Location: 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 | Map Hours: 10am-6pm daily | Phone: (206) 842-5332
'Manu Buffara is … the bridge to the next generation of strong, conscious, and thoughtful chefs.’ – Dominique Crenn
'Manu Buffara is amazing … a mother, warrior, cook, chef, environmental fighter, and superwoman.’ – Alex Atala
The story, inspiration, and recipes behind Latin America’s Best Female Chef (2022) and her eponymous restaurant in Curitiba
In this much anticipated book, award-winning chef Manoella Buffara (known as Manu) invites readers to discover how her love for her native Brazil became her greatest motivation. Through 60 never-before-published recipes and four evocative 'menu' collections, a set of welcome drinks, and petit-fours, Manu tells the story of a culinary career founded on a commitment to indigenous ingredients and underserved communities, as showcased within her restaurant Manu.
Forewords by Dominique Crenn and Manu's mentor, Alex Atala give further insight into the work of this inspiring chef. The book features specially commissioned photographs taken across a single year – of plated food, the land and sea that drive Buffara’s culinary vision, and the communities and ingredients that inspire her. This, her debut cookbook, presents an evocative reflection of the personal journey of the chef and the story of her community, life, and land, encapsulating the ambitions and values of one of the world’s most highly creative and globally respected chefs.
'Today most people know Brazilian chef Manoella (Manu) Buffara from her awards (her restaurant has been on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, and in 2022 she won the title of Latin America’s Best Female Chef). But in 2003, when she was only starting to work in restaurants, she traveled through Europe, planning out itineraries at libraries until her money ran out and she bought a return ticket to Brazil. The book intersperses personal stories with high-concept recipes, such as fermented sweet potato, chile, and passion fruit and kiwi and yerba mate béarnaise.' – Plate Magazine
‘[Manu’s] food is elegant and thoughtful, she loves sourcing ingredients in thoughtful ways, and she has working relationships with her local fisherman. Most of what [Manu] does can be seen as a template for how restaurants - notably, yes, upscale restaurants - should be moving forward.’ – Mark Bittman
