239 Centre St, SoHo       Tel. 7212.226.0770

Their Success…A charming vegetable-centric café and bakery named Maman opened this Fall on Centre Street in SoHo. The trend of vegetable-focused menu offerings seems to be taking New York City by storm. The vegetable-focused menu is not to be confused with vegan or vegetarian menus, as it strives to highlight delicious vegetables, not preach a healthier vegetarian lifestyle. Proteins are still welcome, vegetables just happen to be the stars of the show at this charming new French bakery and café.

French Michelin-starred chef Armand Arnal collaborated with Benjamin Sormonte (childhood friend) and baker/designer Elisa Marshall on the provençal-inspired menu including vibrant soups, salads, tartinettes and of course delicious home-baked goods. Together the team created a beautiful French farmhouse-inspired space with an intimate back dining room, complete open kitchen and natural wood floors. The daily changing menu was inspired by authentic recipes from the teams’ mothers and grandmothers, hence the name Maman, the French word for mother.

Vegetable-focused savory options have included dishes such as a beetroot-hummus tartinette, red rice with ratatouille, herbed goat cheese with butternut squash tartinette, fresh leek quiche and a sweet potato and carrot soup. It is exciting to watch as more and more chefs are celebrating produce and turning ingredients that used to be reserved soley for side dishes into the main event. Different vegetable and plant varieties certainly have a larger range in flavors than for example, different varieties of a same protein such as beef or chicken. Again, proteins are not left off the menu at Maman as they also serve a delicious quiche with Parisian ham, a hearty ‘croque-Maman’, roasted brussel sprout and ham salad and smoked salmon with dill yogurt tartinette.

The baked goods at Maman make the trip to SoHo worth the while; the lemon-thyme madeleines, apple tarts, specialty chocolates, and sea salt macadamia/almond/walnut packed chocolate chip cookie showcase the ideal combination of French and American baking technique and flavors.

Take Aways…Maman offers a cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy the authentically Provençal menu offerings that highlight the versatility of vegetables and a fantastic array of home-baked goods. Maman serves breakfast, lunch and take-out from 7AM-7PM as well as selling a small selection of artisanal goods that would fit perfectly in a French family’s pantry. To check out the daily changing menu offerings, check out Maman NYC’s Facebook page here.