Left and bottom right, Mariam and Arthur Kasamanian offer mouth-watering delicacies at their new store. Top right, Ron Coleman of Pine Mountain chooses stuffed cabbage leaves from the deli case.
By Rita Roth
Are you in the mood for something new and exotic without leaving the mountain to battle traffic in the city? Arthur and Mariam Kasamanian have opened the High Mountain Market on Mount Pinos Way next to Koko’s Motel.
High Mountain has been open for about a month, and has already established quite a few regular customers who enjoy the exotic flavors and fresh, healthy foods.
At the deli counter you have a wide range of choices, including hummus, a dish made from chick peas and ground sesame seeds flavored with garlic and olive oil, or baba ganush made with eggplant, garlic and lemon.
You might also want to try dolmas—cabbage or grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs and onions, all wrapped up in neat little packages. And how about peppers stuffed with rice and vegetables?
You’ll also find more traditional American deli fare such as all types of meat and cheeses, plus a variety of salads, including potato, macaroni and tuna. The deli serves freshly made sandwiches to order.
Since the market stays open until 8 p.m. on most evenings, it is a great place to stop by on your way home from work when you just don’t feel like cooking.
The grocery section of the shop has an array of unusual canned goods. For instance, there is an eggplant dip to be served with chips or veggies and a preserve made from sweetened young green walnuts. You can also find bottles of rose water. This is an ingredient found in many creams and lotions. It has a wonderful fragrance, and a few drops whisked in your bath will make you and the water deliciously scented.
There is also a wide selection of confections. You’ll want to try the pink and white Russian marshmallows called Zeefer and their chocolate-covered variety. You’ll find the world-famous favorite baklava, a delightful phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey. I was surprised to find a treat called “birdmilk,” which is a finger-shaped cookie that is dark chocolate on the outside with a soft creamy interior. All of these would be perfect with the specialty coffee beans sold at the market, and which the Kasamanians will gladly grind for you.
The Kasamanians are both Armenian by birth, but have lived in the U. S. for more than thirty years. For most of those years the couple lived in the San Fernando Valley, but they have been frequent visitors to our Mountain Community. About a year ago they moved to Frazier Park because, as Mr. Kasamanian states, “we love it here.”
If you would like to visit this great little shop and welcome Arthur and Miriam to Frazier Park, they are located at 3221 Mt. Pinos Way (telephone 245-0770). The High Mountain Market is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This is part of the January 16, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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