If you worked in downtown Victoria in the last decade, perhaps
you saw him as he wove his way through the streets.Emmanuel
Piazzon (better known as Manu) arrived in Victoria in 1984
and began loading pastries on his bicycle, quickly establishing
fans in offices all over town. Moving on to preservative-free,
low- fat pates, which proved easier to transport, he gained
an even bigger following. He's no longer a fixture on the
downtown scene and many people have assumed he has retired,
but I am pleased to tell you that, while the bike may have
seen its last days, Manu is still going strong.
Stop at his shop at 3-847 Viewfield Rd. for a traditional
French pate with a blend of meats and chicken liver, flavoured
with green peppercorns, or piquant pate infused with the essence
of India. Aromatic pheasant pate boasts filbert, pistachios
and a hint of oregano or, if you prefer meatless spreads,
try wild smoked salmon blended with cottage cheese or Manu's
vegetarian pate with a sunflower seed base-perfect as a light
meal with crusty bread, a selection from his cheese list and
a bottle of wine. The pates are also sold in fine stores around
town.
Phone 818-7283 (PATE ) for further details.
PAM GRANT
Times Colonist Food Writer
Victoria, 12 April 2007.
Emmanuel
Piazzon, (better known as"Manu") calls himself
a 19th century romantic. He is a gypsy who has travelled
all over the world and tried many different jobs before
arriving in Victoria in 1984, and, in the same year, started
his business.
Manu
began selling French pastries from baskets on the back of
his bicycle, but found that they were too fragile to be transported
in such a way, so he began experimenting his patés
in his commercial kitchen in Esquimalt until he settled on
a version suited for Victorian palates.
Health-conscious
Victorians liked his no-preservatives, low-fat patés...
it was an instant success!
In
addition to patés, Manu has introduced a selection
of excellent cheeses personally selected for their special
flavour.
His patés are also sold at the following outlets
in Victoria:
PEPPER'S
Cadboro Bay Village
SLATER'S
MEATS
Cadboro Bay
VILLAGE
BUTCHER
Oak Bay Village
Manu's
French Patés
3-847 Viewfield Rd
V9A 4V2
Victoria BC