For Janyce Dawkins, the director of the Equal Opportunity Office, attending the Cook’s Holiday buffet with her staff is an annual tradition.
“We put a sign on the office door and we go,” Dawkins said. “The office makes sure to reserve a table in advance so we can sit together. We also come early so we can see everyone as they arrive.”
Now in her fourth year of attending, Dawkins praises both the food and environment that the Cook’s Holiday provides.
“Walking through the door lifts your spirit because the atmosphere is so joyous and festive,” she said. “The excitement is infectious.”
Dawkins originally took the three other staff members in the EOO as a way of saying “thank you” to them, but over the years she found that she received much more in return.
“We started going because Cook’s Holiday is a seasonal gathering,” she said. “The office is able to come together and sit down and eat great food. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
This year’s Cook’s Holiday will have a “whimsical holiday” theme. The menu will include perennial crowd favorites like black oak ham, shrimp and grits, Southern smoked turkey breast, berry tartlet and mini red velvet cupcakes.
Those attending the Cook’s Holiday will have an opportunity to dine at lunch or dinner at the Village Summit, depending on the day they attend. The lunch buffet will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18, and from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m Dec. 19.
The dinner buffet is Dec. 17, the first night of Cook’s Holiday, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are limited and must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased by calling 706-583-0892 or by going to foodservice.uga.edu/catering/cooksholiday.html.
Tickets are $16.95 for adults and $8.50 for children ages 6-12; children age 5 and younger will be admitted free.
The Allegro Quartet will perform traditional holiday songs during lunch on Dec. 17 and 19. On Dec. 18, the UGA Accidentals will sing a capella versions of holiday carols.
Complimentary parking for guests will be available at the East Campus parking deck.
For employees in the Equal Opportunity Office, Cook’s Holiday is a can’t-miss event.
“I always ask people whether they’ve attended the buffet or not,” Dawkins said. “I hope they never stop doing Cook’s Holiday.”
