A magical evening of twinkling lights, oysters, and a simply-decorated tree
For the past few years, Whitney Otawka has lived on a remote barrier island off the coast of Georgia. As culinary director of Greyfield Inn, Cumberland Island’s only commercial establishment, Otawka has created an acclaimed menu based on the hyper-local ingredients found in the area. Working there, she fell in love with the region’s vegetables, seafood, and distinct flavors, which inform her recently-released cookbook of 125 recipes, Saltwater Table: Recipes from the Coastal South.
“This wild place I call home has always inspired me to live a life less ordinary. Its influence has been an undeniable force in the chef I have become and I wanted to share that,” Otawka says. Her book includes dishes like steamed clams in fennel, lemon, and cream and winter root vegetable soup with ham hock and turnip green pistou, as well as guides to big, traditional Southern meals like low-country boils. “I like food that is rustic, comforting, and altogether unfussy,” she explains. Furthermore asked Otawka to dream up her ideal holiday dinner party.
Here’s how she would celebrate:
On the menu
“I’d start the night with an oyster roast, which will quickly resolve any perceived formalities and make lifelong friends out of strangers. No dinner party would be complete without platters of cheese ranging from triple creams to pungent blues framed by dried fruits, almonds, and walnuts. Dinner would be red wine-braised short ribs with sweet carrots, wilted cabbage, and buttery potatoes, plus Yorkshire pudding to dip into the braising jus. Dessert would be sticky toffee pudding topped with cloud-like vanilla cream.”
What we’re drinking
“Eggnog with bourbon, French cider, and anything imported by Kermit Lynch.”
The decor
“I keep it minimal, but with fantastic lighting. Imagine a big, old fireplace, lots of candlelight, and strategically placed twinkling lights. I like a large, well-worn, rustic dinner table and a beautiful and simply-decorated tree that perfumes the house. The vibe is somewhere between romantic and magical.”
The guest list
“The ones I love, and a pack of dogs.”
What we’re listening to
“My musical taste is eclectic. Townes Van Zandt, Devendra Banhart, and Seu Jorge would all be played at some point.”