Reissue of Classic Cookbook by Multi-Talented Manchester Armenian
19/9/2011
Question – Aram Khatchaturian, the famous Armenian composer, stood in as godfather for the son of what Armenian painter, author, chief and restaurateur in England?
Stumped? Don’t feel so bad. I hadn’t heard about Arto Der Haroutunian (1940-1987) until today when I came across a news brief about the reissue of his seminal “Classic Vegetarian Cookery” first published in the mid 1980’s.
Arto was born in Aleppo, the son of a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
His father saw the entire family massacred, except for a sister, during the 1915 Genocide.
In 1952, Arto’s family moved to Manchester in northern England when his father was sent as a priest to the Armenian Church there.
To make a long story short, the family opened a successful Armenian restaurant in Manchester, followed by another in London back in the 1970’s.
It was also a meeting place for a large number of Armenians, both local and visiting, all looking for good food, company and conversation. For example, patrons included the singer Charles Aznavour, writer William Saroyan, actor Kevork Malikyan and conductors and composers Loris Tjeknavorian and Aram Khatchaturian, the latter acting as godfather to Arto’s son Raffi.
Arto then began to write a series of highly praised Middle Eastern cookbooks – combining his love of food with his great interest in the history and culture of the region.
He was also a talented painter. His works are in several private collections in Britain and abroad as well as in galleries in Armenia, Syria, Lebanon and Nigeria.
Arto was devoted to Armenia, its people and its heritage and he visited the country for the first time in 1978 when he was invited to attend the 2nd International Symposium on Armenian Art where he was a guest speaker and presented a lecture on the Armenian Castle of Azqit. On his return he wrote a book of poems “From the Future to the Past” in response to that highly emotional visit. The poems tell of his thoughts and experiences before, during and after his visit.
On the 6th October 1987, Arto died of a sudden heart attack at the untimely age of 47.
There’s a website devoted to Arto Der Haroutunian. It provides a wealth of information regarding the artist and master cook that many will find of interest.
