Maman Sunset Harbor: A charming French-inspired cafe among Oprah's favorite spots
MIAMI - Whether you're craving coffee, cookies, lunch, or brunch, Maman Sunset Harbour has you covered. The charming café and bakery, inspired by French cuisine and culture, began its journey in New York City a decade ago.
Founded by husband-wife duo Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Maman offers an experience that's rooted in a passion for cooking from childhood.
"On our second date, we both shared a dream of opening a bakery or restaurant one day," Elisa said. "Now, 10 years later, here we are. It all started back when we were little, cooking with our moms."
The name Maman, meaning "mother" in French, is a tribute to the motherly influence that inspired their culinary journey.
Now with 38 locations, including four in South Florida, Maman skyrocketed to fame when Oprah Winfrey named their nutty chocolate chip cookie as one of her "Favorite Things."
"That really helped put us on the map," Elisa noted. "It also kicked off a thriving e-commerce business we never anticipated. Now, we ship our cookies nationwide."
Having settled in South Florida, Elisa is proud to bring a piece of France to Sunset Harbour. With floral décor and French antiques, the café captures the essence of the South of France, but its mission is about much more than aesthetics.
"For us, community and creating that neighborhood café vibe is really at the heart of what we do," Elisa explained.
The tasting begins with a light and creamy Fresh Tomato Soup, topped with crème fraîche and chives — a perfect way to start any meal. Next, we dive into the Papas Breakfast Bowl, a hearty mix of roasted potatoes, sautéed kale, bacon, caramelized onions, avocado, chipotle aioli, and a sunny-side-up egg.
"This is my go-to indulgent dish when I'm really hungry," Elisa said with a smile.
We then move on to the Smashed Avocado Tartine, a delightful mix of tomatoes, cilantro, onion, and lemon, served with pumpkin seeds, sea salt, and chili flakes on seeded sourdough.
For something lighter, the Wilde Salad offers a refreshing blend of smoked salmon, herb potato salad, balsamic mixed greens, cucumber, and avocado.
We finish our tasting on a high note with Maman's legendary Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie, the very same one Oprah fell in love with.
Yours truly couldn't agree with her more.
Maman Cafe is open 7 days a week serving breakfast and lunch and brunch on the weekends, with cocktails! For more info, click here.