Our Story

Hello, and welcome to our village.
My name is Maan.

I was born and raised in small village called Kfarhim in Lebanon and in Beirut, where hospitality, generosity, and connection are woven into everyday life. Left the homeland at 21 and after more than a decade working in corporate environments in Dubai and the United States, I felt called to simplify, return to what mattered, and share culture through food.

Through Saj bread, we bring the values of family, friendship, and nourishment from Lebanon to Appalachia bridging lands, stories, and people.

aj bread, spelled in Arabic as (منقوشة), has long been a dream of mine, a way to preserve ancestral recipes while developing something of my own, rooted in the heritage I come from.

I have always seen bread-making as a meditation, a living prayer, where all the elements of life come together to nourish both body and spirit. When made with intention, bread carries care, memory, and connection.

While living in intentional community in Appalachia, I developed our Saj bread recipe, drawing from ancestral Lebanese practices and shaping it through years of experimentation, shared meals and community feedback. The result is a recipe that is simple, gluten-free, inclusive and deeply nourishing, designed to honor tradition while welcoming modern needs.

For me, making bread is an act of service. It fuels community. Saj bread is my offering — developed with intention, rooted in heritage, and shared as a bridge between cultures and people.

This journey has been made possible by the incredible community in Appalachia who supported, tested, and believed in this work. It truly takes a village.

This is the beginning of our adventure.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story — we look forward to connecting and breaking bread with you.