10/30/2026
Baxter's 1892 is in the Red Chair with Swiss Bear
Executive Chef Jay Danielson
I never planned on becoming a chef. No, man, I wanted to play basketball, do football. I wanted to do a million other things. I grew up in Carteret County and started cooking because, honestly, I was just good at it. It just ended up happening. I was like, I'm kind of good at this, effortlessly.
My journey hasn't been an easy one. I grew up in foster care and aged out at 18. They gave me $500. So, I bought a car, went to work, saved every check I could, and bought a trailer in Newport. I just kept figuring it out. I wouldn't change it, because I feel like it made me who I am today.
I've worked at Burger King. I've worked the third shift at Waffle House. I've been a server, a caterer, a student, and a cook. I've done just about every job you can imagine in the food industry. And I wouldn't change any of it. Those experiences made me who I am.
Honestly, I get to express myself with cooking. It's like somebody who draws or, you know, does interpretive dance. It's about expressing myself and being creative and doing things differently. I like the fact that I get maybe six to seven people from all walks of life to work together in a kitchen to execute one thing. That's kind of cool, right? You know, in a way, it's like a symphony?
In my life, personally, I always felt like my biggest goal was to be a family man and have my own family. That's why I have my own family now. So, everything else has been a bonus. Now I have two daughters who think it's completely normal that their dad is a chef. They ask where the chef is when we go out to eat. And they get to see every day that you can build something for yourself, even if you didn't start with much.
I want to get the James Beard. I've got to go get the James Beard. I want to keep pushing myself and see how far I can take this.
Don't let anybody tell you anything. There's going to be a lot of naysayers along the way. There's going to be a lot of people doubting you. All gas, no brakes. I never would have guessed I'd be where I am today. But I'm thankful. I'm blessed. And I'm still just getting started.
