Jackie Speier is on the road to Capitol Hill - Armenian Reporter

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B4 The Armenian Reporter | February 9, 2008CommunitySeven days on the 11th Armenian Heritage Cru<strong>is</strong>eby Boghos KupelianWhy does the Armenian HeritageCru<strong>is</strong>e continue to attract thousandsof Armenians from aroundthe world? As I was delighted toconfirm once again during the latestvoyage in January, its resoundingsuccess has to do with muchmore than the splendid ships, theArmenian tricolor fluttering fromthe mast, or the fact that it <strong>is</strong>organized by the Armenian CulturalAssociation of America. Ultimately,the secret to the longevityof the Armenian Heritage Cru<strong>is</strong>e<strong>is</strong> its quintessentially Armenianatmosphere. Try live Armenianmusic and dance, comedy, films,a mobile bookstore, Armeniandance and language classes, anArmenian Festival Day, and educationalbriefings on Armenianpolitical activ<strong>is</strong>m, in addition tothe requ<strong>is</strong>ite tavlu and belote tournaments.The 11th Armenian HeritageCru<strong>is</strong>e kicked off on January 13,setting sail from Fort Lauderdaleaboard the beautiful Italian shipCosta Fortuna. The seven-day tripwould take us to San Juan, SaintThomas, Catalina Island, Casa deCampo, and Nassau. The passengersincluded more than 1,700 Armeniansfrom across the UnitedStates, Europe, the Middle East,and Armenia.The Evans factorUndoubtedly, the stars of th<strong>is</strong> year’sArmenian Heritage Cru<strong>is</strong>e were itsspecial guests: John Marshall Evans,former US Ambassador to theRepublic of Armenia, and h<strong>is</strong> lovelywife, Donna.During one of our dinners aboardthe Costa Fortuna, the ambassadorpositively dazzled everyone withh<strong>is</strong> warmth, graceful demeanor,and aston<strong>is</strong>hing erudition. Th<strong>is</strong>humble man was the very samestatesman who in the recent paststood up for the moral imperativeof recognizing the Armenian Genocide,and as a result saw an illustriousdiplomatic career cut short byWashington’s powers that be. Thewonderful guests at our dinnertable that night included BedrosBandazian, chairperson of the ArmenianHeritage Cru<strong>is</strong>e Committee,and Ivan Ardhaldjian of theHairenik Association in Watertown,Massachusetts.On the morning of January15, Ambassador Evans spoke atan event organized in h<strong>is</strong> honor.“When I was called to serve in Armenia,I knew little about the Armenians,”he said. “But later I readA group of young cru<strong>is</strong>ers at the beach.Volleyball game on the <strong>is</strong>land.the h<strong>is</strong>tory of the Ottoman Empireand learned of the Armenian Genocide– a subject that’s still a taboowithin State Department circles. Iwas in agony about th<strong>is</strong> question.”“I found myself facing an ethicaldilemma, as my employer was indenial concerning th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong>sue,” Evanscontinued. “Reagan used theword ‘genocide’ [to refer to the ArmenianGenocide]. But since theClinton admin<strong>is</strong>tration, the term‘mass deportation’ <strong>is</strong> used. I cameto the conclusion that I have tobreak the taboo. I didn’t wait tillthe end of my term; I did it withinsix months.”Evans also referred to h<strong>is</strong> forthcomingbook, which chronicles h<strong>is</strong>odyssey as U.S. ambassador to Armeniaand the fiasco following h<strong>is</strong>During Armenian festival day on board, a tricolor outfit contest was held. They’re all winners!Genocide-recognition comments,as well as a broad range of <strong>is</strong>suespertaining to superpower and regionalpolitics. “H<strong>is</strong>tory was m<strong>is</strong>interpreted,”he said. “The truthshould be said. My book <strong>is</strong> meantto reach those Americans who unfortunatelyare ignorant about theGenocide.”Culture in the open seaThe Armenian Heritage Cru<strong>is</strong>eoffered a wealth of cultural andsocial activities for all ages. Theevents included a book-signingparty featuring Margaret Ajemian,author of The Knock at the Door.Appo Jabarian, editor of ArmenianLife Weekly, delivered a lecture onArmenian communities in Turkeythat have been forced to convertto Islam.Another memorable event wasthe performance of the HamazkayinAni Dance Company. Theensemble provided hours of pureenchantment, bringing tears ofAHC Banner.Fun in the sand.pride and joy to the spectators.Such emotions were also verymuch at work during a spiritedconcert by young Hagop Porposian,a nonpareil interpreter ofpatriotic songs.A singles champagne mixer and atalent show were among the socialactivities. While Khoren Muradianand h<strong>is</strong> band entertained revelersuntil the wee hours, the All StarTraditional Band did the same inanother hall. Then there was laughter– lots and lots of it – complimentsof a wickedly hilarious showby stand-up comedian Kev Orkian.The funnyman had no qualmsabout enforcing h<strong>is</strong> brand of audienceparticipation, and many wereh<strong>is</strong> glad “victims.”Throughout the cru<strong>is</strong>e, the activitiesschedule was teeming withdaily Armenian dance and languageclasses. Also featured wereeducational briefings by AntranigKzirian, Karine Birazian, and RaffiKarakashian of the Armenian NationalCommittee of America, amobile bookstore sponsored by theHairenik Bookstore and directedby Ivan Ardhaldjian, and, of course,those riotous tavlu and belote tournaments.Armenian Flag on The ship.The words of a fellow passenger,Nvart Majarian of California, encapsulatesthe Armenian HeritageCru<strong>is</strong>e experience: “I had readsome interesting press storiesabout the cru<strong>is</strong>e, but the reality <strong>is</strong>incomparably richer,” she told me.“The things that have touched methe most are the huge presenceof Armenian youths, the spirit ofcommunity togetherness, and theseamless organization of the programs.”At one point during our voyage,while I was having an interviewwith Ambassador Evans, I not onlyrel<strong>is</strong>hed h<strong>is</strong> words, but derivedprofound pleasure from the knowledgethat Armenian culture couldbe so vibrant, so generous and farreaching,as amply demonstratedthroughout our cru<strong>is</strong>e. My sentimentsat that moment were nodoubt a reflection of yet anotherwondrous image: in a hall next towhere the ambassador and I weresitting, more than 40 alumni of theMelkonian school of Cyprus, youngand old, were holding their annualmeeting.fTranslated from the Armenian by IshkhanJinbashian
The Armenian Reporter | February 9, 2008CommunityB5The Armenian wedding seriesLet them eat cakeWhat’s a weddingwithout one?by Karine ChakarianIf planning a wedding can be asparamount as the production of aBroadway musical, then choosingthe cake <strong>is</strong> like designing the costumes.Every detail, from taste toart<strong>is</strong>try to cost, <strong>is</strong> taken into consideration.First there <strong>is</strong> the flavor. It couldbe something as classic and simpleas pure chocolate. Or somethingmore extravagant, perhaps vanillalayered with butter cream frostingand infused with Grand Marnier.Then there’s presentation. Dec<strong>is</strong>ionsrange from garn<strong>is</strong>hing withfresh flowers to ornaments representingthe bride and groom.Finally, there <strong>is</strong> the exhibition ofcutting and serving the cake duringthe wedding reception.The tradition of the wedding cakestarted during the Roman Empireand back then it was a very differentproduction. Over the years it hasevolved into the carefully thoughtout, finely detailed flour and icingextravaganza we have today.The birth of a weddingcakeIn Roman times, tradition had itthat the groom would break part ofa loaf of barley bread baked for thenuptials, and then break the restover h<strong>is</strong> bride’s head.The breaking of the bread symbolizedthe breaking of the bride’svirginal status. The crumbs thatfell would be collected by guests,the notion being that eating thecrumbs brought good luck and fertility.During the middle ages, the traditionof baking loaves of breadfor a couple’s nuptials gave way tosweet buns. The buns were stackedin a pile, and if the couple was ableto k<strong>is</strong>s over the pile, their life togetherwould be successful.The once-simple dessert hasevolved into a multi-tiered weddingcake, which was once reservedfor Engl<strong>is</strong>h royalty. The assumptionbehind baking a cake with manylevels was that a chr<strong>is</strong>tening wouldsoon follow the wedding. Hence thebottom tier of the cake was for thereception, the middle was to giveaway, and the top was saved for thechr<strong>is</strong>tening.Since times have changed anda chr<strong>is</strong>tening doesn’t necessarilyfollow on the heels of a wedding,modern-day tradition dictates forcouples to preserve the top tier intheir freezer, to enjoy on the day oftheir first anniversary.When in Jamaica…The concept of a wedding cake variesfrom country to country. Thefollowing <strong>is</strong> only a small l<strong>is</strong>t of thevariations on the pastry.• American and Engl<strong>is</strong>h traditioncalls for a classic tieredcake.• In Jamaica, a fruit cake <strong>is</strong> liberallylaced with sherry or rum.• In Bermuda, a tiny sapling <strong>is</strong>placed on top of the cake. Afterthe reception, the tree <strong>is</strong> plantedat the couple’s shared hometo symbolize the progressionof their lives together.• In France, a country famousfor its pat<strong>is</strong>series, weddingparties serve a dessert calledcroqueembouche – small,cream-filled pasties are coveredwith caramel and stackedinto a pyramid.• The Japanese use a faux weddingcake, sometimes made ofStyrofoam, but covered in realicing. The bride and groom gothrough the motions of cuttingthe fake cake (in somecases a slit <strong>is</strong> precut into theimitation cake to further ass<strong>is</strong>tthe act).The creative wayThe Japanese may be on to something.A faux cake can actually helpreduce the sometimes already exorbitantcost of a wedding feast.But a cake doesn’t have to costa fortune. In some cases, coupleschoose a small, beautifully decoratedwedding cake that <strong>is</strong> perhapscompr<strong>is</strong>ed of only two tiers. Oncethe ceremony of cutting the cake <strong>is</strong>completed, a sheet cake can then bedivided in the kitchen and servedto guests. While the color themeand flavor of the cake correspondto those of the main cake, the unadornedsheet cake cuts down thecost of additional decorated tiers.Dessert rebelsWhile Engl<strong>is</strong>h and American conventionmay be to serve a weddingcake at the reception, in recentyears couples have been gettingmore creative by choosing to seguefrom the norm. A few examples:• Cupcakes arranged on twotieredplates. The small individualcakes are not only charmingbut allow a clean presentationand are easy to serve.• A chocolate fountain withdipping options such as freshfruit, graham crackers, andmarshmallows.• Dessert trays arranged withan array of different treatsranging from mini éclairs tobaklava.So many choicesWho wouldn’t want to hop frombakery to bakery and taste cake?Most bakeries offer tastings in orderto ass<strong>is</strong>t the bride and groomin making a dec<strong>is</strong>ion. Los Angeles<strong>is</strong> home to some of the most creative,art<strong>is</strong>tic, and tasteful bakeriesspecializing in wedding cakes. Amultitude of options abound in allprice brackets.Prices for cakes begin at a setrate per slice. Intricacy of the decorationsand choice of filling are additional.Designing a cake <strong>is</strong> like creatinga work of art. Hovsep Sarkhoshian,owner of Maral’s Pastryin Van Nuys, says that a cake for250 people can take, once the base<strong>is</strong> completed and depending onthe amount of detail in the decor,about four hours of work per dayfor two days.Sark<strong>is</strong> Kolanjian of Sark<strong>is</strong> Pastry(which has branches in Glendale,Pasadena, and Anaheim) says thatpopular choices in cake filling fluctuatewith changing trends. In thepast couple of years, the heightenedfervor for coffee drinks hasmade mocha a popular choice forwedding cake filling.But other filling choices abound,ranging from custard with roastedhazelnut (to add warmth to a coolwinter wedding) to fresh strawberriesfor summer weddings.The amount of art<strong>is</strong>try incorporatedinto a cake also affects itsprice tag. While toppings like aminiature replica of the bride andgroom has always been a popularchoice, there’s no limit to whatcake art<strong>is</strong>ts can use: everythingfrom fresh orchids to sugared flowersand marzipan creations.CostcoWhy not? The cakes are inexpensiveand serve large crowds. Costcohas made a name for itself basedon quality and quantity. While cakeart<strong>is</strong>try may not be their strength,you can be guaranteed a tasty cakewithout a hefty price tag.Maral’s PastryTh<strong>is</strong> mom and pop bakery locatedin the San Fernando Valley may besmall but offerings are plenty. Pricesbegin at $2 per person. Tastingsare available on request. Requestsmust be made three-four weeks inadvance.17654 Vanowen St.Van Nuys, California 91406(818) 705-8921www.maralspastry.comSark<strong>is</strong> PastryWith three locations in SouthernCalifornia, Sark<strong>is</strong> Pastry will becelebrating its 25th anniversaryth<strong>is</strong> year. Tastings are available onrequest. Prices begin at $1.50 perperson. Requests must be made atleast two weeks in advance.111 S. Glendale Ave.Glendale, California 91205(818) 956-66361776 E. Washington Blvd.Pasadena, California 91104(626) 398-39992424 Ball Rd.Anaheim, California 92804(714) 995-666Shimmeringin pearl dust,sparkling withSwarovskicrystals, andtowering oncustom wroughtiron stands, VeryDifferent Cakesoffer works ofart that havereceived mediaattentionfrom high-endwedding andstyle magazines.Very Different CakesTammy Massman-Johnson’s VeryDifferent Cakes specializes in customcreations that incorporateSwarovski rhinestones. Designs includesparkling monograms, hearts,and flowers. Massman-Johnsonalso collaborates with bakers andevent coordinators in helping customizeexqu<strong>is</strong>ite crystal art<strong>is</strong>try forthe wedding cake. Tastings are offeredon an appointment-only bas<strong>is</strong>.Prices range from $10 to $15 perslice, with a minimum $500 order.Requests must be made at least sixweeks in advance.www.verydifferentcakes.cominfo@verydifferentcakes.comA little more sweetnessSo you’re standing with your newspouse in front of a group of familyand friends who are all eager fordessert. Now what?One of the first acts for a newlymarried couple <strong>is</strong> to cut the caketogether, as a symbol of unity. Thenthe bride and groom feed the firstslice to each other. And in the processif a little – or let’s just say maybea lot – gets smeared on someone’sface, remember the vows youtook. You’re in it together now – forbetter or worse!And finallyWhile the wedding festivities maycome to an end, the memory of theoccasion can be relived with a littlemore sweetness exactly a year later,by freezing the top tier of the cakeuntil the couple’s first wedding anniversary.And while you’re at it, why notmake a mini celebration? Lightsome candles, uncork a bottle ofbubbly, bring out that cake, andlet the taste and scent bring backmemories of that special day! f
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