Todd Manley: Man With A Vision
Todd Manley is the genius behind Mutiny Island Vodka. This professional chef and restaurateur started experimenting with the Island Vodka idea in 2007. With the help of friends like Jimi Weber, Wayne Biggs, and Brant Pell then the push from Master Chef, Sam Choy, they were able to put it to production. He never thought he would be in the vodka business but passion dictates direction. Todd understood a key ingredient, bringing the community together makes a business even more successful.
‘The distillery imports preserved breadfruit because there is no processing plants on the island at the moment that can preserve the fresh fruit available on the island. Thousands of breadfruit trees were distributed on the island to different farmers to increase productivity and sustainability. As part of the Trees That Feed Foundation, another goal is to see breadfruit on the lunch menu for the local schools. In keeping with Farm to Table, Todd uses many breadfruit dishes in his restaurants including fresh-made gnocchi.
A Little Nostalgia
The Distillery in Sion Farm, home of Mutiny Island Vodka, is the former location of Island Dairies, a former producer of local milk, ice cream, and juices. The original Golden Cow which retailed all the Island Dairies products was also a restaurant that would be compared to a seventies soda shop. You got soft ice-cream on a cone, hamburgers and fries, milkshakes and you could buy fresh bread. Todd hired local artist Lucien Downs to create a mural to pay homage to the Island Dairies on the walls at the entrance of the distillery.
Why Breadfruit?
Artocarpus altilis or breadfruit is a flowering tree found growing all over Southeast Asia, southern India, and nearly all islands in the Pacific Ocean. The species, part of the mulberry family (Moraceae) is also cultivated in Africa as well as the Caribbean Islands.
By nature, breadfruit trees are monoecious, which means both male and female flowers appear on the same tree.
Apart from consuming ripened fruit raw and raw fruit as a vegetable, breadfruit has many therapeutic purposes.