The scent of freshly baked treats and the French charm have made their way to the vibrant Miami cityscape with the launch of Maman, a French-styled bakery and café in Wynwood run by the food-focused pair Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte. Maman first sprouted its roots in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan in 2014, becoming a highly popular café all-day with 30 plus outlets scattered across Manhattan, D.C., and Philadelphia. Friday, February 9, marks the inauguration of their Wynwood premier location, the first of a slew of six establishments set to pop up across Miami later this year.
Natural wood hues and lush plants fill Maman, the latest bakery and café in Wynwood. Looking back on the café’s inception a decade ago, Marshall reveals that Maman, which translates to “mother” in French, pays tribute to our mothers who are sources of motivation in our homes and life. This sophisticated café has been designed to reminisce a home-like, cozy ambiance. It overlays the charm of South France with the North American style. The duo, both self-taught cooks stress on providing a unique combination avoiding a stereotypical Parisian look and emphasizing warmth.
The café’s offerings reflect diversity and offer a range of classic, gluten-free, and vegan options. Balance remains their go-to strategy, visualizing a perfect equilibrium between a healthy, fresh salad, and a comforting warm cookie. Speaking of which, the café’s claim to fame is Maman’s renowned nutty chocolate chip cookie, a hit on Oprah’s Favorite Things list. This enticing delight contains macadamia nuts, pecans, and almond bits, and chocolate chunks that offer a delectable contrast of textures and flavors.
Exclusive to Miami, the café will introduce a basket-shaped croissant filled with fresh guava purée and topped with seasonal fruit. It will also feature a blend of French and American culinary styles with its crème fraîche pancakes, complete with pretzel crumble and sweet basil sauce.
The choice to enlarge their presence in Miami came from a desire to be in a city as vibrant and culturally diverse as New York, along with its fondness for French culture. Momentum between Miami and New York was seen with many New Yorkers heading down during the pandemic.
In their enthusiasm to fit right in among the Magic City scene, the Maman team is keen on working collaboratively with the local community. They will be teaming up with local chefs, candlemakers, and beverage producers, to bring out the unique flavors of Miami in their café.
Along with honoring Florida’s natural beauty in its interior design, Maman will also provide both counter service on weekdays and full table service on weekends, complemented by beer, wine, and cocktails. Additionally, Maman will offer delivery services through their app and Uber Eats, catering to a broad delivery area. This makes it easy for those who can’t make it to the café to still enjoy their offerings. So, welcome Maman, we can’t wait to try your nutty chocolate chip cookies.
Maman is located at 51 NW 26th St., Miami; mamannyc.com.
