The Saltwater Table: Recipes from the Coastal South

I buy a lot of cookbooks. I use a lot of cookbooks. Lately, I've been disappointed by the latest releases. They're not bad, just not interesting, many looking the same, offering the same ideas over and over. Saltwater Table by Chef Whitney Otawka is a game-changer. It's more than a cookbook. It's a memoir and a history of beautiful Cumberland Island. It's an adventure and travel book that challenges you to build a fire, go on a picnic, try new foods, and add new spices. It is an accessible collection of recipes and an exquisitely photographed book. Most of all it is a love story. Chef Otawka's love for food, flavor, the island, and the natural abundance of the land. Buy this for someone who loves travel, food, and adventure.

I can't say enough good things about this cookbook. I'm afraid it's way under the radar in today's fad diet, easy-peasy world. It is more of an aspirational book, but includes so many doable recipes that anyone can relate to - Crispy Chicken Thighs with Smoked Eggplant is amazing, something any home cook can make. I love how the author tells a story about a specific place,"the coastal south" wrapping up the romance of a remote semi-tropical locale with each season and the food that goes with it. It's also just gorgeous to browse through for the food porn, whimsical illustrations and overall design.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this cookbook, and I’m so excited to finally have my copy. What a beautiful book! It celebrates cooking with the seasons of the coastal south, and captures the beauty and magic of Cumberland Island through gorgeous photography of the landscape and the foodie Chef Otawka. The cookbook is arranged seasonally (my favorite way to arrange a cookbook) so it’s easy to open it up and hone in on what you want to cook based on what ingredients are at their peak right now.

Really disappointed with this cookbook. 'saltwater table' recipes for breakfast oats and chocolate cake are not what comes to mind for recipes from the coastal south.

Poor print job and my book wasn’t cut well and arrived with ripped pages. Not a fan of this publishing company. Anyway, the recipes are definitely unique to its location featuring some familiar south favorites like a low country boil and oyster roast. Other recipes seems specific to the author or her own twist on traditional recipes. Not a bad thing!

I almost never buy “real” books anymore. This booked looked just too engaging for a download and I’m so glad I bought the hardcover. I just received it today, but thoroughly enjoyed the forward and skimming through the book. My husband looked through it too, and we have already selected several recipes to start with. We live on the SE coast, and this is such a wonderful take on seafood, the south, and new adventures.

This books does low country cooking very well. This is a great book to cook some good southern food. Seafood is part of the life of the southerner and this book shows you how to do it like a pro.

One of my favorite cookbooks (yes, I have many)! The recipes take me back to my days growing up in GA. The dishes are fun to make and very delicious (you have to try the Savannah Fish, Shrimp, and Grits)!