Categories: Products

A Mysterious Kitchen Tool to Some, But Not to Me!

12 years ago

Every once in a while I scan certain blogs just to see what’s new in the world of food. When I came across a post on ‘Taste of Beirut’ recently, I became very excited. Joumana, the Taste of Beirut blogger, wrote about ‘mysterious kitchen tool’ where she asked her readers if they could identify it. Immediately I knew it was a manti-cutting tool, and that it was a MUST-HAVE in my Armenian kitchen. Before I had a chance to send my thought, someone else commented that it looked like a manti rolling tool. And it was – the Mantimatic! (How could you not love that name?? Mantimatic…it just rolls off your tongue!)

The Mantimatic (Image from TasteofBeirut.com)

I posted my own comment to Joumana asking where – in the United States – would I be able purchase one. (Joumana bought hers in Beirut.) She kindly wrote back suggesting I might find one in an Armenian store in Los Angeles or Glendale, CA. Well, since I live in south Florida, making a trip to California to search for a mantimatic was simply out-of-the-question. Instead I put out my feelers to cousins and friends who live on the west coast. The results of those inquiries were unsuccessful, so I contacted Armenian-Middle Eastern stores and wholesalers from South Florida to New York City to San Francisco and came up empty handed.

Now it’s my turn to ask my readers for help:

If you’ll recall, my first try at making manti wasn’t all that succuessful – it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, either. Perhaps making dough from scratch and having a precise cutting device, would improve my next attempt.

With that in mind, can anyone reading this please tell me where -or- how can I purchase a mantimatic?

Any thoughts and/or information regarding a source would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

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View Comments

Dikranagertzi to the bone says:

January 30, 2012 at 1:34 pm

I'm sure you've already done this, but could you get someone to check out the stores in Paterson?
- Anonymous says:
  
  December 20, 2012 at 4:58 am
  
  There is a store in Paterson - at 251 Crooks Ave. -Akmarket - Turkish , but they have similar food. Phone: 973-742-3700
  and...Cihane Pastunesi 358 Lawton Ave. Cliffside PArk, NJ 201-840-6111...
  You may wish to contact them to see if they have what you are looking for..
- Robyn says:
  
  December 22, 2012 at 6:47 pm
  
  Thanks for the suggestions.
Dik' to the bone says:

January 30, 2012 at 1:46 pm

A search of 'mante dough cutter' brought up these sites, but they seem to all the same product and all are extremely expensive.

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem_tr.asp?ic=HO242942DC416

http://www.buyarabic.com/storeItem.asp?ic=HO242942DC416

http://doughforpastamaker.blogspot.com/2011/12/buy-dough-cutter-raviolimanti-style.html
Robyn says:

January 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm

Thanks! My family has already been to the Paterson stores, but no luck. I have another source who knows where to get it in Beirut, so with any luck, I should end up owning one. Now, if we can only get some stores in the U.S. to carry them...
Anonymous says:

January 30, 2012 at 2:45 pm

I actually just found it by mistake, but I would NEVER spend this kind of money for it! I'll stick with my pizza wheel! I had looked myself when I saw Joumana's post but couldn't find one in the U.S. When I just went to pull up the link to the closest option I could find (in FL) to send you (Expandable Cutter), I saw that they had one of these as well! (Universal Adjustable Cutter $259.99)
Robyn says:

January 30, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Oh my, Chris! I'm hoping the actual mantimatic doesn't cost as much as the Universal Adjustable Cutter you mentioned. At that price, I can made a lifetime supply of manti using a rolling pin and pizza wheel.
Thanks for checking.
- Anonymous says:
  
  January 31, 2012 at 10:13 pm
  
  I know, I couldn't even justify the cost of their expandable cutter. Depending on how many blades, they were $66-$100. I'll definitely stick with the pizza wheel! It would be a great tool to have though. I realllllly wish there was some sort of Paklava press cutter so you could do the whole tray in one shot. :)
Anonymous says:

January 30, 2012 at 5:11 pm

When I made my own dough, I used a ravioli cutter wheel.
Love you blog

Linda
- Robyn says:
  
  January 30, 2012 at 5:52 pm
  
  Good thought; the ravioli cutter seems to be an appropriate alternative. Thanks.
Karen Lilla says:

January 30, 2012 at 9:34 pm

I can check the stores in Watertown/Belmont, Massachusetts. Just looked at two online and didnt see it offered, but I'll look when I'm there in person later this week.
- Robyn says:
  
  January 30, 2012 at 10:47 pm
  
  Thank you, Karen. How kind of you to offer to check!
Robert says:

May 14, 2016 at 12:46 pm

I know a lot of people grew up having their mothers cook everything for them and they never participated in the cooking process. Kitchen tool expert