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The Rug Guys' Favorite Holiday Recipe..Stuffed Grape Leaves

I have many passions. Family is first. Rugs have clearly been a big part of my life. Cooking great food comes in a close third. I have had many ask me for our family recipe for Armenian Grape Leaves (Yalanchi).

Here it is.

Yalanchi (Armenian Stuffed Grape Leaves)

 “In our home, nothing says ‘Holidays’ like yalanchi.”

This is a traditional Armenian recipe that my wife, Karen and I have adapted. The tenderness of the grape leaves makes a big difference. We prefer locally picked and bottled leaves that you may be lucky enough to find at Armenian Church bazaars, but commercially packed Yergat California leaves usually are fine.

 Ingredients:

     4 c   finely chopped sweet onions (vidalias are best)

2/3  c   fine quality olive 

   2  c   Carolina or other short grain rice

1 ½ c   water

  6  oz. tomato paste (small can)

  ½  c   fresh lemon juice

   1  c   pine nuts, lightly toasted

 1  c     raisins

 1  c     chopped parsley  

 ½  t     allspice

 ½  t     salt

 ½  t     freshly ground pepper

 1 qt.    Grape leaves (about 50)

Heat the oil and sauté the onions until tender and translucent. Do not let them brown. Add the rice, water, tomato paste, ¼ C lemon juice, nuts, and raisins and simmer over low heat until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and add parsley, allspice, salt and pepper. Mix well and allow to reach room temperature.

 Remove leaves from jar and rinse them in fresh running water. Chose a few of the larger leaves to line the bottom of a heavy bottomed stock pot.

 Remove the stem and place the each grape leaf right side down, vein side up. Depending on the size of the leaf, put about 1 tablespoon of the prepared filling at the stem end, turn sides in and roll. Line them up close together in the pot, forming layers. Add the remaining lemon juice and enough water to cover. 

 Place a large plate on top as a weight to keep the layers in place while they cook. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook at a low simmer for about 1 hour. Most or all of the liquid will be absorbed.  If there is remaining liquid, drain it off. Let cool uncovered in the pan. Remove to shallow plate, garnish with thin lemon slices, cover, and refrigerate.

 They will last in the refrigerator for a week or more… if they last!

We're offering ASID CEU credits

The seminars that Sy and I are giving in Atlanta are not only fun and informative, but also ASID accredited. It is a great opportunity to satisfy your continuing education requirements and enjoy the great restaurants in Atlanta.

Check them out-

Does Selling Oriental Rugs Have You Tied in Knots?

Are You Pushing Your Customers to the Competition?

We're speaking in Atlanta in January

My partner Sy Mahfuz and I are very excited about the seminars that we are presenting at The AMERICASMART National Oriental Rug Show on January 7. These really have value for anyone for both retailers and design professionals who appreciate the art of Oriental Rugs.

Check them out:

Does Selling Oriental Rugs Have You Tied in Knots?

Are You Pushing Your Customers to the Competition?

Jewelry needs to be Appraised…so do Oriental Rugs

As is true for jewelry, appraising Oriental rugs is a highly-skilled task, best done by someone with specific in-depth knowledge of the factors that contribute to their value.

With the hundreds of fine rugs that we clean each year, we are often asked for advice on appraising Hand Knotted Oriental rugs that are in for service. Why would you need to know the value of a rug? It is usually for one of these reasons:

Individuals

• You’re Buying – You see a rug for sale privately or through a dealer, and want to make sure the price is fair. A reputable and reasonable seller will not resist a third-party appraisal.
• For Insurance – You either need to know what the value is in order to pay the proper premium, or to collect on a loss.
• You’ve Inherited – You might keep it, you might sell it. Either way, knowing its value is important, for tax and insurance purposes, or to make sure you get what it’s worth.
• You’re Selling – What about that rug you bought for your first apartment, the one that doesn’t fit your current décor? Is it worth selling or trading, or has it become a mover’s blanket?
  
• 
  

Insurance Professionals

A comprehensive, accurate and impartial appraisal is critical in situations such as:

• Substantiating claims in cases of stated versus actual value with regard to antique, art-quality or trend-dependent rugs
• Determining valuation under dispute in major loss scenarios when many rugs are involved, especially at a store or warehouse
• Deciding whether a rug partially damaged by fire, flood or another insurable cause must be replaced, or if it can be cleaned and repaired, and still keep its value

Trusts & Estates

As an attorney or executor to your fiduciary obligations in trust and estate situations, you may require a Certified Appraisal to determine the real worth of rugs so that they can be confidently passed on, sold outright or valued for auction.

Appraising Oriental rugs is a highly-skilled task, best done by someone with specific in-depth knowledge of the factors that contribute to their value. If you have any questions, contact me directly at www.meraconsulting.com

Watch for our upcoming post, “What Determines the Value of an Oriental Rug?”

Never a better Time

In 35 years I have never seen a time in the rug business where there was as wide a variety of great hand made rugs at great deals. Now is the time to pull the trigger.

Professionals Dealing with Professionals

We recently presented a seminar for a group of Amica Property Adjusters. We, of course, spoke about the basics of adjusting claims involving High Value Oriental Rugs. More important however was our discussion about the importance of professional Adjusters working with professional Appraisal and Damage Mitigation Experts.
If you are either an Oriental Rug appraiser or professional Insurance adjuster Iwould like your thoughts on how this partnership can be strengthened.

Article online at This Old House magazine

If you are starting a search this could be helpful.
www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,203414,00.html

A lot has Changed

Over the past 30 years so much has changed in what we see, where we see it and how much it costs when it comes to Oriental Rugs. At one time quality was king when it came to value. Now color and style rule. This makes valuation of rugs a real art. Don't get fooled by inflated values. If you ever suffer a loss and an expert is called in you only get what the rug is worth in the prevailing market with all of its style quirks.

Specialty Rug Retailers vs. Large Chains

All too often we hear traditional retailers moaning about competing with the large chains and the internet. The key is to have a smarter sales team who is not preoccupied with the competition but rather prepares themselves to become the competition