Doug Eifert -Owner/Chef
Dajio
305 Irvin Garrish Hwy
Ocracoke, NC 27960
www.dajiorestaurant.com

Chef Eifert  is eating a Seafood Stew and Tempura Fried Tuna.

When did you first become interested in cooking? Why did you decide to pursue a culinary career?

In the early eighties I was running a restaurant/bar where the owner liked to hire a chef to create a new menu and then terminate him when it was up and running. I was the guy who cooked until it was time to re-run the cycle. Eventually I became the chef, but he never fired me.

Who have been the biggest inspirations for your career?

My inspiration always came from the cooks who worked their way up through the kitchen, overcoming a lack of professional training with work ethic and creativity.

What are some of the qualities that you feel a successful chef should have?

Successful chefs have their hearts and hands in all aspects of the business. They lead by example and are always looking for ways to improve. They always start with the freshest and highest quality ingredients and understand that often times less is more, they see their craft as both art and business.

What do you enjoy most about your work? What are your greatest stresses? Your greatest joys?

I love getting to the other side of a busy shift and finding out that everybody that came in had a great experience. My biggest stress is when I find out that somebody wasn’t happy and I didn’t get a chance to make it right. I love it when my people show the same pride and ownership of their work that my wife and I do. I hate seeing anyone just going thru the motions to collect a paycheck or a tip.

If any chef in the world could prepare you a meal, who would it, be?

Tetsuya Wakuda

With everything that you’ve accomplished in your career, are you still learning as a chef?

If you stop learning in any career you have stopped being the best you can.
 
What’s your guilty food pleasure?

Ice cream (Cherry Garcia right out of the carton).

Publishers Note: "Dajio" is an acronym reflecting the owners seemingly lifelong goal of living and owning their own business on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina (Doug And Judy In Ocracoke).  As 12 year owners of an award winning and nationally recognized restaurant in Lexington, KY, and with numerous years in the business  they have the knowledge, skills and background to create the most successful new concept on the island. They met in Alexandria, VA working at a restaurant!

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