Oysters and Mignonette with Camille Beccera

Eating oysters for Thanksgiving is a long-standing tradition, one that dates back to at least the 17th century, when they were likely part of the original feast shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. By the 19th century, oysters had become a holiday staple across coastal America, appearing in soups, stuffings and savoury pies. For this story, photographer and food stylist Camille Becerra explores the enduring connection between oysters and the season of gratitude.

Camille Becerra is a celebrated chef and author recognised for shaping New York City’s restaurant landscape through her work at Navy, DeMaria and Café Henrie. Her cookbook Bright Cooking, featured on CBS Saturday Morning, Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live and in major publications, extends into Bright Cooking School on Substack, where she explores the relationship between seasonality, locality and quality ingredients. Until early 2025, she served as Chef-in-Residence at Ace Hotel Brooklyn, developing culinary and cultural programming, and now works as a content developer and creative collaborator with select brands that share her values around food, design and craftsmanship, while developing her own café concept set to open in the near future.
Camille has created three thoughtful variations on the classic oyster mignonette, each beginning with the same simple mother base. From there, you can adapt and elevate the sauce to suit the season, the oysters you’re serving, or the preferences of your guests — a sweet–spicy kick, a warm aromatic twist, or a clean, bright finish. Serve all three for an elevated, special occasion spread.

Ingredients

  • 2 shallots, very finely minced
  • ½ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper
  • Pinch of salt

Base — The Mother Mignonette

(Base for all three variations below)


Combine all ingredients and let sit for 10–15 minutes before serving.

Variation 1 — Pepper Jam Mignonette

A sweet spicy jam that echoes the vinegar’s bite, perfect for oysters with mineral or briny depth.

Add 1 teaspoon pepper jam stirred into the base sauce.

Optional — a few pink peppercorns lightly crushed on top before serving.

Flavour note —The jam softens the acidity, giving a slight sweetness and colour.

Variation 2 — Coriander Seed Mignonette

Warm and aromatic, leaning into green, botanical notes.

Add ½ tsp lightly toasted coriander seeds, coarsely crushed, added to the base sauce.
Optional — Garnish with micro cilantro.
Flavour note — Coriander seed brings a floral, citrusy lift, like a softer, fruitier peppercorn.

Variation 3 — Pickled Ginger Mignonette

Clean, bright, and slightly fiery, a perfect match for cool-weather oysters.

Add 1 tbsp finely sliced or minced pickled ginger.
Optional — A splash of rice vinegar to soften the red wine vinegar.
Flavour note — The ginger adds warmth, perfume, and refreshing bite.