Chef Theresa Manning brings over 30 years of catering experience from Quitsa Cuisine to the new Quitsa Kitchen in Vineyard Haven. Last year, Theresa and her long time friend, Scott Mullin, stopped by Life at Humphrey’s. There, one of the owners, Pete Smyth, joked about them wanting to buy Life at Humphrey’s. What happens next leads to Quitsa Kitchen – A New Martha’s Vineyard Cafe And Bakery Opens in Vineyard Haven
Theresa had been looking for a commercial kitchen for her successful catering company, and the kitchen at Life at Humphrey’s would work well, and many of us know how hard it is to find a commercial kitchen on the Island. Theresa made the move — she got the space to use as a commercial kitchen. However as she and her team worked in it the space, there were talks about opening it as a cafe. Great things could be done with space, and Theresa and her team already had a rolodex of recipes that were crowd pleasers and are always creating new culinary delights.
Amy Miller, the head baker of Quitsa Cuisine had ideas about what delicious baked goods could be served. The idea became something more and talked about more. A menu was developed, recipes were tested, Quitsa Kitchen became a reality.
Quitsa Kitchen – A New Martha’s Vineyard Cafe And Bakery Opens in Vineyard Haven A Purely Quitsa Family Affair
Theresa enlisted Scott (Studio Scott Mullin) to help with the cafe interiors. Together, they created a space that reflects the joy and comfort of the food found at Quitsa Kitchen. From the cozy seats, to the statement wallpaper to the fun disco dogs found in the cafe (yes there’s a cute story to ask about), to the writing on the food item packaging – it all works together to create a welcoming cafe to visit. One of the best parts of the makeover is the bathroom which features items from Theresa’s childhood home. You can feel that Quitsa Kitchen is more than a business, it’s being part of a family.
Quitsa Kitchen – A New Martha’s Vineyard Cafe And Bakery Opens in Vineyard Haven – The Food
Let’s talk about the food! This cafe is a food lover’s dream! Theresa is known for her flavor combinations and fresh ingredients. Food is clearly a passion of this talented chef. The baked goods are made from scratch and just look at the sandwich creations above. The Scallion Bun with a pork dumpling patty — wow! The Fire & Honey Chicken – love that it’s a creative take on a chicken sandwich. Reading this menu makes me hungry!
In addition to the sandwiches, there are takeaway meals, takeaway food options (like salads and sandwiches), crazy good baked goods, including popovers and Brazilian Joelho (bread dough filled with ham and cheese), sweet treats, coffee, assorted beverages, and there are even specials to add to the already amazing selection! You just have to keep coming back.
The kitchen closes at 2 PM but the cafe is open until 5 PM. So if you want to get a made to order sandwich, you have to go before then. But not to worry, the takeaway case is stocked with goodies. When I stopped by, there were sandwiches, salads, prepared dinners and more. I was craving something sweet so I got an oatmeal cookie with a maple glaze (delicious). It was a nice afternoon treat, but I definitely need to get back for a real meal!
Quitsa Kitchen – A New Martha’s Vineyard Cafe And Bakery Opens in Vineyard Haven – Finding The New Foodie Stop
Quitsa Kitchen is located at 455 State Road, Unit 9 (previously Life at Humphrey’s), open Tuesday thru Sunday 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sundays and Mondays. There is plenty of parking and in warmer weather, you can enjoy outdoor patio seating. I cannot wait to visit Quitsa Kitchen again and again. It’s also a welcoming space to meet a friend or get a little work done. Great things are to come! To learn more, follow Quitsa Kitchen on instagram or Facebook.
Thanks for reading the On Point Blog about Martha’s Vineyard happenings year-round. If you have blog ideas or questions, please email guinevere@pointbrealty.com.
