maman brings Parisian decor & a Martha Stewart-inspired menu

Preston Hollow welcomes a taste of New York with the arrival of a French-inspired cafe first founded in SoHo in 2014. Blending Parisian charm with curated decor, the cafe brings its signature pastries, coffee and elegant atmosphere to the neighborhood.

Co-founders of maman Ben Sormonte and Elisa Marshall draw inspiration from their French and Canadian heritage, emphasizing antique furniture and blue-and-white patterns throughout the space.

“The cafe’s design incorporates local and French antiques, such as the bluebonnets sprinkled throughout the cafe as kind of our nod to the Texas foliage, blending its European roots with touches that celebrate its Texas home,” says Andrea Szot, marketing director of maman.

One of the Preston Hollow location’s most distinctive design elements is “the set of exquisite antique French doors leading into the private dining room. Sourced from a local antique store in Dallas, the doors serve as a striking focal point, reflecting the cafe’s commitment to preserving authentic craftsmanship,” she says.

“Everything we do is mismatched blue-and-white china. So, if you get a cappuccino, your saucer is going to be different from your cup and that all ties into how, you know, at home not everyone has, like, this perfect set of 12 matching dishware. This adds to the element of home maman creates,” Szot says.

One of the reasons maman strives to feel like home is reflected in the meaning behind its name.

“maman means mother in French. Ben and Elisa, when they both met, realized they had this love for cooking, baking and gathering people together. They couldn’t really find anything that embodied all of the things that they wanted to experience in a cafe, so they decided to create one themselves,” Szot says.

One thing that maman finds super important when becoming a part of the Preston Hollow neighborhood is how they can give back.

“We really want to be that neighborhood coffee shop and have that community feel. One thing that we do is, when we are opening in a new place, like when we open in (The Plaza at Preston Center), we bake off a bunch of chouquettes to pass out,” she says.

maman has contributed to the neighborhood by connecting with local mom groups and the local schools.

“We see how we can support them by contributing to raffles or giving coffee to the PTA. We want to be more than just a cafe where someone grabs their coffee, but be in people’s lives and that’s also where our events-plus-catering program really comes in,” Szot says.

maman’s commitment to creating a sense of community was evident from the moment it opened its Preston Hollow location.

“Rather than simply opening its doors, the team made a point to personally welcome its new neighbors and introduce themselves,” Szot says.

Fostering meaningful connections extends beyond serving coffee and pastries.

“In an increasingly digital world, the cafe places a strong emphasis on personal interactions and cultivating a genuine sense of community,” she says.