization
The United Nations Conference on International Organization was a convention of delegates from 50 Allied nations that took place from 25 April 1945 to 26 June 1945 in San Francisco, California. At this convention, the delegates reviewed and rewrote the Dumbarton Oaks agreements...
that was held in San Francisco and established the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Even though Mardikian had a very nice life in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he would get depressed from time to time, over the reason that he missed his uncle, Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
.
After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Mardikian feared that his uncle, Krikor
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
, may have been killed. From this fear, Mardikian attempted to find him. In late 1945, Mardikian was able to find his uncle. In order to ensure that he reunited with his uncle and family, Mardikian instructed the local Allied General to shelter them. Mardikian helped his family escape to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and then finally into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Mardikian’s reunion with his uncle and his family turned into an emotional event.
Other than find his long lost family, Mardikian would travel across the world trying to convince Armenians to moving to the United States. He would travel to Over 5,000 Armenians moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because of him and his efforts.
In 1951, Mardikian was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
for his work as a consultant to the Quartermaster General of the United States Army. A portion of the citation reads, "With vigorous energy, keen powers of observation and analysis and a dynamic personality, he enlisted the enthusiastic interest of commanders and soldiers alike in the preparation and service of food under varying conditions in the combat zone." He would go on to write and contribute to entrepreneurial and philanthropic causes including the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA). Later that year, Mardikian would appoint Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian
Krikor Amirian was an Armenian Revolutionary, who participated in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Armenia.- Early life :...
(Mardikian’s uncle) as his chief Armenian typist and Soghomon Tehlirian
Soghomon Tehlirian
Soghomon Tehlirian was a native of Yerznka, an Armenian Evangelical survivor...
as his assistant.
Later life
In 1956, Mardikian published his memories, Song of America. An excerpt from this book is quoted on a wall plaque in the entrance hall to the American AdventureAmerican Adventure
The American Adventure was a theme park located in the East Midlands region of England; quite close to both Nottingham and Derby on the edge of Ilkeston in the county of Derbyshire. The park for many years had a number of large white-knuckle attractions, but in 2005 was re-themed as a 'family'...
Pavilion at Disney's Epcot Center. Mardikian would also help republican candidates all over the country. Mardikian also starred in the show, This is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
.
George Mardikian died on October 23, 1977.
Omar Khayyam's
George Mardikian's 'Omar Khayyam's' was located at 200 Powell Street in San Francisco in the basement of a building on the northeast corner of Powell Street and O'Farrell Street. The entrance was off O'Farrell Street. After passing photographs of Mardikian "breaking bread" with various notable people (including Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt), diners would descend into the cavernous, sumptuously-decorated restaurant below.On the left at the bottom of the stairs was the Rubaiyat lounge with velvet banquettes, low Persian lamps, and a gleaming chrome cash register. Tables in the restaurant were contained in curtained chambers out of the Arabian Nights decorated with wall-hangings and inscriptions from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Mardikian would customarily "break bread" (a special flat bread served at the restaurant) with his diners as a sign of hospitality.
The menu was exotic (for the time), featuring a mix of Middle Eastern, African and European cooking adapted for American palates.
In the mid-1980s, Mardikian’s dream was crushed after a fire destroyed the restaurant.
[A link with a matchbook from Omar Khayyam's: http://www.mikehumbert.com/Mike_Humbert-s_Idiosyncratic_Guide_09a.html]
External links
Short radio episode Potato Salad by the California Legacy ProjectCalifornia Legacy Project
The California Legacy Project began in 2000 as a project at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA and later partnered with Heyday Books in Berkeley, CA. The project uses a research team of SCU interns to create radio scripts for the radio anthology "Your California Legacy" on KAZU 90.3 FM,...
.