Cecily Maniaci has always been fond of fry bread.
But not everyone is familiar with the traditional Navajo food dish, which Maniaci said has always been a presence in her life.
鈥淲henever you're around local lore and Native American culture, there's fry bread,鈥� said Maniaci, who grew up in northern Arizona and is the owner of Flagstaff Fry Bread House.
She opened the restaurant, nestled in Flagstaff鈥檚 Southside neighborhood, about two months ago.
Maniaci has been in and around the restaurant industry for most of her life. Her mother owned and operated multiple restaurants in northern Arizona, and she spent a lot of time working at those establishments until she became a mother herself.
She then became a teacher and raised her children, but when they graduated from high school, she returned to her restaurant roots.
Maniaci鈥檚 entrepreneurial journey began in 2013 with the very first Toasted Owl Cafe in Flagstaff. Fast-forward to today, and she owns three Toasted Owl locations鈥攖wo in Flagstaff, one in Phoenix鈥攁nd has a couple of new fry bread restaurants in the works.
Maniaci also owned Plantasia, a plant-based restaurant that was located in the same space as the Flagstaff Fry Bread House.
Native American fry bread is a pillowy, saucer-shaped dish made from dough that is typically fried or deep-fried until it鈥檚 golden brown. Flagstaff Fry Bread House serves a variety of fully customizable sweet and savory options.
Maniaci said fry bread is pretty simple to make, but people often add their own twists.
鈥淲e are using the Blue Bird flour, which is a traditional Native American flour,鈥� she said, noting that the woman who shared the recipe she uses is Native American.
Fry bread origins date back to the mid-1800s.
Originally created by Indigenous people as a means of survival, according to Smithsonian Magazine, fry bread has become a comfort food and tradition for many Native American families over the years.
There are more than a dozen ways to order and enjoy fry bread at Flagstaff Fry Bread House. Customers who take the savory route can order fry bread in the Navajo Taco style with beans, cheese, meat and veggies. Plant-based meat options are also available.
Those who take the sweet route can order classic fry bread with honey or powdered sugar, or try something new with menu options that include mango or berry 鈥済oo.鈥� Goo was described as a sweet and syrupy fruit-reduction sauce that tastes great over fry bread and can be topped over ice cream.
Customers will be able to try new fry bread combinations with rotating monthly specials. Flagstaff Fry Bread House also offers burritos, tacos, tamales and canned soft drinks on its menu.
Maniaci said another fry bread house in Winslow is set to open in the next few weeks. She noted that a grand opening will be announced shortly as she is fine-tuning some last-minute details.
Flagstaff Fry Bread House is located at 126 West Cottage Avenue. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and re-opens from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.