FRESNO — On a quiet Saturday morning, the kitchen of St. Paul Armenian Church was transformed into a scene of nostalgia and flour-dusted determination as 42 women gathered for a masterclass in the art of the Armenian kurabia cookie. Sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Conservancy, the workshop is a part of a year-long celebration of the organization’s 10th Anniversary preserving the story of Armenians in the Central Valley.
Led by Julianne (Marashian) Burk of Jul’s Armenian Kitchen, the event centered on the melt-in-your-mouth kurabia recipe shared by Armen Bacon. Burk, a Fresno native who returned home after decades on the East Coast and abroad, shared that her path to the perfect cookie was paved with persistence.
“What an amazing day,” said Armenian Cultural Conservancy Board member Mary Ekmalian. “Our heartfelt thanks to Julianne for sharing her expertise and to all those who helped make this a successful event. It is precisely these types of gatherings that fulfill our mission to preserve and celebrate our rich Western Armenian culture.”
Burk describes the kurabia recipe as “a wild bird she was attempting to capture,” highlighting her philosophy to “try, try again and have fun in the process.” For Burk, the workshop was about more than just baking; it was about reclaiming the “missing editorials” of ancestral cooking that standard cookbooks often omit.
Following the demonstration, participants enjoyed a lunch of lentil soup and freshly made kurabia, served on tables decorated with Burk’s own vintage tablecloths and yellow lilies. Each attendee left with the kurabia recipe—complete with the chef’s detailed editorial notes—and the recipe for the afternoon’s soup.
The workshop concluded with a “mission accomplished” sentiment from the crowd, many of whom are already looking forward to the next session. For those looking to share their own culinary secrets or seeking a “different perspective” on Armenian home cooking, Burk remains a fixture in the Fresno community, balancing her recipe revival with her professional consulting practice.
