Elisa Marshall is a renowned brand & design consultant and the creative director & co-founder of Maman. As a young girl growing up in Toronto, Elisa loved to cook & bake with her mother & grandmother, inspiring the family recipes that would one day be featured in the Maman cafés. After a successful career in the fashion, PR, & event planning industry, Elisa & her partner Ben opened the first Maman café in 2014. 20+ locations and one cookbook later, Maman is a thriving café & lifestyle brand welcoming in visitors from all over the world. In addition to her work at Maman, Elisa is a recurring contributor to Martha Stewart’s online publication, a brand consultant to several restaurant groups, & has been featured in publications such as Food & Wine, Vogue, Cherry Bombe, Rachel Ray magazine, & more.

Benjamin Sormonte is a respected entrepreneur & leader in the F&B industry and the CEO & co-founder of Maman. As a young boy growing up in France, Ben would spend countless hours around the kitchen table with family & friends, exchanging stories, memories, & most importantly, good food. After a successful career in finance & corporate law, Ben pivoted into the hospitality industry, becoming a managing partner of the Experimental Cocktail Club & La Compagnie restaurant & wine bar. After years of experience in the industry, Ben and his partner Elisa opened the first Maman café in 2014. 20+ locations and one cookbook later, Maman is a thriving café & lifestyle brand welcoming in visitors from all over the world. In addition to his work at Maman, Ben provides consulting services to other companies in the food & beverage, interior design, & retail industries.