Arapian ( el, Αραπιάν) is a famed pastourma and soutzouki

charcuterie Charcuterie ( , also ; ; from french: chair, , flesh, label=none, and french: cuit, , cooked, label=none) is a French term for a branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, ''galantines'', ''balloti ...

business and market in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

.
See als
alternative link
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and
alternative link from the Internet Archive
br> The market has been in operation since 1935. Arapian, as well as its neighbour Miran Pastourma, are considered two of the historical establishments of Athens.
Το αλλαντικό των μερακλήδων Δύο αρμένικες οικογένειες διατηρούν την παράδοση στον παστουρμά Ρεπορτάζ: Θόδωρος Νικολάου thnikolaou@dolnet.gr Publication date: Τρίτη 21 Ιουλίου 2009
quote: "Arapian's Pastourma has been on the same spot in Euripidou Street since its opening in 1935." and "Ο παππούς όταν ήρθε στην Αθήνα το '22 από την Καισαρεία έφτιαχνε παστουρμά στο σπίτι και τον πουλούσε με το καροτσάκι στην Βαμβάκειο." Ta Nea

History

The company was founded in 1935 by Sarkis Arapian, an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

refugee who escaped his native

Kayseri Kayseri (; el, Καισάρεια) is a large Industrialisation, industrialised List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. The Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality area is comp ...

during the

Asia Minor Catastrophe Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. He eventually managed to settle in

and opened a pastourma and soutzouki charcuterie on 41 Euripidou Street. In 1965, Sarkis Arapian appointed Dimitris Theodoropoulos as his business partner. The shop is currently in its third generation of management, as it remains in the hands of the Theodoropoulos family, which is now managed by Dimitris's son Fanis. The size of the shop is currently 15 m². Under the management of Fanis Theodoropoulos, the company has moved its production facilities in

Prosotsani Prosotsani ( el, Προσοτσάνη, until 1925: el, Προσωτσάνη - ''Prosotsani'', from 1925 until 1940: el, Πυρσόπολις - ''Pyrsopolis'') is a municipality and town within the municipality located in the western part of the ...

Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

beneath the

Falakro Falakro Oros (Greek: Φαλακρό όρος, translated in English as: "Bald mountain"; bg, Боздаг, ''Bozdag''; Turkish: ''Bozdağ'', translated in English as: "Gray mountain") is a mountain in the Drama regional unit, eastern Greek Mac ...

mountains in order to be surrounded by a more natural environment. In an interview with ''

Kathimerini ''Kathimerini'' (Greek: Η Καθημερινή, pronounced kaθimeriˈni meaning ''The Daily'') is a daily, political and financial morning newspaper published in Athens. Its first edition was printed on September 15, 1919. and it is considered ...

'', Fanis Theodoropoulos mentions that he tries to design new products for the younger generation and also introduce them to the traditional products that their parents consumed. Ταξίδι στο παρελθόν μέσα από τις μυρωδιές της Ευριπίδου
Του Αποστολου Λακασα

Reception

''I Kathimerini'' praises Arapian for the quality products and good service. The paper describes the company's produce as excellent snacks for connoisseurs and also mentions that Arapian uses no preservatives for its products. Kathimerini
''Γεύσεις για μερακλήδες'' Mουστάρδα από τη Σκωτία, κονφί από τη Γαλλία και μια αγκαλιά νοστιμιές από την Ελλάδα για τους φίλους των εκλεκτών προϊόντων ΤΟΥ ΑΓΓΕΛΟΥ ΡΕΝΤΟΥΛΑ, ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ: ΑΚΗΣ ΟΡΦΑΝΙΔΗΣ A Christmas article from the paper titled "The ritual of pastourmas" mentions that Arapian's pastourma is a

sine qua non ''Sine qua non'' (, ) or ''condicio sine qua non'' (plural: ''condiciones sine quibus non'') is an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient. It was originally a Latin legal term for " conditionwithout which it could not be" ...

for a Christmas table and that the annual "pilgrimage" to the store is on their agenda, remarking on Arapian's old-recipe pastourma, cut in thin, almost transparent slices with or without fat.Η τελετουργία του παστουρμά (The pastourma ritual)
Kathimerini Το καλάθι των εορτών Nόστιμες προτάσεις για το χριστουγεννιάτικο τραπέζι ΤΟΥ ΑΓΓΕΛΟΥ ΡΕΝΤΟΥΛΑ, ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ: ΑΚΗΣ ΟΡΦΑΝΙΔΗΣ '' Lifo'' magazine praises the quality of the Arapian products and the care for selecting the ingredients and meat which come from various locations in Greece. The variety and flavour of the products is also praised as "reminiscent of another era" which are guaranteed to please the consumer.Lifo magazine
17.7.2012 12:41 ''Lifo'' marks out both Arapian and Miran Pastourma as the market's best sources for such speciality meats.Βαρβάκειος Αγορά Το στομάχι της πόλης
Η ΓΕΥΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΘΗΝΑΣ 17.7.2012 12:41 ''Lifos Νiki Mitarea calls green-

pea soup Pea soup or split pea soup is soup made typically from dried peas, such as the split pea. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is most often greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of pea ...

with Arapian's sausage and

fried egg A fried egg, also known as sunny-side up is a cooked dish made from one or more eggs which are removed from their shells and placed into a frying pan and fried. They are traditionally eaten for breakfast in many countries but may also be serv ...

, served at restaurants in Athens, a "classic dish". Trapezaria Κριτική Γεύσης Από τη Νίκη Μηταρέα
Ξεχωριστές ελληνικές νοστιμιές για μερακλήδες με γούστο και άποψη. Gastronomos online calls the same dish a "tasty dynamite for gourmets".Gastronomos online
According to an article by ''

Athens Voice ''Athens Voice'' is a media company that includes the printed Athens Voice paper, the digital publication athensvoice.gr, the radio station Athens Voice Radio 102,5 and Athens Voice Books. Overview The Athens Voice paper is a free press weekly ...

'', Arapian is famous for its Eastern delicacies. The article finds the aged cheese of Xanthi, sold at Arapian's, to be at the top of the taste scale and makes similar evaluations for the pastourma, goat sausage, soutzouki and kavourma. It is also mentioned that Fanis Theodoropoulos provides his customers with gourmet-related advice. Αραπιάν με τ’ όνομα! (Arapian the famous)
from Athens voice Arapian's offers free tasting of food samples of their products. ''Athens Voice'' ranks Arapian's tasting service as the best in Athens and its readers are advised to "consume responsibly". Athens Voice Best of Athens
"Το καλύτερο δοκιμαστήριο-πριν-αγοράσεις Στο Αραπιαν, στη Κεντρική Αγορά από το 1935. Δοκιμάζετε παστουρμά, σουτζούκι, παλιωμένο κασέρι, λουκάνικο γίδας, καβουρμά, ακούτε τις γαστρονομικές συμβουλές των απολαυστικών ιδιοκτητών και αγοράζετε πια στα σίγουρα τη γκουρμεδιά που αποφασίσατε. Καταναλώστε υπεύθυνα. (Ευριπίδου 41)." Arapian's ''louza'' or ''loutza'', a kind of sausage made of pork

sirloin In American butchery, the sirloin steak (called the ''rump steak'' in British butchery) is cut from the sirloin, the subprimal posterior to the short loin where the T-bone, porterhouse, and club steaks are cut. The sirloin is actually di ...

found in the

Cyclades The Cyclades (; el, Κυκλάδες, ) are an island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The nam ...

and also

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

, and ''apaki'' smoked sausage made of pork

marinated Marinating is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origin of the word alludes to the use of brine (''aqua marina'' or sea water) in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor b ...

vinegar Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation, converting simple sugars to et ...

and a traditional

Cretan Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

sausage, are on the list of recommended products by ''Kathimerini''. Μανιτάρια πορτομπέλο φουρνιστά με σπανάκι, λούτζα και τυρί Από τη Μυρσίνη Λαμπράκη
Επιμέλεια - food styling: Τίνα Webb, Styling: Alice Bean Bοηθός food stylist: Αλεξάνδρα Τασουνίδου, Φωτογραφίες: Γιώργος Δρακόπουλος Kathimerini Internationally, Arapian's store is featured in

Jamie Oliver James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants. Oliver reache ...

's cookbook ''Jamie does... Spain, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Greece, France'' where the

Naked chef James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants. Oliver reache ...

is seen, in a two-page spread, posing in front of the store.

Products

Arapian currently serves the following products:gastronomos online
24.06.2011 Κείμενο Γεωργία Ζαβιτσάνου "Σε έκθεση Σερραϊκών προιόντων που έγινε πριν από λίγο καιρό στο Σύνταγμα δοκίμασα τον καβουρμά «Χασαπάκι» από 100% βουβαλίσιο κρέας." Ελάτε για ένα κρασί Τυριά και αλλαντικά από έλληνες παραγωγούς
ΔΗΜΟΣΙΕΥΣΗ: 24/01/2013 11:49 *Petalo (horseshoe) soutzouki *Kaftero soutzouki (hot spicy) *Boiled soutzouki. *''Rahi'' Pastourma *Soutzouki ''Karamandlika'' *''Leg'' Pastourma *

Corfu Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...

noumboulo of

Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetian and the like may also refer to: * Venetian language, a Romance language s ...

origin made by the Corfiote charcuterie. *Greek and foreign salami *Louza from

Tinos Tinos ( el, Τήνος ) is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. The closest islands are Andros, Delos, and Mykonos. It has a land area of and a 2011 census population of 8,636 inhabitants. Tinos ...

*Bison meat *Kavourmas *Handmade cured meat from

Drama, Greece Drama ( el, Δράμα ) is a city and municipality in Macedonia, northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the regional unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace region. The city (pop. 55.593 2021 censuis the economic cen ...

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

soutzouki cured in air *Old caseri cheese from

Xanthi Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi (regional unit), Xanthi regional unit of the modern regions of Greece, region of East Macedonia and Thrace. A ...

pastourma pie *Kavourmas chasapaki (little butcher) from

Serres Sérres ( el, Σέρρες ) is a city in Macedonia, Greece, capital of the Serres regional unit and second largest city in the region of Central Macedonia, after Thessaloniki. Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers of Northe ...

*Cheese in oil from

Zakynthos Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; el, Ζάκυνθος, Zákynthos ; it, Zacinto ) or Zante (, , ; el, Τζάντε, Tzánte ; from the Venetian form) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Za ...

*Pastourmadela (a combination of pastourma and

mortadella Mortadella () is a large Italian cuisine, Italian sausage or luncheon meat (''salumi, salume'' ) made of finely hashed or ground heat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat (principally the hard fat from the neck o ...

) *Apaki smoked sausage marinated in vinegar

Awards

*2010-2011 Award of Distinction from Gourmet magazine

References

{{Reflist, 2 Greek businesspeople Greek people of Armenian descent Economy of Athens Food and drink companies of Greece

History

Reception

Products

Awards

See also

References