Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Eikenberg.
Dana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
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ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
The backstory…
A “one and done” evening originated in the small town of Harrisonburg, Virginia, with Cookie and a group of close friends. At the time, Cookie owned and operated a popular restaurant there called Downtown 56. They would select a local tavern or restaurant and choose an item (drink, appetizer, entree, or dessert), savor it, and then move on to the next place. There, they ordered something else. On a typical night, they’d stroll to three or four establishments and always end with a scrumptious dessert.
Cookie still reminisces about these special times with friends as some of her most memorable and treasured moments.
Cookie and her friends created these nights as opportunities to support other local chefs, farmers, and the community. Her values of loyalty, appreciation, and kindness became her foundational principles of running her business, and continue with our recent pursuit of One and Done with Cookie.
After working together in senior living for 2 years and during Covid, we realized that niche would be needed for private, luxury dining for private homes and spaces…and viola! here we are 4 years later!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s no secret—this is one of the toughest times for small businesses in recent memory. Prices are rising at every turn: food, supplies, labor, even the fuel it takes to deliver an experience. Every invoice feels heavier, and every menu we design has to balance creativity with the reality of cost.
Layer onto that the uncertainty swirling in the world right now. Travel, events, global headlines—they all ripple down into how and when people gather. For a business like ours, which thrives on togetherness, that unpredictability hits close.
The truth? We’re not immune. These pressures affect us, too. But while it’s hard, it’s not without hope. We’ve learned to be sharper, to stretch creativity further, to find joy in the details that matter most. That resilience—ours and our clients’—is what keeps us moving forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We’re not just serving food—we’re building experiences. Every menu is crafted from scratch by a chef, not a template. We bring event production into the mix: décor, design, flow, and details that transform a gathering into a memory.
Our luxury isn’t stiff—it’s personal. We weave stories into menus, partner with local artisans in Southwest Florida, and keep our hands in every part of the process. Clients work directly with us, the owners, from first call to last plate cleared.
It’s that blend of chef-driven creativity, high-touch production, and genuine connection that sets us apart.
We’re proud that our work always starts with people, not plates. Clients trust us with their most important moments—birthdays, weddings, milestone gatherings—and we don’t take that lightly. Every event we create reflects care, intention, and a little magic from the kitchen.
We’re proud to stand behind food that’s cooked from scratch, stories that are told through menus, and experiences that feel one-of-a-kind. Most of all, we’re proud when we see guests connect—when a table becomes a memory, when a bite sparks a smile, when love and laughter fill the room.
That’s the heart of it. That’s why we do what we do.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Every choice we’ve made has carried risk. Building a chef-driven, high-touch business in a world where “drop-off catering” is the norm was a risk. Pricing transparently with an event production fee, when others bury costs, was a risk. Designing menus as stories instead of spreadsheets—also a risk.
Our point of view is simple: without risk, there’s no distinction. Playing safe makes you blend in, and blending in is the quickest way to be forgettable. We’d rather bet on ideas that feel true to us—even if they’re bolder, harder, or slower to catch on. That approach has made us more resilient, more creative, and closer to the clients who value what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.OneandDonewithCookie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneanddonewithcookie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneandDonewithCookie
Image Credits
Janda Maree Photo & Co. – SWFL’s Choice for Portrait Photography for the picture of us with the ” Love ” sign in the background
