For their 25th anniversary, the Whitakers wanted to recreate the restaurant in Lyon where they got engaged, without leaving their own dining room. Our goal was a seven-course French-Lowcountry menu for twelve guests, paired with wines from their cellar.

Two guests were gluten-free and one was vegetarian, and the kitchen was a narrow galley with a single oven.

Chef Julien built every course so it could be adapted without a separate menu, brought a portable induction range, and our sommelier tasted the cellar a week ahead to choose the pairings.

The dinner ran for four hours without a single course arriving late. The family has since booked us for two birthdays and a Christmas Eve dinner.