"Dinner at Omar Khayyam’s" + promotional brochure SIGNED by owner George Mardikian

Item Details

New York, New York, Viking, 1952, cloth

A cookbook designed for Americans by the owner & chef at the famous Omar Khayyam's Armenian restaurant in San Francisco, California.  An Armenian immigrant, Mardikian opened his first establishment in Fresno in the middle of the Depression, with this second location at 200 Powell Street in the heart of the city of San Francisco in 1938, where it continued to operate until a fire destroyed it in the 1980s.  Mardikian is credited with being a pioneer in bringing the exciting new tastes of Middle Eastern cuisine to Americans.  Originally published in 1944, this is the 6th printing from 1952, in 150 pages, with Index & a Foreword by the author's friend, writer William Saroyan. Though not uncommon, what is unique about this copy is the enclosed tri-fold paper brochure promoting the restaurant, which is SIGNED by Mardikian with a personalized inscription, "To Rusty, Best Wishes, Gastronomically, George Mardikian." This item is in VG- condition, with a bit of edgewear & chipping. The book itself has burnt orange-red cloth covered boards with a white design to front/lettering to spine. Condition is VG+: very clean both inside & out, pages modestly tanned but unmarked. Binding straight & firm, hinges intact. Three pages show dogearing, unfolded, & there is mild rubbing to corners & both ends of spine. The price-clipped DJ is Good, with heavier rubbing to these same extremities & spine fading. Nicely protected by former owner in clear mylar, which has 2 areas of tape residue where they affixed it to the flaps.