MÄNI'S BLOG CAFÉ
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03.23.06
For those who appreciate our barley malt sweetened chocolate and our chocolate chip cookies, stay tuned! And as an added benefit to our blog subscribers, just add your name to comments below and you’ll be on our new “free cookie sample” list. That means if you are one of the first 50 people to sign up below, you get a free cookie as soon as it comes out. But, your name has to be in the comment section of this blog story. Just click on the Comments link below. And if Jude, the guy I just met reads this, make sure you add your name to this list!
12.08.05
Well... it's that time again. It's hard to believe another Spring, Summer and Fall have come and gone already. We say that every single year at this time and still, the next Holiday Season comes even faster. Recently, one of our customers said we should name the Holiday Seasons like we do Hurricanes. The Holidays, like the blizzards that accompany them in certain parts, are like giant storms that take on a life of their own -some years they hit us hard and some years we get lucky and sail right on through. In fact, some people do evacuate to "safer" ground, but for those of us who don't have time to leave it's a good idea to stay close to family and friends. Think of our neighbors... we're all in this together after all, and they may need some assistance! Of course, to be fully prepared, you need to stock up on food and drink!!! So, in the spirit of helping our fellow man, Mäni's wants to be a part of the solution... and since we can't offer you cheaper gas prices, we thought Gift Boxes would be the way to go! This year Mäni's is offering...
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11.22.05
"Next stop, Thanksgiving"- all aboard the Mäni's train! Have you read about the current soup schedule? "Holy Holiday Butternut Squash Bisque." This Thanksgiving week, Mäni's is bursting with flavor! (Well, we're always "raining" with flavor, but this week it's especially true.) Get a load of our Chef Specials... or a serving. Of course we're serving tender Roasted Turkey topped with golden gravy, but that's not all....
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11.15.05
This Holiday Season there are a lot of new changes and additions to Mäni's. Although, experiencing our new atmosphere is reason enough to spend some time relaxing with us. It's not just about Mäni's recent interior changes like new paint colors, new light fixtures, new tables and chairs. It's about Mäni's newest bakery items and holiday drinks together with our new dining room that will make this holiday season at Mäni's unlike any in the past! Check this out... First of all, the Mäni's original Faux Nut has returned in four flavors: Coconut, Pecan, Graham, and Chocolate. Back story on Faux Nuts. Our newest muffin flavors are Yam Zucchini- sweetened with fruit juice reduction- and also Blue Corn- which is gluten free, made with brown rice flour and blue corn meal, and lightly sweetened with fruit juice reduction. We've also baked up a Chewy Ginger Snap; sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice and agave syrup! Read why Agave is great! To wet your whistle while enjoying these tasty "goodies", we've got a great holiday beverage line up for you to choose from. In addition to the traditional coffee drinks, we're offering 3 new latte flavors that will get you in the mood... the holiday mood of course! Put a bit of zing in your step with a Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread, or Egg Nog LATTE!!! They're all three very good! What holiday festivities are complete without some hot cider? If your life needs a pinch of spice, try Mäni's Hot Cider; our recipe is sure to please you. For all you hot chocolate addicts out there one of the hottest tastes this winter season will be Mäni's homemade Barley Malt sweetened Hot Chocolate with cinnamon... your choice of soy, regular or non fat milk. You don't want to miss this shot of love! If you haven't been in recently, you've missed out on a few improvements... so come in and experience our new vibe and chill out with some hot new items!!!
11.08.05
This Thanksgiving Holiday Season give a gorgeous Mäni's Gift Basket that's sure to bring a lot of thanks!!! Whether you're invited to Thanksgiving Dinner, going to a party, you want to say thank you, or just feel like giving; during November, a wonderful way to warm up hearts is with a Mäni's Gift Basket. From now through Thanksgiving Mäni's will offer two Gift Basket choices to delight your tummies.
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11.01.05
Many of you have commented about the positive changes in our kitchen menu since Chef Jose joined the Mäni's team. Most of you have said that our new menu is a success and offers more variety, better quality and even better taste! We're very pleased that so many of our customers noticed the improvements through their taste buds! That's one of the best ways to gauge how well we're living up to our motto: "Good Food That's Good For You!" It is with continued striving to that end that we announce, with pleasure, the first week of our Holiday Chef Specials...
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10.26.05
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).  The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1st, which marked the end of summer, the harvest and the beginning of the dark cold winter; a time of year that was often associated with human death. (how cheerful!)
Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. By A.D. 43, The Romans had conquered the Celts and over the next four hundred years two festivals of Roman origin were...
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10.19.05
Yes, it's that time of year again. The days grow shorter and cooler; and soups, stews and warm, cozy foods become just a little bit more attractive. With the beginning of Fall, a few weeks ago, Mäni's introduced our new line of soups; and the weather very kindly gave us a couple of overcast "snugly" days to set the right tone.  Well once again the weather provides us with the perfect mood corresponding with the return of Pumpkin Yam Pie season at Mäni's.
Now some are sure to think we have a kind of "pact" with Mother Nature... we assure you we don't! But one thing is for sure. Whether it's good karma or serendipity or just a coincidence, it's definitely in the air... it's pie season at Mäni's!
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10.10.05
In last week's Morsel, Olive Oil or Olive "Oilay", we talked about how fabulous olive oil is and how studies show it's use, in combination with the "traditional" eating practices of the people around the Mediterranean, called "The Mediterranean Diet", can significantly reduce the risk of early death. So, for those of you not familiar with The Mediterranean Diet, let's take a quick look inside the secrets of this new way of eating... you just might want to join the "club".
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10.06.05
According to "Olive Oil Health & Nutritional Information", since 11/01/04, the Food and Drug Administration (USA) now permits the following claim on olive oil labels: "Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil should replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total amount of calories you eat in a day." We all know that olive oil is good for you, and many believe it's an "elixir of life", that not only helps prevent heart attacks and arteriosclerosis, it protects against colon cancer, reduces the effects of aging, and may even act as an aphrodisiac!  Hmmm ...for the aphrodisiac effect do we drink it or just rub it all over each other? Was there a deeper symbolic meaning in the fact that Popeye had a thing for Olive Oil?
We may never know, but...
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09.27.05
It all began after September 11, 2001. A group of restaurant employees in Seattle went to their CEO with the idea to have a "dine out" day to raise money for the 9/11 relief fund. The CEO not only agreed to their idea, he suggested they go public in an effort to get other restaurants around the Nation to participate as well.  "DINE FOR AMERICA" as it became known, grew to 8,000 restaurants and raised over 20 million dollars for the relief effort and was the second largest fundraiser for those whose lives were devastated by the events of September 11, 2001.
In light of recent events in our own Gulf region, on Wednesday, October 5th, "DINE FOR AMERICA" will return. Dine For America is not an organization, instead it's Restaurants across America, their  employees, and guests and the National Restaurant Association uniting in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, by raising funds for The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Check out DINE FOR AMERICA. 100% of the funds raised will go to The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 100% of the funds raised through Dine For America will go directly to The American Red Cross to help the victims, their families and other needs arising out of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Check out The American Red Cross. Mäni's has joined with the thousands of restaurants across the U.S.A. and pledges to give 1 dollar, to Dine For America, for every customer we have on Wednesday the 5th. So, if you haven't yet tried our New Menu items, October 5th is the perfect day to come in. Check out the New Menu. Even if you come in to get your daily Muffin ToGo, we'll donate 1 dollar. How about a nice Hot Chocolate or Latte ToGo? We'll donate 1 dollar. Whatever you do, come in and do it on Wed. the 5th of October.  Double up on your power to help by buying a Helping Hand Cookie for 1 dollar.  All proceeds will go to Americas Second Harvest; and we'll donate 1 dollar to "Dine For America". Read about Helping Hand Cookie.
Many are planning Dine For America "parties", getting groups of friends together at restaurants participating in the Dine For America Fundraiser. Whether you eat out often or not, if your thinking of dining out the first week in October, do it on the Wednesday the 5th! Find out if your favorite places are participating or not and support those that are. You might even suggest that they do participate. There are various ways in which a restaurant may be a part of this huge Fundraiser. They should check out the Dine For America Site.(linked above) Please come by Mäni's on Wednesday October 5th and be a part of Dine For America. It's an easy way for customers to play a huge part in the Fundraiser without having to dig deep into your own pockets. Now that's a great value!!!
09.20.05
If the weather today is any indication of what's to come, it's apparent that Fall has "fallen" upon us. For the most part, the customers in Mäni's today actually enjoyed the change of atmosphere the thunder, lightening and rain brought us. Many could be seen sipping lattes and reading their books "du jour". Though there were a few die hard Summer lovers who may have been a bit disturbed by the slight chill in the air, soup sales were high; indicating the majority of guests were all too happy to go-with-the-flow and welcome the chance to snuggle into a warm, cozy meal.  Puree of Asparagus(pictured), the soup of the day, was flavorful, full bodied and garnished with tasty grilled asparagus. Asparagus fans loved it!
If you weren't in today, don't worry, Mäni's has a new Fall soup line-up scheduled to begin on September 26th. Wait 'til you get a whiff of these "Awesome Autumn Additions"!
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09.14.05
  Beginning Thursday -the 15th- our menu will be updated with some very tasty new items.
For STARTERS, we're adding Hummus & Pita W/Veggies, Chili Nachos, Chicken Taquitos and Mini Tamales to our current starters menu.   If BREAKFAST is your desire, then you'll be excited about our new Vegan/Wheat-Free Pancakes and new Belgian-style Waffles; as well as more interactive "Build Your Own" Omelettes and Scrambles. For the first time ever we're offering a Vegan Tofu Scramble; we call our Scrumble Hash!
And that's not all! What about French Toast, made from our own real french bread and served with a fresh seasonal fruit puree? Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will love sinking their teeth into the NEW Ultimate Veggie Burger with it's side of chips and homemade salsa. Joining our family of "Sandwiches/Wraps" is a Vegetarian Sandwich on Foccacia bread and a Hummus Yogurt Wrap. For a more indepth look at our new menu, read on.
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09.07.05
At a time characterized by so much global conflict, suffering and radical changes -brought on by seemingly polarized energies and opposing view points, earthquakes, tsunamis and destructive weather- it seems a bit trivial to write about some of our fabulous bakery items! Of course life goes on and we can't stop living etc. etc. However, We wanted to find a way to combine our daily routine with helping those less fortunate than we are. With this in mind, and in keeping with our motto: Good food that's good for you! Mäni's is baking Helping Hand Cookies! In addition to our matching your donations to the American Red Cross, we will give 100% of the Helping Hand Cookie sales to America's Second Harvest! (A2H) Our Helping Hand Cookies are $1.00 each and every dollar will be given to "A2H";. Now you have another reason to give yourself a little treat. These cookies are great for freezing too! Our goal is 2,000 cookies. So, help us, help yourself, and help someone else all at the same time!
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08.30.05
There's an exciting, relatively new sweetener on the block. Its name comes from the Greek word for 'admirable' and besides it being the key ingredient used to make tequila, it provides us with a superior natural alternative to white table sugar.  It is AGAVE and, for several reasons, it's gaining in popularity.
The original people of Mexico discovered the many uses of the Blue Weber Tequilana. It's most famous use was in the making of fine tequila. Lately however, the exceptional sweetness of the nectar of the Blue Weber has come to be recognized; and the syrup's high fructose level makes Agave Nectar an excellent choice for diabetics and other discerning consumers.
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08.22.05
 With all the controversy surrounding sweeteners lately, especially artificial ones, it's difficult to know what to believe! Surfing the internet waves you'll be amazed by all the contradictory information.
Studies that show the negative side effects of artificial sweeteners for example are balanced by studies that say that no serious negative side effects have ever been proven in humans. So, how are we to know the truth?  Perhaps the best way to decide for yourself starts by asking the question "what would be the reason for using artificial sweeteners?".
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08.16.05
If you've been keeping up with all the talk about artificial sweeteners lately, you may have thought of switching to sugar... after all it's natural! You may even be one of those Mäni's customers who - noticing our occasional use of organic evaporated cane juice - commented, saying ..."it's still sugar." "Sugar is sugar!" Have you ever really thought about the process of refining sugar? Most people think it's just about making the sugar whiter by some probably simple process. Well, get ready to catch your jaw as it drops. There's more than you think to the process of sugar refining. So, before you save money and go back to "natural", better read on...
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08.09.05
The probability that Weddings are and have always been catalysts in exposing differing points of view - in terms of style, cultural tradition and religion, to name just a few examples - is great.  Everyone seems to have an opinion about how the "perfect wedding" looks. Ask 100 people to describe the ideal wedding and you'll get as many versions.
 The Wedding is an archetypal rite of passage, at once both a universal yet deeply personal one. It can signify the power love has to bring together, join energies, create new love and new life. It's an affirmation of our continuing belief in loves' ability to conquer all, even death.
(see more photos.)
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08.02.05
Hey all you "Mani-acs" out there, have you ever thought about "mix-matching" Manis cakes and frostings? Did you know that you've always had the power to do just that?  Say you want the Chocolate Raspberry Fortress cake with the whipped cream frosting from the Strawberry Forever cake... no problem. You want the Vegan Carrot Raisin cake with the Chocolate Duo frosting? We can do that.
 In fact, we'll mix and match our various frostings with any of our cakes and even switch out our different fillings!
So, if your favorite Manis' frosting isn't on your favorite Manis' cake, that's not a problem. All you have to do is let us know which frosting you want on which cake and your choice of filling, a minimum of two days in advance.
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07.26.05
From it's earliest beginnings as the "heavenly drink" the Mayans knew as "the food of the gods", and nearly a hundred years as Spains' Top Secret recipe - guarded by monks, to it's status in the 17th century as an evil poisonous drug only the elite could afford, chocolate continues to enjoy an association with divine-decadence.
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07.18.05
When the Spanish invaded Mexico in the 16th century, the Aztecs thought Cortes, arriving from the east, was their savior "Quetzalcoatl" and promptly offered him a cup of their beloved 'xocolatl' drink. After thanking the awestruck Aztecs, the Spanish promptly conquered them and returned to Spain with the wonderful treasure where it was kept a secret for almost 100 years. Eventually Spain's power declined and an Italian traveler, Antonio Carletti, discovered Spain's best kept chocolate secret and brought it to other parts of Europe. But the drink that would one day be consumed by children all over the globe splashed onto the scene with a lot of controversy.
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07.14.05
... A History of Chocolate Part I The scientific name for the Cacao tree is "Theobroma Cacao"-Greek for "food of the gods". The Mayans revered the trees' ground up beans as a "divine elixir" as long ago as 600 A.D., only they called it "xocolatl" which meant bitter water. Xocolatl was a simple drink made by the combining of pulverized cocoa beans with water and hot chilies. In the 16th century the Aztec Emperor Montezuma considered it a divine drink that built up resistance and fought fatigue, and just one cup would enable a man to walk all day without food. So it comes as no surprise that he was said to drink it before visiting his harem since it was also used to increase virility in men! However the Aztec recipe was described as 'finely ground, soft, foamy, reddish, bitter with chili water, aromatic flowers, vanilla, and wild bee honey, - a bit more palatable than the Mayan version!
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07.05.05
When people think of eating right, most wouldn't include a daily portion of chocolate in their diet. It's high in saturated fat and is more associated with sin. (Not thin.) Yet while some chocolate products are high in sugar and made with the use of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, more and more studies are showing that all chocolate is not created equal! In fact, certain forms may actually be beneficial. (In moderation, of course.)  Chocolate is made from cocoa powder derived by processing the pulp and seeds from inside large pods that grow on the trunk of the Cacao tree. Like all plants, the Cacao plant contains flavonoids, a type of polyphenol (antioxidant). The most common flavonoids in cocoa are flavonols, which exist both as single compounds, and compounds linked together known as procyanidins. In recent years both flavonols and procyanidins have been linked with cardiovascular health and may contribute to a healthy diet and lifestyle in a combination of vegetables, fruits and regular exercise. Flavonols also affect the flavor of chocolate; and every step of processing, from harvest to finished product can affect their levels.
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06.28.05
They've been around since prehistoric times. These relatives of the Morning Glory were cultivated in America even before the European Colonization. They come in different shades, from pale yellow, pink and red, to the orange varieties sometimes referred to as "Yams". (A true Yam is a rough and scaly, starchy root of the Discorea genus that is actually low in beta carotene!) They are Sweet Potatoes, and they're not related to potatoes at all! A staple during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, these roots staved off the hunger of many generations. They were even sliced, dried, parched, ground and brewed as a substitute for coffee in the South in the lean Civil Wars years. In the early part of the Twentieth Century, sweet potato consumption was almost five times more per capita than in recent times. Why, if sweet potatoes were actors in modern Hollywood, they'd be those certain character actors so overly identified with just one or two roles, that nobody wants to see them in anything else. What if Tom Hanks had only been allowed to play roles like "Kip Wilson" in Bosom Buddies? Fortunately, in Hollywood, character actors do occasionally cross over into leading roles. So, having said all that: "For Your Consideration...The Sweet Potato...from B-list veggie to A-list Super Food!" Sweet potatoes received top awards in different studies concentrating on the nutritional benefits of vegetables. In one such survey, the Nutrition Action Health Letter scored 58 veggies according to percentages of RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for six nutrients (vitamins A & C, folate, iron, copper and calcium) plus fiber. The sweet potato secured 582 points, with it's nearest competitor, a raw carrot, coming in far behind at 434. Sweet potatoes are a good source of Vitamin E, and 2/3 of a cup is 100% of the USRDA, without the unwanted fat most E-rich foods contain. One cup of sweet potatoes contains about 30 mg (50,000IU) of beta carotene (Vitamin A). Compare that to the 23 cups of broccoli required to achieve the equivalent. Potassium plays a major role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and cell integrity, and sweet potatoes are among the top three richest sources, as well as providing other nutrients including Vitamin B6 and Iron. A medium sweet potato has about 118 calories, is practically fat-free, cholesterol-free, very low in sodium, and if eaten with the skin, offers more fiber than oatmeal. With a low glycemic index ranking, sweet potatoes won't jack up your body's insulin levels as much as other carbohydrates with a higher rank. This means that blood glucose levels remain low and steady...good news for diabetics, the weight-conscious, and people who care about healthy eating. Foods with high glycemic index ratings increase appetite and possibly lead to mood swings and weight gain. With all these attributes, this former butter-brown-sugar-added-marshmallow-topped-o nly-for-the-holidays dish should be eaten often and year-round! Start enjoying this veritable nutritional powerhouse on your next visit to Mäni's Bakery Café. Order our new "Yam Breakfast Wrap"...black beans, eggs or tofu, avocado and our own homemade Pico de Gallo salsa, all rolled up in a whole wheat tortilla. Or try our latest menu addition, "Wham Bam Yams", roasted with garlic, curry and spices to a savory perfection (pictured above)! They're both..."Yam-azing"! Sources:
www.foodreference.com
www.ncsweetpotatoes.com
www.newstarget.com photo by Noah York
06.21.05
Just in case you're one of the few people left who still hasn't heard about the powers of green tea, get ready to jump on the bandwagon of this new-millennium revival and become a believer. From color therapy to the chakra system, in many circles green is considered to be a healing color. So it's fitting that green tea would be discovered to have many health benefits. But one green tea in particular promises to enjoy a steady rise in popularity. Its name is "Matcha" and it's been around for almost 1000 years. This powerful finely ground, powdered green tea, an invention of the Chinese, has quite a variety of heath benefits associated with it. "Matcha" literally means "powdered tea", and is derived from Gyokuro green tea, which has been covered and grown under ninety percent shade during the last few weeks prior to harvest. Then, the tealeaves go through a process that removes the stems and de-veins the leaves, producing a product known as "Tencha". The "Tencha" is further refined, by grinding it into powder, traditionally on a stone mill, at a particular speed (grinding the tea too fast can cause a burnt taste). The resulting very fine powder is known as "Matcha". There are a few types of Matcha (sometimes spelled "Maccha" or "Macha"). The differences have to do with a number of factors, including time of harvest, and the age of the tea plants. One very exclusive variety is harvested from tea plants that exceed 30 years in age, and can cost over $100.00 an ounce. Luckily, the less expensive Matchas still provide us with what seems to be an ever-growing list of benefits. The polyphenols in green tea help protect against cancer, while reducing the risk of heart disease, due to lowered cholesterol and improved lipid metabolism. Green tea also has anti-bacterial properties, and just two cups contains almost twice the anti-oxidants of red wine, more than seven times that of orange juice, and twenty times that of apple juice. Green tea also helps control high blood pressure. It has been linked with weight loss, and Oprah Winfrey has backed up that claim, using green tea as a part of her well-publicized fitness plan. It even reduces fatigue and elevates the mood... evidenced by several Mäni's Bakery employees! Like all green tea, Matcha contains a small amount of caffeine, as well as L-theanine, which increases the alpha wave activities in the brain, that creates a feeling of relaxation. Matcha has a slightly foamy texture and a sweet, mildly grassy taste that goes great with everything, especially biscotti or shortbread. There are many ways to drink Matcha, hot or cold; and with summer arriving, drinking an iced Matcha Latte at Mäni's on Fairfax is a refreshing way to add nutrients to your body while quenching your thirst. You're sure to say "Grassy-Ahhs". Matcha Nutrition Facts Some of the chemical components of 100g/3.5 oz of Matcha are: Vitamin A: 16,000IU
VitamineB1: 0.6mg
Vitamin B2: 1.35mg
Vitamin C: 60mg
Vitamin E: 35.9mg
Proteins & Amino Acids: 30.7%
Carbohydrates: 28.6%
Fat: 5.3%
Fiber: 10%
Ash: 7.4%
Tannin: 10%
Caffeine: 3.2% photo by Noah York
06.15.05
Although this attractive dessert is a favorite among Mäni's customers across the board, many are left speculating about it's name and what, if anything, the name has to do with this intense yet delicate Mäni's original. Taken from a fairly recently born world-wide hit called "Tiramisu", which means "pick-me-up", this Mäni's "twist" on the original dessert, is a fruit juice sweetened cake, with layers of mocha zabaglione, chocolate truffle cream and butter cream, and is topped with Mäni's own ground barley malt-sweetened chocolate chips. It's a great "pick-me-up" anytime...day or night. Some say that the origins of the first Tiramisu can be traced to a town in northern Italy around 1971. But while the beginnings of Tiramisu remain unclear, the inventor of TiramiWHO is certain. Just do a Google search of "TiramiWho", and you'll find the only source to be Mäni's Bakery Café.
Employee Spotlight: Roger Lopez, Baker of Breads 
Originally from Honduras where he received a degree in administration, Roger Lopez joined Mäni's on Fairfax over 2 years ago as a dishwasher and quickly advanced to baker. He begins his day at 6:00 a.m. and loves his work. Each day Roger bakes 7 varieties of breads as well as English muffins and rosemary and 9-grain dinner rolls.  
photos by Noah York
06.01.05
Last week Mäni's on Fairfax introduced a new customer comment card. This is for YOU. The purpose of the comment card is for you to share feedback about your experience at Mäni's as well as to suggest new items you would like to see on the menu. We'll also use it to track service issues so we can be more responsive, more timely and give you better service overall. Already we are in the process of implementing a suggestion we received last week -- creating a frequent buyer program to reward our loyal beverage customers. We'll let you know when it is launched.  Another frequent menu suggestion (maybe "demand" is a more accurate word to use!) has been for a Cherry Danish. Well, it's now available at the bakery, using the same great filling you love in the Antique Cherry Pie. The Cherry Danish is fruit juice sweetened.
More Teas to Taste A couple of months ago we told you about the new teas we are serving from the Art of Tea. We're noticing a trend of more and more tea drinkers so we've added new specialty teas to the menu. From subtle to spectacular, if you're a tea lover you're sure to find one you can't resist. Your choices include: organic Silver Needle, Amore, Velvet, Starry Night, English Breakfast, Jasmine Pearls organic, Organic Moroccan Mint, Blooming Bliss, Plum Oolong, Pu-erh Tuo-cha, Organic Earl Grey. Be sure to visit the Art of Tea's website to read how these hand-crafted, artisan teas are blended with the finest ingredients.  Plum Oolong: Succulent organic schizandra berries and sweet amber organic oolong tea leaves blended with the tender essences of plum. Gentle sweet taste with a pleasant character served multiple times it is the perfect answer to praise any meal.
05.24.05
On Monday Mäni's on Fairfax introduced a brand new Café menu and we are thrilled. In keeping with our mandate to create healthier alternatives for you, we have revamped our menu and after months of development, have created 13 new choices for you. You'll notice we've added more whole wheat products and created some really great new vegetarian selections. With one day under our belt, we're already getting rave reviews on the Crepes, made with whole wheat, sprinkled with wheat germ and created how you like it -- you choose the fruit topping you like best. We've also added more breakfast wraps: Vegetarian and Yam. Another instant hit is Black Bean Cakes 'n Eggs. The black bean cakes are sautéed with a light coating of organic bread crumbs, veggie bacon, poached eggs, and topped with a chipotle marinada salsa. How can you resist? Several new salads grace the new menu Grape Spinach Salad - spinach, walnuts, grapes and feta cheese with a light raspberry vinaigrette on the side
Arugula Artichoke Salad - marinated artichoke hearts, grilled chicken breast, green beans, parmesan cheese on a bed of arugula
Cous cous Salad - cous cous made with whole wheat semolina, dried apricots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and red onions over mixed greens
Barley Salad - barley steamed with crispy asparagus, celery and a ginger soy dressing
You can download a copy of the new menu, study it, and then come on over for breakfast, lunch or dinner this week and let us know what you think about our new entrees. Be sure to try our new sodas and juices as well. This week we're featuring our exquisite pomegranate juice. Your server will be happy to give you a sample. You can read about the new juice here - featured a couple of weeks ago.
05.17.05
Well, maybe not quite that fast! We are pleased though, to announce that we have installed a new Point of Sale (POS) system at Mäni's on Fairfax. The new hardware means you spend much less time waiting in line at the counter. From better touch screens and faster printers, to faster, secure credit card processing lines, we think you'll notice a difference the next time you make a purchase at the counter. Spotlight on Sergio Garcia In late 2003, we featured Sergio Garcia in one of our first Morsels. At that time, Sergio had been promoted to Café Team Leader. Now, nearly two years later we feel it's appropriate to put the spotlight back on Sergio for those who missed that early Morsel and for those who may be new to Mäni's. Last month, Sergio was promoted to the Senior Management Team and after you read his story, you'll know why everyone at Mäni's is so proud and honored to have him on the team. Here's Sergio's story, in his own words. I am from Guatemala. I started to work at Mäni's when I was 17 years old as a Busser-Dishwasher. I barely spoke English, but as time passed by my English got better and better and here I am, now speaking good English and Spanish. I have seen all the changes that Mäni's has gone through, from having a small single page menu to now having a 6 page menu. My priority has always been customer service and I have done everything I can so our costumers are always happy when they leave this place. We can say that I had a lot to do with Mäni's being a little bakery around the corner to becoming a full service restaurant. I enjoy and love working at Mäni's so much because all of our costumers are very nice and friendly people. Now I have become one of the Senior Managers and I will do everything I can to make sure everybody that comes to Mäni's leaves with a smile on their face. I would like to thank our costumers for their loyalty and for taking the time to read this mini-bio about me. If there is anything I can do for you when you are at Mäni's to make you happier, please talk to me.
05.10.05
A number of changes, for the better we might add, have been made to the beverage menu at Mäni's. For juice lovers, we have switched to Evolution Fresh Juices which are flash pasteurized to retain the natural flavors of the fruits. | What is flash pasteurization? It is a process that brings the juice up to a certain temperature very quickly and then cools it very quickly. It is based on the idea you don't need to "cook" a juice for a long time in order to successfully kill the organisms. Rather, if you just expose the organism briefly to its worst heat, it will die and the juice flavor won't change a lot. |
Mäni's is introducing these brand new juices: Pomegranate, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, Apple, Tangerine, Lemonade, Grapefruit and Carrot. Ask your server for a sample the next time you're in the Café. We've also just replaced our fountain beverages and are proud to feature award-winning Virgil's Root Beer and China Cola, both on tap. Both sodas are from Reed's, a Los Angeles company. If you're a Root Beer connoisseur, you can read more about Virgil's hand-crafted and brewed root beer here. Good News! Original Recipe Tuna Salad Sandwich is back. Due to popular demand, we've brought back the original tuna salad sandwich. Now we offer two versions of one of our most popular sandwiches: original and "lite." The "lite" version uses light canola mayonnaise which has 68% less fat than regular mayo. It is made with non-genetically engineered canola seed and soy protein. No preservatives are used. The next time you're in the mood for a tuna salad sandwich, come on in and ask your server for a taste test, then you decide which is best for you. Mäni's Spotlight  Eight months ago, Eric Dyrhsen joined the Mäni's counter team and in March he was promoted to Counter Team Leader. Eric's positive and motivating attitude has manifested in some exciting new changes, most notable in the introduction of new beverages on the menu.
In his own words Eric says: I cut my coffee teeth in Seattle, which is the bane of my friends' existence when we go out for that black gold because coffee is where my assery comes out. Sometimes I'm a little too particular for my own good, but I like what I like, yeah? I've been cooking longer than I have been slinging coffee. I spent some time in culinary school, but never finished, and I've been cooking at Table 8 for the last year and some change. While I love to cook I rarely do it for myself, and if you were to look in my fridge, you'd hear the crickets playing some melancholy tune about the cold, empty dark of my life, I mean refrigerator. The goal is to own my own café down the road.
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