Pantry · Worcester, Massachusetts
Near East Foods
Boxed rice pilaf and couscous that began in an Armenian family's kitchen.
- Founded
- 1962
- Founded by
- George Kalajian, Hannah Kalajian
- Based in
- Worcester, Massachusetts
Their story
George and Hannah Kalajian came to the United States from Armenia and opened a grocery store in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1940. Hannah added a lunch counter, and her roast chicken and Armenian-style rice pilaf became the draw.
Customers wanted the pilaf at home, so Hannah began packing the mix by hand in her kitchen. In 1962 the family made it a business, and Near East grew from there into a pantry staple across the country. The brand is now part of a large food company, with its products made in modern facilities.
How it's made
The mixes pair grains like rice and couscous with seasoning blends built on herbs and spices, following the approach Hannah used for the original pilaf. Most Near East products are certified kosher.
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Shop Near East Foods
2 in stock
She brought the old world to the new world when it came to her relationship with food.
Why we carry them
We keep a box of the original rice pilaf around for busy weeknights. It is a family recipe that still holds up.
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