MÄNI'S BLOG CAFÉ
Your café on the web for current information about delicious, healthier versions of traditional foods for the health conscious connisseur.
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01.29.06
Los Angeles is a big city, with a lot of radio stations, public and private. But the world is small when it comes to the stations in Los Angeles that connect back with the large community. KCRW, based at Santa Monica College, has been providing over 450,000 Angelenos with news and music on a weekly basis. We at Mani's are huge supporters of KCRW and NPR public radio stations. For many years now, Mani's has supported their pledge drives by donating food to their volunteers. In addition to that, we donate Mani's Cards for new or renewing subscribers of KCRW to win during the pledge drive. And, of course, KCRW members receive a discount at the Mani's Bakery Cafe, Fairfax restaurant. We are currently accepting Orange and Light Blue fringe benefit cards. We strongly urge all of our customers who listen to NPR or KCRW to show their support for this wonderful station, and to keep Public Radio going. Thanks! Carl Avery, General Manager
01.26.06
We’re excited to introduce our new and improved website, scheduled to launch before Valentine’s Day. The site will feature our Blog Café, Morsel Newsletter, Menu, FAQ, and much more. Stay tuned! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s never too soon to start thinking about sharing a dessert from Mäni’s with someone special - Truffle Heart Cookies & Cakes, Mandle Heart Cakes & Raspberry Cakes. YUM! Our Soup Menu is scheduled to change next week. From January 30th until February 12th,
the restaurant will be serving the following soups (made fresh daily): Monday CHICKEN NOODLE
Ingredients: Chicken broth, Chicken Breast, Onions, Carrots, Celery, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Chives, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Egg Noodles. Tuesday LAST WINTER MARBLE SOUP
Ingredients: Vegetable Stock, Butternut Squash, Onions, Celery, Sweet Potatoes, Sea Salt, Black pepper, Yams, Fruit Reduction, Balsamic Vinegar, Red Beets. Wednesday TOMATO LENTIL DELUX
Ingredients: Vegetable stock, Green lentils, Cilantro, Celery, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Onions, Tomatoes, garlic, Canola Oil, Sea salt, Black Pepper, Baby Spinach. Thursday POTATO LEEK
Ingredients: Vegetable stock, Potatoes, Leeks, Canola Oil, Onions, Oregano, Thyme, Garlic, Sea Salt, Black pepper, Roll Oats. Friday THREE BEAN SOUP
Ingredients: Vegetable Sock, Canola Oil, Small Navy, Green Split Pea, Black Eyed, Carrots, Celery, Butternut Squash, Parsley, Basil, Garlic, Dill, Sea Salt, Black pepper. Saturday JULIO’S ENCHILADA SOUP
Ingredients: Vegetable Sock, Canola Oil, Garlic, Pinto Beans, Onions, Kalamata Olives, Peeled Tomatoes, Organic Yellow Corn Tortillas, Enchilada Sauce, Cilantro, Sea Salt Black pepper, Organic Tofu. Sunday BLACK BEAN SOUP
Ingredients: Vegetable Sock, Canola Oil, Tomatoes, Black Beans, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Garlic, Cumin, Cilantro, Cayenne Pepper, Jalapeno Pepper, Chili Pepper, Chili Powder. All of our soups with the exception of Chicken Noodle are Vegan.
01.25.06
You may have read the recent article Carl posted regarding the re-programming of our telephone system. When you call Mäni’s on Fairfax at: 323 938-8800 you will now hear more precise options. You’ll be able to get to a team member faster. Please let us know if you like these changes. Are there other areas where you’d like to see a change? Let us know. We hope you appreciate our new livlier color scheme and new lighting fixtures in the restaurant. By the time you read this we’ll have changed the color again on the south wall where we had and will re-hang our historical photos. We decided to do this because of your feedback. The new color is deeper and warmer. We’d like to know how you like this improvement. Remember there are many ways to contact us as you read our blog. You can click on the author’s name which is hyper-linked. That will send you email directly to the author here at Mäni’s. You can call us, or of course you can write a comment on the article posted. Thanks for blogging with us! Larry
01.24.06
Thanks to John Trosko for the question about what bakery items were new in 2005. Here is the low-down: 1. Our number one new item is our Maplized Granola - this granola is amazing, with a variety of healthy ingredients including pumpkin seeds, organic rolled outs, pecans, almonds and lightly sweetened with organic maple syrup. 2. We have several new gluten free items - A Raisin Scone made with agave syrup, almond meal and brown rice flour. And a Blue Corn muffin, with brown rice flour, lightly sweetened with fruit juice reduction. 3. Putting country tradition into the bakery case, we added a Cherry Danish, which, I must say is really quite tasty. 4. We have a new cookie which has been a huge hit. The Chewy Ginger Snap is a combination of organic evaporated cane sugar, and dark agave syrup (which has the flavor of molasses). Spiced like a ginger snap, this cookie is chewy and snappy! Those are the highlights of the bakery. Thanks! Carl Avery
01.24.06
A lot happened in 2005. Significant changes occurred in our menu, our staff, and the space. From several menu overhauls, to our new chef, Mäni’s continues to change in order to provide a better experience for our customers. On the menu, we expanded our Vegan and Vegetarian options. We added Tofu Substitutions for almost any menu item; Tofu Steak for Sandwiches and Salads, and a marinated High Protein Tofu substitution for eggs. We began using new ingredients, like Nutritional Yeast, Tamari, and Wheat Germ to bring our menu to the next level and further incorporate our mission of offering healthier versions of traditional foods. In November, we began small, but significant visual changes in the front. New furniture, new paint (which was again modified this weekend), and new colors. We always invite your feedback on any of our changes. Because so many guests asked if they could buy our new teapots, we decided to being selling them at the store. They’re on the shelves with our new fruit butters, teas, coffees and granola. Of course, changes are ongoing. Everyday, because of your support and input, we tweak and incorporate new ideas. If there is something you would like to tell us, let me know personally, or fill out a comment card. We appreciate your feedback tremendously. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers! - Carl Avery, General Manager
01.23.06
The new paint job finished in Phase Two. In November we repainted. Shortly thereafter, with the bright glow of the morning and afternoon sun, we realized a need to darken it up a little, and soften the bright glow of yellow on our big wall. And we also needed a new look outside, so we chose a Chocolate Brown. Makes me think of all the dipped cookies and the Truffle Heart! Well, we did it. We hope the space feels much more peaceful. Let us know what you think.
01.22.06
New phone system, no waiting, no crazy extensions. Pure and simple, like us! Just dial in to 323-938-8800, and hit 3 for the front counter, 4 for location, or 5 for delivery. Thanks for being so patient.
01.18.06
Recently a customer asked us, what’s the difference between the Mäni’s on Fairfax and the one on Main Street. So here’s the answer: In 2000 Mäni’s on Fairfax, the original Mäni’s, owned and operated by its co-founder, sold the Main Street business to a gentleman who wanted to operate that location as a Mäni’s licensee. He was a qualified food service operator. However since that time the business was sold two more times. The current owners are contractually bound to purchase our bakery goods and not sell any other bakery’s products in order to use our trade name, Mäni’s. All the food they prepare in their kitchen for their restuarant is un-guided by us. Besides the above the owners of Mäni’s on Fairfax are passionate about delivering food that’s good and good for you. We take the time to work with our Chef and team of bakers to design food that’s healthier and then take the time to manage our menus, display cases, run this blog site, re-design our website, etc. We’ve been doing so since 1989. Yes, the biggest single difference is definately the passion.
01.10.06
In a recent tip on RealAge.com there’s information about Capsaicin, the stuff in chili peppers that gives them heat. Here’s what RealAge.com has to say: Capsaicin, the compound in chili peppers that gives them their heat, may help protect against liver cancer, according to a recent study in which capsaicin helped kill cancerous liver cells. Use hot salsa made with chili peppers to flavor your favorite foods, such as omelets, mixed vegetable dishes, and burritos. It’s the white flesh around the seeds where the heat resides. Read more about capsaicin here.
01.09.06
I grew up, or at least from the age of 10, in a small town in Pennsylvania. Having lived in Austin, TX, Laramie, WY, and then State College, PA, it was a huge change of pace, scenery and lifestyle. My mother had grown up in State College, around the same age as me, and then moved away, at the same age I moved away. So we shared alot of childhood experiences. One of them being our once or twice monthly trips to Way Fruit Farm. It’s about a half hour ride into the country, on a curvy road with a few hills that make your stomach drop when you went over the crest. Year round there are apples. Seasonally, they have everything else you can imagine. We would comb the fields in June to pick strawberries. Get cider in the fall. And every visit, I would look through the jams, and fruit butters, and when i needed it, I would always settle on the Apple Butter.  Looking back, its funny that I always picked the jams and spreads that didn’t have sugar, but relied purely on the sweetness of fruit. I never thought at the time, how that inclination would become so important in my life, now that I am at Mäni’s.  I have a great appreciation for small businesses, and the passion they put into their products. And because it was part of my childhood, I think highly of them. This Apple Butter is perfect. It isn’t too sweet, and it is amazing on any toast. I am sure there are dozens of ways you could use it. You can find the Apple Butter on our shelves, next to a few other fruit butters and our Maplized Granola. Maybe you can share your own ideas with us!
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