Mäni’s Blog Café

Helping Hand Cookie Update

Here is just a quick note to let you know that as of Noon on Friday, September 30th, we have sold 555 Helping Hand Cookies.

Read The Story... http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/update_helping__1.html

Thanks for your support!!!

Q: Do You Take Reservations?

ANSWER: Mäni's has a "first come- first seated" policy. At certain times it is necessary for us to keep a waiting list for Table Service.

However, if you are somewhat flexible with your time, we'll be happy to suggest off peak times when immediate seating is more likely. (Of course, we can never guarantee how busy we will be at any given time.)

You may call us at (323) 938-8800 ext:44. We'll do our best to accomodate you!

Q: Do You Deliver?

ANSWER: At this time we don't offer a delivery service, BUT don't worry, we work with LA Bite.

Through LA Bite you can order Mäni's and they'll bring it to you.

If you don't have a copy of our To-Go Menu you can download it off this site.

You can also order at labite.com.  You'll be able to choose our menu items right online.

Of course, you're also encouraged to stop in and pick one up and have a sample of baked goodness.

Log on to LA Bite at www.labite.com or call (310) 441-BITE also (818) 205- 0500.

Mäni's Morsel: OCTOBER 5TH IS "DINE FOR AMERICA" DAY

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 http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/manis_morsel_ne.html.

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. http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/manis_morsel_ma.html

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!!!

Q: What forms of payment do you take?

• Visa
• Mastercard
• US Currency
• Discover
• American Express
• Traveller's Checks
• The Mäni's card

Q: Do you have Gift Certificates?

ANSWER: We have something even better called a Mäni's Card. A Mäni's Card is a card about the size of a credit card and functions similarly as well.

The value of each card is determined by the purchaser. It can have any value, say 5 dollars or 100 dollars, it's up to you!

When the card is empty it can be recharged; so that you never have to worry about passing Mäni's without money!

Mäni's Cards are available with a gift card holder which explains a bit of Mäni's philosophy and an evelop.  Available in-store or on-line.

Helping Hand Cookie UPDATE: America's Second Harvest Hurricane Relief

  For anyone reading our BLOG for the first time; we've been selling Helping Hand Cookies for 1 Dollar since 9/7/05.

The response to our cookies has been very positive. The total Helping Hand Cookies sold, as of Noon today (9/26), is 524!

For every cookie we sell (1 dollar), America's Second Harvest provides 4 bags of food to those who have no food. So, we're looking at 2,096 bags of food!!!

Thank you for adding those "Hand Cookies" to your purchases these last few weeks.

The relief effort may lose it's "hot new story" coverage, but the need will not go away as quickly.

Thank You! We will continue to keep you informed.

Mäni's Morsel: "Soup Lines at Mäni's "

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"!

Fare at Mäni's (on Fairfax of course!)

Many of you may have seen our new menu launched last week.  Although our popular items are still available, many of our new items are either vegan or vegetarian. However all our selections of burgers, tuna sandwiches, turkey chili and more are integral segments of our menu. I'd like to clarify our intents and philosophies on our food items and categories in the restaurant.

Mäni's offers a wide variety of healthier foods made from fresh and wholesome ingredients.  Some of our meal components are organic.  Some are vegetarian.  Some are vegan.  Some are low fat.  Some items traditionally using beef or pork are made Mäni's style with turkey or chicken, like our turkey bacon, turkey burgers, or our club sandwich made with chicken and turkey bacon.  Some are low carb.  All are delicious.  And all items that come forward from one seasonal menu to the next are items that you, our guests, have made popular.

Later today we'll also publish our new soup schedule.  Here again these are items that you've seen before and we have them because you made them popular.  We want to hear from you about what you think of our food and service.  Sure, everyone loves compliments, and we'd like constructive feedback too, if you wouldn't mind telling us. 

Just today Carl and I talked to a customer at the counter for quite awhile.  We'll call her Ms. N.  Ms. N. has been a guest for years.  She loves our products, but was quite annoyed that the serving sizes of our cakes seemed to have shrunk over time.   The issue was that our cakes are supposed to be divided into 8 equal slices, and it seems that's not always the case.  And since the price increased awhile back, it was understandable that the size shouldn't have become smaller.

We almost lost a wonderful patron.  But fortunately she was able to let us know what was wrong so we could rectify that issue.  Now Ms. N. left happy and Carl and I are even more satisfied knowing we solved a situation that could have become a loss for her and us!

So please, let us know if we mess up.  I know we do sometimes; we're certainly not perfect and we want to make things right for YOU!

Thanks for listening.

Larry

By the way....

Here are some faces at Mäni's on Fairfax, with whom you can discuss any issue:

Jose our chef in the kitchen,

with our lead cook, Julio

Carl, Operations, Customer Service and Staff Development

Yours truly, Founder, Larry

Sergio,  Retail Team Leader

Paul, Asst. Retail Team Leader and Trainer

Hurricane Katrina: RED CROSS DONATIONS UPDATE

As many of you know, Mani's is going to match your donations to the American Red Cross.

At 1 pm today (9/20) we counted a total of 489 dollars from you. When we reach 500 dollars, we will match it with 500 dollars and turn it over to the Red Cross.

Thank you! We are all grateful to you for supporting us in our effort to take part in helping those who are in serious need right now.

We will update you, when we give the money to the Red Cross.