“I was born in the kitchen and I will die in the kitchen, because I love food”
Chef Marco Barrila
“Everyone is so excited about farm-to-table in this country, but in Europe it is the norm”
Chef Barrila, a native of Sicily prepares fresh delicate aldente pasta dishes, melt in your mouth fishes and farm fresh fare. He and his wife Sheila Minkel Barrila of Southampton’s Insatiable Eats Catering opened Manna Restaurant in Watermill in the winter of 2016. They choose the space that was previously know as Mirko’s. It was a difficult decision as Chef Barrila was being courted by The Topping Rose Restaurant, in Bridgehampton. This was after Tom Colicchio’s departure. Manna is a great addition to Watermill and has become a go to spot.
Chef Barrila, grew up cooking and working in his grandmother’s 100 year old restaurant in Messina, Sicily. After his grandmother’s trattoria, Chef Barrila enrolled in Escuola Alberghiera outside of Bologna to broaden his understanding of international cuisine before moving to NYC proper. In NYC he worked Carmines and as Executive Chef at Fiorello’s, Lincoln Center, then his own place on Bleecker, Noi. Barrila later moved to the East End of Long Island to Southampton and Robbins Wolffe Eventeurs before starting Insatiable Eats with his wife Sheila.
Barilla creates irresistible combinations of local and imported “must have” ingredients. The Barilla’s serve this in a welcoming and comfortable setting with a lush navy carpet, posh winter white wainscoting and a naval theme. In the summer, the garden offers patio dining. They are known for their weekend brunches with fresh fruit, bread and poached egg three ways served with fresh greens. It’s positively Hamptons with the flavors of the Mediterranean. Insatiable Eats Catering, has had a celebrity following for a number of years and now Manna in Watermill does too.
Marco, as moguls and locals call him, often steps out of the kitchen to chat with his returning guests. The Barrila’s have become an entity in The Hamptons and often donate their time to local and regional charities. Marco even cooked and served food at his own wedding. Recently the Barrila’s served 675 men and women from the US Air Force in Westhampton via Citizens 4 Humanity.
“The gift of food helps them to enjoy an incredible holiday experience that they otherwise would not have.” Sheila
The couple co-founded the charity, a volunteer organization based in Watermill, five years ago. The group focuses on raising money to buy and prepare food for single mothers and other families on the East end who are suffering from some sort of personal crisis. Most of the food preparation is completed through the couple’s international cuisine catering company, Insatiable EATS, which is based in Southampton and Manna Restaurant at Water Mill Square.
For starters, Manna serves a sun-dried tomato spread, Sicilian olives, olive oil, and a Sicilian sheep’s milk ricotta cheese, all reflections of the chef’s origin. The lobster Spaghetti Di Nero, a well known Mediterranean dish is a special. It’s served in a beautiful Moroccan terracotta tagine with a pomodoro sauce. The pasta and the quality of the fresh food is what keeps his clients coming back for more. The bolognese, pasta and sauce is superb. Stop in or make a reservation to try the authentic Sicilian cuisine.
