Maman: The Cookbook

Introduction

About Maman: A Home Away From Home

When you walk into any of our maman locations, the feeling is always the same. The aroma of culinary splendor wafts through the air, welcoming you inside, while the light buzz of conversation balances against the hiss of the espresso machine and the occasional clanging of pots. The exact details of each maman are unique, but features like exposed brick, rustic wood tables, mismatched china, and our signature blue-and-white patterns that are on everything from our to-go cups to our wallpaper create a familiar environment. The food always smells and tastes like something from your maman s kitchen, or maybe like a dish your grandmother taught you that you still make today. Coming into the cafe engages all your senses, embraces you, and makes you feel right at home.

Maman means mother in French, but for us, it also embodies the comforting, cozy feeling of home we wanted to create when we opened our first cafe in a former art gallery. At the time, late 2014, New York was filled with sleek spots that were all about being cool and trendy, but there weren t a lot of places to settle into with a good cup of coffee to concentrate on reading, writing, or sketching, or to lounge for a few hours enjoying a meal with friends, almost as if in your own living room. There also weren t spaces to gather around the table to celebrate all of life s special occasions, big or small.

We were both fortunate to grow up in families that loved to come together around food, and with mamans and grandmothers who were amazing cooks and bakers. We were far away from home and missing our families, with Elisa s in Canada and Ben s in France. We couldn t find exactly what we were looking for, so we decided to establish this sense of home for ourselves, which is how the cafe ultimately came to be. We set out to create a place that welcomes people with familiar sights, scents, and sounds a place that feels like home.

We

Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte are the cofounders and owners of maman. Elisa, the creative director, oversees branding, communications, and events, and works with maman s chefs to develop and fine-tune maman s recipes and menus. She s also a contributing columnist for Martha Stewart online. As the CEO, Ben manages operations and business development, but he is also the creative mind behind some of maman s most beloved savory dishes. Together, Elisa and Ben design the interiors of all maman locations, which can be found throughout New York City as well as in Montreal and Toronto.

The first time I walked into maman to grab a croissant for my kids, I was lovestruck by the charm and effortless elegance of the bakery. What drew me back to maman several times a week was the menu: a little fussy, a touch rustic, and just the right amount of sophistication that made eating the food feel like an act of self-love. This book is the perfect host gift but also one that will surely be earmarked, splashed with wine and chocolate from overuse, which in my mind is a smash. Erin McKenna, owner of Erin McKenna s Bakery
 
I m such a big fan of maman s coffee shops. The food, the drinks, the décor, everything is so lovely and thought through. No surprise, Elisa and Benjamin s first cookbook is the same. Every page and recipe is so beautiful. It s as delightful to flip through as it is to cook from. Kerry Diamond, founder of Cherry Bombe

Maman is a stellar cookbook filled with mouthwatering and heartwarming recipes that, simply put, are food from the soul. Believe me when I tell you, this cookbook will forever have a space in your heart and in your kitchen. Diala Canelo, author of Diala s Kitchen
 
I am so happy to see Elisa and Ben s work in print. Their thoughtfulness in the creation of their products and spaces translates beautifully onto these pages. As a bakery owner myself, one always hopes that your children love your spaces the most. This is not the case with my son Isaac, who loves maman more than Gjusta. From one maman to another, I celebrate you. Shelley Kleyn Armistead, CEO of Gjelina
 
I am not just here for the blue-and-white china, although that alone would be enough!! Elisa and Ben s beautiful book is filled with delightful food, topped with artisanal charm. This favorite NYC breakfast spot is now accessible to every home cook! Laurel Gallucci, cofounder and CEO of Sweet Laurel