Welcome to Provence.
In various locations all over New York City, there lay portals to the south of France. In particular, these gateways give visitors the ability to live one aspect of the rural, French childhood of their dreams. Enter: Maman Cafe.
“Maman” is the French word for “mother” and the name is perfect considering the aesthetic ambiance of the cafe(s). The locales are full of weathered and rustic farmhouse decor that feels unmistakably European. While many might have an image of a French eatery to be “stiff” and “haughty” – Maman feels entirely opposite from that stereotype. Its pale colors, faint floral ornamentation, and home style furnishings are welcoming and delicate, the way an actual mother would be.
Both the patrons and staff are soft spoken, and there is a soothing airiness and brightness to the cafe. The calm stillness and shining smiles of the servers creates a familial ambiance that is both nonchalant and upholds an air of dignity that one comes to expect with anything French.
My Lavender Lover.
Without exaggeration I can say that Maman has the most incredible pastries that I have ever eaten anywhere – and that includes Paris (don’t @ me!) For ten dollars, Maman will put a random assortment of their best pastries on a platter for guests to share. Each one is aesthetically BEAUTIFUL – so get ready to have a hard time choosing where to start.
The lavender pound cake is divine, and more of a religious experience than a culinary one. I’ve never had the pleasure of consuming a floral based food that wasn’t overpowering. But this pound cake was the right balance between the sweetness one would expect from an iced pastry and the unique earthy taste that a lavender themed anything should have. I always used to find it so obnoxious when writers would say things like, “I want to marry this dish!” But, after having this treat, I totally get it now.
The food is always changing over the years at restaurants, and so I don’t like to wax poetic about particular dishes that I’ve enjoyed (and trust me- I can definitely do that), However, one needs only to look at the combinations of flavors and ingredients listed on the menu on any given day to know that the chefs behind Maman are gastronomic geniuses. On the particular day that I visited, I ordered some kind of waffle with fresh fruit, crushed pretzels and hazelnut cream I believe. If you’re sick of seeing “brunch platter/hungry man platter” on every menu in every breakfast joint, saunter over to Maman. It’s truly an elevated experience for the avid brunch enthusiast.
Read more about my experiences with lavender hee-yah.
Holiday Goodness.
Cookies are a big hit here, and each one is both ooey and gooey. Be sure to visit their pop up shop around the holidays in December for flavors such as, “chocolate peanut cookie stuffed with salted caramel and topped with popcorn” as well as, “lemon meringue white chocolate cookie.” The pop up also serves boozy bevs for adults and signature holiday drinks. Listen to these…
Feliz Navidad: semisweet hot chocolate, crushed ceylon cinnamon sticks, vanilla & cayenne pepper, burnt chili marshmallow
AND
Cherries on Snow: white chocolate cherry hot chocolate, rose water, whipped cream, cherry sauce drizzle, “frozen” sugared morello cherry & almond brittle crumbs
The Cawfee.
Maman offers seasonal lattes, and I’m a big fan of seasonal lattes, so I went with one of those. It being fall and everything, the caramel apple flavor seemed a solid choice, and, well, no regrets.
Aside from floating impeccably between tasting like coffee and sweet goodness, it was served in a most pleasing manner – one of those wide open mugs that are all over social media lately.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Maman Cafe. Not a single one.
0 comment