Summerville’s Woodlands Inn has become something of a launching pad for noted chefs, including Ken Vedrinksi and Tarver King. The latest to make the journey from Woodlands sous-chef to executive chef and then jump from the piney woods down to the peninsula is Nathan Whiting. Whiting replaced Aaron Deal at Tristan last fall after Deal bolted to a high-profile gig in Chicago. In just a few short months, he’s already made his mark on Tristan’s menu, dialing back on the avant-garde flourishes and focusing on simpler, purer flavors. It was a timely move for Whiting, whose star is definitely on the rise.