It’s with great excitement and a full heart that I share with you Lebanese & Armenian Family Recipes: INHERITED, BORROWED, & ADJUSTED TO TASTE.  This cookbook is more than just a collection of recipes—it’s a journey through our family’s history, a tribute to the people who shaped our kitchen, and a celebration of the love that goes into every dish.

A Passion Passed Down Through Generations

At the heart of this book is my mother, Parantzem Dukenjian Kelian—the soul of our kitchen and the hands behind these cherished recipes. From as far back as I can remember, I watched her work her magic in the kitchen, turning simple ingredients into meals that brought our family together. These recipes aren’t just hers; they are inherited and borrowed from the wonderful people who shaped her culinary journey—family, friends, neighbors—each one lovingly adapted to suit our family’s tastes.

Cooking as a Way to Preserve Love and Tradition

For my mom, the kitchen has never been just about cooking. It has been a place of love, storytelling, and tradition. My late father, Boghos, was an expert at pastries—he baked and decorated every family cake for special occasions. Those moments, filled with the warmth of his creations, remain some of our most cherished memories.

Over the years, my siblings and I constantly asked my mom for her recipes, tips, and advice. She started writing them down, and soon, we realized she had something truly special to share. That’s when the idea for this website, then this cookbook was born—not just to preserve recipes, but to preserve the love and memories that come with them.

Bringing this book to life was a true family effort. My mom poured her heart into documenting her recipes, while we—her children—rolled up our sleeves to help with writing, photography, and design. Every page is filled with the warmth of our shared journey, and we hope it brings the same joy to your home.

What Makes This Cookbook Special?

This is not just a cookbook; it’s a bridge between cultures, generations, and cherished traditions. We designed it to be both heartfelt and practical, with features that make it easy to use and navigate. Some of the feature of this book we are proud of:

• ‍Vegan Lenten Recipes: Many of our family’s traditional Lenten dishes are plant-based. To make them easy to find, we’ve placed their images on the right side of the book, so you can flip through them quickly at a glance.
• Personal Touches: Each recipe is more than just ingredients and instructions—it comes with personal stories, cooking tips from my mom, and photos taken in our home, capturing the true essence of these dishes.
• Indexed by Ingredients: A detailed index at the back of the book that lists recipes by their main ingredients. This makes it easy to find meals based on what you have in your pantry.
  

The stories and notes within the book are meant to help you connect with the food and understand the traditions behind it. Cooking has always been a journey for us, one of learning, experimenting, and adjusting, and we hope it will be the same for you.

Where to Buy

Both the English and Armenian versions of the cookbook are available in major bookstores across Lebanon, including all Virgin Megastore branches, Hamazkayin Bookstore, and soon at Malik’s Bookshop. You can also find it at SAVA in Anjar or directly from the Author.

We’re actively working to expand availability to Virgin Megastore branches across the GCC and worldwide, with online purchasing options coming soon. For updates, follow our page on Instagram.