A TASTE OF THE WORLD IN THE SCV
By Rachel Stern
Signal Staff Writer

The Signal, CA
Oct 8 2006

[parts omitted]

Zohrab Getikian of Valencia, who opened the Hayk International Market
just four months ago, saw the opportunity that the SCV presented
for an ethnic-style deli and sandwich shop. Getikian, an Armenian,
opened his deli just four months ago because he knew from personal
experience that the area was ripe for what he had to offer.

"We don’t serve international foods per se," Getikian said. "It’s a
deli. But we have specialties."

These include mawst o chiar, a cool Persian yogurt and cucumber dip,
great for when it’s hot out; mawst oh mousir, another Persian yogurt
dip, this one with shallots; ehkra, a Russian eggplant dip; and the
by-now fairly common baba ghannoush, hummus and tabouli. Getikian also
takes special orders for pre-marinated kabob (Armenian/Persian grilled
chicken and beef, ground and filet), but you had better be hungry –
his minimum order is 10 pounds.

In addition to the sandwiches and the above-mentioned delicacies,
Getikian stocks a large number of packaged foods from Persia, Russia
and Eastern Europe.

"A lot of Armenians, Persians and others have moved here from the
valley and from L.A.," said Getikian. "And they had to go all the
way back into the valley to get groceries. Me too."

It was a underserved market, he said. Like the man in the movie said,
"If you build it, they will come." And they did.

"I have so many people coming in," said Getikian. "And not just
ethnics. Americans, too."

Iranian born Houmayan Daryani started feeding the same need four
years ago, opening Mom and Pop’s Deli and International Market. He
now boasts a client base of happily sated Persian, Israeli, Arab, and
Turkish and Armenian expatriates. Houmayan’s specialty is produce – his
tiny store is stuffed to the gills with fruits that are hard to find
outside of the Middle East including fresh dates, Persian pistachios,
sour grapes, and a kind of sweet lemon he says is especially good if
you have a summer cold. And he’s very particular about quality.

"My produce is unlike anything you get in the stores here," said
Houmayan.

He also carries spices, a variety of coffees, ethnic dairy products
and preserves and pastes made of unconventional ingredients like
walnuts and watermelons.

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