Life & Work with Asatryan Lara

Today we’d like to introduce you to Asatryan Lara.

Hi Asatryan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1989, my family migrated from Armenia to the US, bringing with them numerous traditions from our homeland. In August of ’91, I was born. While my father worked full-time and my mother went to college, my grandparents helped raise me. My grandmother always sat me down at the kitchen table or on the kitchen counter while she cooked and baked for the whole family. From the basics of measurements to using kitchen tools and taste testing. I was in the greatest environment anyone could ever ask for. As I got older, my love for cooking grew with me. I started perfecting and building my recipes and sharing my love for others through food. Food became my love language. One day, it clicked: I could share this with the world! With the inspiration of someone dear, I decided to bring the idea to life! Hearing and seeing the satisfaction in their eyes, I couldn’t be any more confident that this was my calling. Here we are a few years later, and we are shipping goodies all over the US! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were times in the beginning when I was scared to share outside of my direct contacts, but with practice and self-discipline, I was able to overcome those obstacles. Yes, of course, others make the same items, with years of public advertisement, are more known to the public, but I will not give up. My grandmother recently passed away in August ’23 a few days before my birthday, but her love for me gave me unimaginable strength to do even more bigger and greater things. She taught me to never give up and if ever I doubted myself and felt weak, to take a step aside, breathe, regain my focus, and continue. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a full-time Administrative Support Coordinator in the Civil Engineering department at California State University of Los Angeles. For any event or on holidays, colleagues know that I will be the coworker walking in with bags for a feast. I send home goodies with my department colleagues to share with their families. Always having the family together at the same table, eating great food, and spending time with each other has been my goal in life. Being very family-oriented, always staying positive, and smiling were traits that my grandmother had, and I always wanted to be as great as her. She was the matriarch of the family. Her legacy will always live inside me. 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Both my parents are artists. My father is a graduate of the Art Institute in Armenia. My mother also has a passion for art but is a graduate of FIDM. I grew up in a household where all forms of art were a part of daily life, but I found the significance of art in food. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delish_manti_la/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/delish-manti-la-glendale