Episode 97: Whitney Otawka; Laura & Sayat Ozyilmaz

Whitney Otawka, whom some listeners might remember from her stint on Top Chef, just released a new cookbook, The Saltwater Table, based on her exploration and interpretation of the terroir of Georgia's Cumberland Island. It's a fascinating read, and Whitney's story--she grew up as a wannabe archeologist in Southern California, discovered cooking in a first job in a two-person kitchen in Berkeley, and flowered as a chef after moving to Athens, Georgia--is compelling, to say the least.In our second interview, Andrew visits with husband-and-wife chef-restaurateurs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz of San Francisco's hit restaurant Noosh. They share the story of how they met and how their stories and sensibilities--one's a lifelong cook, the other a career-changer--complement one another, and how Noosh came to be.Visit the official Andrew Talks to Chefs website to explore past episodes, join our mailing list, leave a voicemail or comment, and keep up with Andrew's blog.Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's Podcast store. Thanks for listening! THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!