The SFA Hall of Fame
Honoring long-serving members of the specialty food community for their achievements and impact 
2016 Hall of Fame award winner

Jack Kalajian

Near East
2016
Hall of Fame

Kalajian's parents, George and Hannah, emigrated from Armenia to Worcester, MA in 1940, bringing a love of the region's food, including rice pilaf, fragrant with currants and cinnamon. The preparation of pilaf is almost an art, and Hannah Kalajian made it so well that she created Near East. Her son Jack served as president.