Mäni’s Blog Café

Mäni's Morsel: Great Gift Boxes

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...

 

Mäni's Morsel: Gobble Gobble Goodness!

"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....

Mäni's Morsel: Newest Holiday Desserts and Drinks

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!!!

Mäni's Morsel: Thanksgiving Gift Baskets

  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.

Mäni's Morsel: Chef Jose's Especially Special Specials

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...

Mäni’s Morsel: Evolution of a Holiday

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...

Mäni’s Morsel: "Simple as Pie!"

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!

Mäni's Morsel: "Club Med"... sort of.

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".

Mäni's Morsel: Is it Olive Oil or Olive "Oilay"?

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...

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!!!