MÄNI'S BAKERY CAFÉ

02.27.06

Balanced Living 1.2

It’s Oscar time in Los Angeles. It’s the time when all of the most successful movies of the last year, are up for the industries most sought after awards. 

Every year there are films that challenge the way we think about life and society.  And there are films that move us, inspire us, and provide support for our lifestyles.  It is a time to look over what film has given us. 

And film, I must say, is a very powerful medium.  Like reading a book, the newspaper, an essay or a short story, film is important.  It’s important, because like Brokeback Mountain, film can bring forth some of the most monumental and global changes in social acceptance. 

It provides two of the many outlets necessary in our lives to maintaining balance; entertainment and communication.  The others, in my opinion, are how we choose to eat, drink, exercise, work, and play.  And there may be more.

This Sunday is also my good friend’s birthday.  So, like many other Angelinos, I will be joining an Oscar Party, and celebrating a birthday too.  And, I can guarantee you there will be dessert.  Not the kind that makes you fall asleep while listening to movie star’s acceptance speeches, rather, the kind with alternative sweeteners.  Of course, I mean our sweets at Mäni’s, where else could I go?

So, as we converse about the best films of last year, their social impact, and bring clarity to the screen, we consciously or unconsciously, are exercising some of our most important balancing acts. 

02.26.06

What's Your Favorite Item at Mäni's?

Most weekday mornings on my way to work I stop by Mäni’s to pick up my favorite item the Peach Turnover. If you’ve ever tried this wonderful breakfast pastry, you’d have to agree! Fresh juicy peaches contained in the most perfectly delicate crust. It’s so good, that the thought of it actually lifts me out of bed in the morning!



What’s your favorite item at Mäni’s? I’d love to hear!

02.24.06

The New Soup Menu!

Monday - CHICKEN NOODLE

Ingredients: Chicken broth, chicken breast, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, chives, sea salt, black pepper, egg noodles



Tuesday - TOMATO LENTIL

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, green lentils, cilantro, celery, cauliflower, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, garlic, canola oil, sea, salt, black pepper



Wednesday - JULIO’S ENCHILADA SOUP

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, canola oil, garlic, pinto beans, onions, kalamata olives, peeled tomatoes, organic yellow corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, cilantro, sea salt, black pepper

Thursday - YELLOW SPLIT & BLACK-EYED PEA SOUP

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, yellow split, black-eyed peas, onions, carrots, celery, parsley, dill, sea salt, black pepper



Friday - BLACK BEAN SOUP

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, canola oil, tomatoes, black beans, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, cilantro



Saturday - CREAM OF BROCCOLI

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, celery, onions, potatoes, broccoli, spinach, cashew cream, sea salt, black pepper, tamari



Sunday - CREAM OF MUSHROOMS

Ingredients: Vegetable stock, onions, mushrooms, garlic, sea salt, black pepper

02.23.06

Oscar Night at Mäni's: Vote and Win!

Here’s your chance to get in on the act.  Mäni’s on Fairfax invites you to cast your vote and pick the Oscar winners.  Our contest is limited to the major categories and if you pick 8 out of 8 winners, you’re a winner too! We’ll give you a $5 Mäni’s Card if you get a clean sweep.

Here’s how to play:

Review the list of categories and nominees below.  Then, click on the link that says “Comments” at the end of this article.  Type in your predictions for the winners and then click the “Submit” button.  Be sure to include your name and email address so we can contact you.

NOTE:  Everyone who picks all 8 winners will win a $5 Mäni’s Card so there could be multiple winners.

B A L L O T

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Capote”
Terrence Howard in “Hustle & Flow”
Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain”
Joaquin Phoenix in “Walk the Line”
David Strathairn in “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Judi Dench in “Mrs. Henderson Presents”
Felicity Huffman in “Transamerica”
Keira Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice”
Charlize Theron in “North Country”
Reese Witherspoon in “Walk the Line”

Achievement in directing
“Brokeback Mountain”, Ang Lee
“Capote”, Bennett Miller
“Crash”, Paul Haggis
“Good Night, and Good Luck”, George Clooney
“Munich”, Steven Spielberg

Best motion picture of the year
“Brokeback Mountain”
“Capote”
“Crash”
“Good Night, and Good Luck.”
“Munich”

Adapted screenplay
“Brokeback Mountain”
“Capote”
“The Constant Gardener”
“A History of Violence”
“Munich”

Original screenplay
“Crash”
“Good Night, and Good Luck.”
“Match Point”
“The Squid and the Whale”
“Syriana”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Junebug”
Catherine Keener in “Capote”
Frances McDormand in “North Country”
Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener”
Michelle Williams in “Brokeback Mountain”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
George Clooney in “Syriana”
Matt Dillon in “Crash”
Paul Giamatti in “Cinderella Man”
Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain”
William Hurt in “A History of Violence”

Invite your friends to vote!  Click on the Send to a Friend link below.  Maybe, if your friend wins, they’ll invite you to share a bite a Mäni’s with their Mani’s Card.

02.22.06

Academy Awards

If you’re thinking of having friends over on Sunday evening to watch the Awards, or if you’ve been invited to a friends to watch the show, you may want to check back here on our blog this Friday, February 24th....

02.21.06

New T-Shirts! Plus, Public Appearances....

Not a moment too soon after being in Vanity Fair’s Oscars Time guide to Los Angeles, Mani’s blog article on Vanity Fair’s Oscar insert did we appear in another publication.  Frontiers Magazine, the leading gay community magazine in Los Angeles, recently put out their 2006 “Good Eats” issue. 

I’m proud to report, that Mäni’s was listed as one of four top notch, natural and organic restaurants. Frontiers, over the last year or so, has revitalized their publication catering to a wider audience.  From guides to eating, to stories about opera singers, Frontiers is a great read.

And, if you want to share in our excitement, you can now buy our beautiful new t-shirts.  They are printed front and back on American Apparel shirts, sweatshop free apparel, and they sell for $18.  They are desinged by Kun Che, or UNO LA.  Kun Che is a friend of ours who took our concept and foundation, and turned them into a beautiful design of our different natural sweeteners.  If you can’t guess what the front of the t-shirt is, I’ll tell you when you stop by.
Thanks for all of your support.  Sincerely,
Carl Avery

02.15.06

February 15, 2006 Thank you for celebrating Valentine's Day at Mäni's on Fairfax

As soon as we opened yesterday, customers started preparing for the day by selecting their favorite items for that someone special.  Our team at the counter enjoyed the day and how excited everyone was to choose a mouth watering treat.

If you happened to miss out, you can always come by and pick up a chocolate truffle heart cookie, 363 days a year, 18 hours a day.  Apparently more people have been doing so. 

City Search just announced we were voted by Angelenos as #3 Best Dessert of 2005: “The city’s best “good for you” desserts--so good you might think you’re being bad.” Again, L.A., thanks for voting for your favorite, Mäni’s Bakery Cafe. 

Certainly being in Vanity Fair’s (Blog story on Vanity Fair) insert: Guide to A Perfect Day in L.A. didn’t hurt either.  And neither did being part of KCRW’s pledge drive challenge last week. 

And a quick preview of our next yummy project, our new Spring menu, coming in March.  You know we’ll update you on that!  In the meantime, breakfast, lunch, dinner and your favorite bakery items at Mäni’s on Fairfax.

And, now would be a great time to let us know of any changes, additions, feedback on our menu. Just click on the comment link to let us know what you’re looking for at Mäni’s.

02.13.06

Balanced Living, 1.1

I once learned from an organization, that advancing in life, is like learning to ride a bicycle.  Its a major struggle in our development.  We mount, then balance, and peddle, all at the same time, failing for a while because doing it all at once, we think, is nearly impossible.

How can we acheive “everything” in life that we want.  We deem it impossible, because, afterall, we are only human. 

Well, everything can be an overstatement, and all at once is definitely not true.  What we don’t realize, is that we didn’t learn to ride a bicycle all at once.  We first learned how to walk and balance.  Then we learned how to peddle on a tricycle.  Then we combined it all, and gave it a try a few times before we got it.  Then, we got it. 

The older we get, the more unlikely we are to change things quickly and easily.  We are engrained in our ways.  It’s more of a challenge to say, you know what?  Today I am only going to drink one cup of coffee, and the rest of the day I will drink water, juice and tea. 

However, I dare say that it is actually pretty simple. 

We live life telling ourselves again and again, that we cannot do something.  In reality, it is the voice in our heads telling us we cannot do it which prevents us from doing it.  As I sit here, I watch my father tell me that he doesn’t like to eat candy coated macadamia nuts, because they make him feel down.  After a lengthy conversation, that little voice in his head is saying, “I can’t stop eating candy, I’ve been doing it my whole life”.  Well, what do you expect he does?  He eats more, and feels worse. 

I can’t say I told you so, because that certainly doesn’t help the situation.  But I can say, help yourself be stronger.  Commit to something, and follow through.  If you experience more committment to the little things in life, the bigger ones will come more easily.  It’s ok to tell yourself you can’t, but its even more OK to tell yourself you can, and be empowered by that. 

02.10.06

Balanced Living, 1.0

Not too long ago, i found myself getting sick frequently, working too much, and not taking care of myself. 

The result of the neglect was a decline in my health.  I will admit, that Los Angeles can sometimes be inhospitable to those who are sensitive to their environment.  The result of the decline in my health, however, was an ever greater sense of urgency to transform my life. 

Just the other day, i was talking with a customer in the Restaurant at Mani’s.  It was mid-morning, and we were both having our breakfast.  Amidst talk about our personal lives, and recent achievements and struggles, we came to talk about the need for finding balance in life.  This particular customer had just read a book about eating natural foods, avoiding microwaves, drinking organic coffees and teas, and just being aware.

Like most of things in life, the struggle is in the beginning, going from what you are used to, to something you aren’t used to.  Really, its about being comfortable while being uncomfortable.  Get it?

What spawned this idea, was another converstaion with a different customer just hours before.  She was discussing the common struggle of “getting off” of coffee.  Like she said, its about committment.  And it’s about balance.  I personally commit to only having one cup of joe a day, and beyond that I drink a variety of healthy juices, waters and teas (by the way, if you haven’t had the japanese cherry tea, give it a try as it is very high in antioxidants, as is pomegranate juice, which also helps your arteries). 

Anyways, I could never let go of coffee completely, not just because of the taste, but also the fact that in moderation, it can actually be good for you. 

Our conversation was cut short by my need to get back to the front counter and make the magic of Mani’s happen, but we will certainly continue this converstaion…

Carl Avery, General Manager

02.10.06

Valentine's Specials & New Soup Menu

Valentine’s Specials

To purchase any of our yummy Valentine’s treats, simply stop in to the restaurant at 519 South Fairfax. With questions, or If you are interested in placing a special order for any of the bakery items listed below, feel free to call us at 323-938-8800.



Small Raspberry Mousse Cake

Large Raspberry Mousse Cake

Small Chocolate Truffle Raspberry Cake

Large Chocolate Truffle Raspberry Cake

Mandel Heart

2 Mandel Hearts

12 Butter Heart Cookies

Large Truffle Heart Cookie

Soups for February 13th thru 27th

Monday / Chicken Noodle

Vegetable Stock, Onions, Carrots, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Egg Noodles,
Chicken Breast, Canola Oil, Salt, Black Pepper


Tuesday / Cream of Asparagus

Vegetable Stock, Onions, Celery, Potatoes, Asparagus, Spinach, Cashew Cream,
Sea salt, Black Pepper, Tamari


Wednesday / Giant Guatemalan Bean Soup

Vegetable Stock, Onions, Carrots, Green Cabbage, Zucchini, Celery, Lima Bean,
Soy Beans, Tofu, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Thyme, Garlic, Tamari, Oregano, Bay Leaf


Thursday / Yellow Split and Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Vegetable Stock, Yellow Split, Black Eyed Peas, Onions, Carrots, Celery,
Parsley, Dill, Sea Salt, Black Pepper


Friday / Sopa de Fideo ( Mexican Style )

Vegetable Stock, Onions, Carrots, Celery, Penne Pasta, Potatoes,
Soy Beans, Garlic, Sea salt, Black Pepper


Saturday / Cream of Broccoli

Vegetable Stock, Celery, Onions, potatoes, Broccoli, Spinach,
Cashew Cream, Sea Sal, Black Pepper, Tamari


Sunday / Sweet Onion Soup

Vegetable stock, Red Onions, Yellow Onions, Fresh Thyme, Black Pepper,
Sea Salt, Tamari, Red Wine

02.09.06

Vanity Fair: It's Oscar Time

In the current issue, March 2006 edition of Vanity Fair Magazine, you will find Mäni’s Bakery Café , nestled in the “Guide to a Perfect Day in L.A.”

In December, we spoke with Condé Nast about the possibility of being in their Magazine, Vanity Fair.  We sent everything off, and didn’t hear anything back, until today! 

The “Mr. Smith” of the article finds himself in need of a cake and cookies for a friend’s Birthday Party, and stops by Mäni’s Bakery Cafe for sugar free desserts.  Looking quite dapper, and carrying a gift wrapped box, Mr. Smith is quite pleased with his selection.

Of course, as many of you know, we are the place in LA to get cakes for any occasion.  If I might take a moment just to tell you my favorites, and how to choose a cake!  I always have customers tell me their first preference, chocolate or no chocolate?  Vegan or not vegan?  Sugar-free, or organic evaporated cane sugar.  Those are the three most important questions.  And from there, it gets easier.  Oh yes, my favorites are the Chocolate Raspberry Fortress Cake (Fruit Juice Sweetened), and the Strawberry Forever Cake (Organic Cane Sugar).

Really, choosing anything from our case stocked to the brim with naturally and alternatively sweetened bakery items, is done this way.  So, come prepared, or not, and let us help you choose the appropriate desserts for your party, casual get together, or intimate Valentine’s Dessert.  Thanks to Vanity Fair and Condé Nast!

Carl

02.07.06

Thanks For Making Our New Site Successful

Many people and companies helped make this new site a reality.  Thank you Denise Wakeman of Next Level Partnership. You drove us all to make our deadlines and produce a professional appearance.  Thank you to Susie & Travis from Hop Studios, Best Website designers who made the project happen, using their knowledge, experience, talent and patience to work with all of us!

Thanks to our visual director who brought the colors and feel of Mäni’s to the cyber world, using her talent as a graphic designer and artist.  And thanks to Carl, my business partner and creative force behind Mäni’s.  And to all the team members here at Mäni’s who’ve helped in their own special ways to make the site and this company what it is today.

Larry

02.06.06

Mäni's Sponsors KCRW

A week ago, I wrote about our involvement in KCRW’s pledge drive.  Well, on Friday, Larry and I decided to do more.

On Monday, February 6th, the final day of the pledge drive, we will be sponsoring KCRW in an hour long challenge.  During this challenge, we will match $2000 that is raised during the hour, by challenging our customers, Angelenos, and anyone listening to KCRW to subscribe.

It’s also perfect timing for us, as we are launching our new website on Monday at 12PM PST.  Our new website includes our current blog, as well as everything you need to know about Mäni’s, our products, customers, and our vision.

So, if you haven’t yet subscribed, show your support on Monday between 5-6 PM for KCRW and Mäni’s Bakery Cafe on Fairfax.  Without yours, and our support, Public Radio cannot survive.  The number to call is 800-600-KCRW.

Thanks for all of your continuing support,

Carl, General Manager

02.03.06

Website Launch Update

If you want to be the first to know about the launch of Mani’s new website, please subscribe to our mailing list.  You’ll be first on your block to see the new site!  We’re counting down to Tuesday…

02.02.06

News on the Website Front

We’re getting close to going live. Roughly one week ago, we asked for your participation in helping to test the new site prior to launch. We were incredibly delighted to find over 60 people reply to our request (I’m still excited)! The test was performed this week & your feedback was well received. The new website will be live before Valentine’s Day & we hope to hear about all of our fabulous customers (that’s you) making good use of the information being offered. Share your experiences on our blog, check out our menu, share us with your friends, ask us questions, and much more!

02.02.06

Hollywood & My Job at Mäni’s

This story is one reason why blogging for us at Mäni’s on Fairfax is cool.  Yesterday we got a call from MTV to see if they could shoot a segment of their new series (launching in April) called The Hills.  It's a show starring the leads from Laguna Beach, LC & Jason. Of course they want to shoot right at lunch time.  But it's Hollywood calling, so I work out the details for them to film without impacting our lunch guests....hummmm, that part's not so easy, but we make it happen.

But what I didn't realize would happen, was that so many customers were intrigued by the filming, and some knew the old show, the stars and we're telling me 'what's going on' with this whole Laguna Beach morphed into The Hills story line, about the characters, etc. Others just got to see something different today at Mäni’s.  So a regular Thursday lunch scene was really a scene and added entertainment at Mäni’s today.  The show's debut is April and many of our willing guests can call their friends and family around the country to tell them they'll be on an episode of 'The Hills', providing they signed a release!

Since I was born and raised in L.A., I'm not ususally big into the whole Hollywood scene, but hey afterall I work with aspiring actors and even an opera singer! (Let's see if you can figure out who that is??)

So which ones of you reading this were here having lunch on Thursday February 2, 2006 and can fill us in on more of this show, LC & Jason and what you thought of the filming?  We'd love to hear from you!!

02.02.06

Potato Month

February is Potato Month!  Bet you didn’t know the humble potato had a month all of its own.  Check out The Healthy Potato for nutrition info and potato recipes.

Better yet, stop by Mäni’s on Fairfax and order a side of our fabulous organic roasted Yukon Gold potatoes with your breakfast, lunch or dinner.

02.01.06

A Favorite Holiday of Mine

As we prepare to have a really fun Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share my thoughts. Perhaps you may identify with my thoughts on the Red Heart holiday just a couple weeks away. Some of the reasons why I enjoy it so much is because it’s fun, romantic, red, chocolatety & breaks up the winter days with something special to celebrate.

With warm thoughts of this day on the mind, we’ve dressed up the restaurant with splashes of red. If you stop by you’ll notice just how excited we are about celebrating RED with you! Healthy food, good people & most of all, scrumptious desserts to share with your love, or keep to yourself. However you choose to participate - breakfast, lunch, dinner, a heart-shaped dessert - come to Mäni’s and check us out.