George Mardikian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Magar Mardikian
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 7, 1903 Bayburt, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | October 23, 1977 (aged 73) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ararat Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican Party (United States) |
| Occupation | Restaurateur, chef, author |
| Awards | Medal of Freedom |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Armenia United States |
| Years of service | 1915–1920 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Armenian Volunteer Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II Korean War |
George Magar Mardikian (born November 7, 1903 – died October 23, 1977) was an amazing Armenian-born American chef, author, and generous helper of others. He became famous for opening Omar Khayyam's restaurant in San Francisco, California in 1938. This restaurant was open for over 40 years! George Mardikian helped make Armenian cuisine popular in the United States. He also started ANCHA, a group that helped Armenians who had lost their homes. He was the nephew of a brave Armenian leader named Krikor Amirian.
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George Mardikian's Early Life
George Mardikian was born on November 7, 1903, in a place called Bayburt, which was part of the Ottoman Empire back then. His parents were Magar Mardikian and Haiganoush Amirian. George grew up in Scutari, a city with many Armenian people. His family name, Mardikian, means 'warrior' in Armenian, showing his family's brave history. His mother's family, the Amirians, were also very important in Bayburt. George looked up to his uncle, Krikor Amirian, who was his mother's older brother.
Facing Hardships as a Young Boy
When George was a child, he was a bit chubby and people called him 'shisko,' which means 'chubby' in Armenian. In 1915, his father was arrested during a very difficult time for Armenians. After this, George's mother's family had to leave their homes and travel a long way. Many of his relatives were lost during these hard times. Witnessing these events made George want to be a true warrior, just like his family name suggested.
Joining the Armenian Volunteer Units
Because he wanted to help and be brave, George ran away from home. He joined the Armenian volunteer units, which were groups of fighters. His uncle, Krikor Amirian, was an important leader in these units. After World War I ended, George returned home as a hero.
A New Start and a Difficult Capture
In 1920, George worked with Captain Eddie Fox and George D. White from a group called Near East Relief. They helped create an Armenian Boy Scout unit. However, war soon broke out again between Armenia, Turkey, and Russia. George encouraged other young people to keep fighting for freedom. He went back to the battlefield but was quickly captured and put in prison.
He spent two years in prison. Luckily, George D. White, whom he had met before, told the Turkish guards that George was an American and demanded his release. George Mardikian finally became free and went back to his mother and other family members in Scutari. His mother and uncle told him he should go to the United States, like his older sister. A few days later, he left Scutari.
Just an hour after George's ship left, Turkish police came to his mother's door, looking for him. George had said he was a Near East Relief worker to get out of prison. His mother told them he had "entered a new world." The police searched the house but eventually left, thinking he had died.
Arriving in the United States
George Mardikian arrived at Ellis Island in New York on July 24, 1922. Like all immigrants, he went through many steps to get permission to enter the country. He later said that when he took a shower there, he felt like he was washing away all the sadness and pain from his past. He felt reborn, like a "completely new human being, a taller, a stronger, prouder man—an American." From that day on, George Mardikian celebrated July 24 as his new birthday.
Building a Life in the United States
During his train trip to San Francisco, George only ate potato salad because it was the only English he could read on the menu! He promised himself that one day he would open his own restaurant. When he arrived in San Francisco, he first worked as a dishwasher. Later, he became a restaurant manager. In 1928, he officially became a citizen of the United States. For the next two years, he worked as a cook on a cruise ship, learning a lot about Armenian and other types of food.
Opening Omar Khayyam's Restaurant
In 1930, George moved to Fresno, California, where many Armenian immigrants lived. With his wife, Nazenig, he opened a small restaurant called Omar Khayyam's. He named it after a famous Persian poet. Even though it was during the Great Depression, people loved his food, like clam chowder and pot roast. George often said his dream was to teach Americans how to eat well.
He later moved his restaurant to bigger places in Fresno. Then, in 1938, he moved it to San Francisco, into the old Coffee Dan's building. There, his restaurant became very popular with both food critics and local people.
In 1935, George helped his mother come to the United States from Romania, where she was living with his uncle, Krikor Amirian. Sadly, his mother, Haiganoush, passed away in February 1936 and was buried in Fresno.
George Mardikian's Role in World War II
In 1942, George Mardikian was asked to be a food consultant for the Quartermaster General of the United States Army. He kept this important job until 1954. Soldiers everywhere were thankful to George for making their meals much better! He even earned the nickname "Champion of G.I. Chow." He received special awards from presidents for the big improvements he made to military food. In 1944, he wrote a cookbook called Dinner at Omar Khayyam's, which was printed many times.
In 1945, he generously offered his catering services for the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco. This conference helped create the United Nations. Even though George had a good life in the U.S., he often felt sad because he missed his uncle, Krikor Amirian.
Helping His Family and Others
After World War II ended, George worried that his uncle might have been killed. But he finally found him in late 1945! George asked a general to help his uncle and his family find a safe place. He helped them escape to Austria and then to Italy. Their reunion was very emotional.
Besides finding his own family, George Mardikian traveled the world. He encouraged over 5,000 Armenians to move to the United States, helping them find new homes and opportunities.
In 1951, President Harry S. Truman gave George Mardikian the Medal of Freedom. This award was for his excellent work as a food consultant for the U.S. Army. The award praised his energy and how he helped soldiers and commanders make food better, even during wartime. Later that year, George hired his uncle as his main Armenian typist and another important person, Soghomon Tehlirian, as his assistant.
George Mardikian continued to write and help many good causes. He also founded the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA).
Omar Khayyam's Restaurant Experience
George Mardikian's famous 'Omar Khayyam's' restaurant was located at 200 Powell Street in San Francisco. It was in the basement of a building, with the entrance on O'Farrell Street. Before entering the main dining area, guests would see photos of George Mardikian sharing meals with famous people like Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt.
The restaurant itself was like a magical cave, beautifully decorated. It had velvet seats, soft Persian lamps, and a shiny cash register. The dining tables were in special curtained areas, making it feel like a scene from the Arabian Nights. The walls were decorated with sayings from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. George Mardikian often shared a special flat bread with his guests as a sign of friendship. He also used Armenian folk tales to describe the dishes on his menu.
The menu was exciting for its time, with a mix of Armenian, Middle Eastern, and African dishes. These recipes were changed slightly to suit American tastes. George also made sure to tell people about the health benefits of his homemade yogurt, which was not a common food in America back then.
Sadly, a fire destroyed the restaurant in the mid-1980s.
Later Life and Passing
In 1956, George Mardikian wrote his life story in a book called Song of America. A quote from his book is even on a wall at the American Adventure Pavilion at Disney's Epcot Center. George also helped politicians who were part of the Republican Party. He even appeared on a television show called This Is Your Life on May 5, 1954, with host Ralph Edwards.
George Mardikian passed away on October 23, 1977.
