About Our Dad’s Chicago Marinade

“IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DAD”

LEON DEMERDJIAN

January 31, 1937 – May 17, 2017

Our Dad was born in Beirut where his family settled after fleeing the Armenian genocide. As a teenager, he made his way to the U.S. through Canada, with the intent on furthering his education by enrolling in an engineering program at what is now the University of Illinois at Chicago. His formal schooling ended and in 1960 he worked as an orderly for Wesley Hospital, now Northwestern Memorial in Chicago where he met the love of his life, Marjorie Segelstrom. Marjorie was head nurse at Wesley and they soon married in 1963. They were married for 50 years and had four beautiful children.  Marji died in 2014. 

Dad teamed up with this brother, Arsen and began their first restaurant in 1964 in Chicago, Illinois, as the Auto Grill, a place near a row of car dealers around Irving Park Road and Western Avenue that served shots and beers and simple sandwiches. As this restaurant was their stepping stone, they learned there what not to do and after two years, opened the first Sayat Nova after the famous poet and musician on North Sheridan Road.  Shortly after that, the brothers closed that and in 1970, a second Sayat Nova was born downtown Chicago on Ohio Street which is now operated by Arsen’s son. Leon’s brother Arsen died in 2013. 

It was then Dad’s famous chicken marinade was born.  In 1977, our Dad opened his own Sayat Nova in Des Plaines, IL.   With his tradition of quality, this dish quickly became a well-known favorite of many. Made with only the freshest ingredients, it was sure to please, and has won the hearts of those who have tasted it time and time again. It has set the standard to be the perfect compliment to chicken, shrimp, pork chops and many more dishes.  Dad would always say “I never served my customers anything I didn’t like”.  Anyone who knew Dad, always said “He was a great storyteller who sometimes drifted into telling jokes and always smiling”. Those who knew Leon Demerdjian respected him for his forever love and dedication to his beloved wife and children, his brutal honesty, and ongoing love for his customers. Our Dad embraced his friends, employees and customers inviting them to be a part of his family.  His eagerness to please his customers was always his first priority.

Dad retired from Sayat Nova in 1999 and helped out at Raffi’s Restaurant in Naperville to pass the time. His love for the restaurant never ended.  After decades of customers requests, Dad decided to bottle the marinade and in April 2010, the first production of Our Dad’s Chicago Marinade was launched.  He was so excited to help us market his great creation at the Naperville farmer’s market at the 5th avenue station in front of Raffi’s restaurant. After just 4 months, the marinade was a hit and selling like hot cakes. With the savory smell of the chicken kebobs on the grill and his famous rice pilaf, the people would gather around to taste the delicious chicken kebob samples and rice pilaf.  He was so happy and excited smiling from ear to ear when people said “this is the best chicken marinade I have ever tasted”.   He was finally complete that his creation was on the market and proud that his children will keep his dream alive.

Our Dad’s beautiful spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him and we hope to continue to carry on his legacy for years to come. 

The great Maya Angelou said ” people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”… AND that was OUR DAD……..

Our Dad’s Chicago Marinade is featured at The Hyatt Regency, Schaumburg, IL, Casey’s Foods Naperville, IL and Sages Meat Market, Oswego, IL.

Enjoy!!!!

With Love,

Nadia Demerdjian

Joanne DeGennaro