Keansburg's Dixie Lee Bakery Taken Over By NJ Celeb Chef David Burke

KEANSBURG, NJ — New Jersey celebrity chef David Burke is the new owner of beloved 85-year-old Bayshore bakery.

Effective immediately, Burke is the owner of the legendary Dixie Lee Bakery, located at 303 Main Street in Keansburg.

Burke grew up in Hazlet — he delivered the Newark Star Ledger as a kid —who went on to become a trained pastry chef at the prestigious École Lenôtre Pastry School in France. He appeared on two seasons of Bravo's "Top Chef," where he became internationally known for his signature "clothesline bacon."

Burke is also in the midst of creating a New Jersey restaurant empire, as he owns upscale Latin nightclub Ventanas in Fort Lee, swanky Rumson steakhouse Red Horse, clubby 1776 in Morristown, and several other buzz-worthy restaurants across the state.

And now, for the first time ever, Burke can include a bakery in his portfolio.

“The bakery is old school and has a great tradition in the community,” said Burke. “My grandfather took my mother there when she was a little girl to buy pastries. We intend to keep selling the bakery’s familiar classics like doughnuts, black & white cookies, eclairs, breakfast pastries, cakes for all occasions, some breads and more."

"As we gain more experience, we will add more items and a delivery service," he added.

Dixie Lee will be renamed David Burke’s Dixie Lee Bakery. Previous owners Mark Onulak and Allison Loori will stay on as managing partners and the bakery's existing 13 employees will remain on staff.

But there will be some changes coming: In the next year, Burke said he also plans to expand the bakery, adding to-go coffee to the counter service, pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads and other grab-n-go food items.The bakery will also keep its regular hours of operation. It is open Thursday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“A local bakery offers much more than delicious pastries, doughnuts and breads to the community,” said Burke, who said owning a bakery has always been his dream, especially since he got his start as a pastry chef. “It offers a place to meet your neighbors, provides jobs and supports the local economy. It helps us connect."

Burke will use Dixie Lee to provide baked goods wholesale to his 7 other NJ restaurants

In this area, Dixie Lee is know as a locals' standby, and Burke said he plans to keep the bakery’s excellent retail counter service that it is know for, plus its traditional pastry and cake offerings.

The bakery will even be making the wedding cake for his son's wedding at the end of May, revealed Burke.

Burke also said he plans to expand the bakery into supplying wholesale baked goods to his restaurants and other corporate accounts in New Jersey and the New York City area.

The bakery’s new website and social media channels will be announced shortly.

Burke is as local as local gets: He grew up in Hazlet and currently lives in Atlantic Highlands.

He said he is "riding the wave of a renewed interest in the Bayshore communities, both commercially and residentially."

The Bayshore is the string of towns along Sandy Hook Bay, including South Amboy, Matawan, Aberdeen, Union Beach, Keansburg, Middletown, Leonardo and North Middletown, and Burke predicts this area "is on track for continued interest and growth."

In fact, just a few weeks ago, he opened THE GOAT, an Italian American bistro with a neighborly vibe in Union Beach. It is located at the former Piero’s on Hwy. 36. THE GOAT has become immediately popular among Bayshore locals.

In total, Burke owns 7 restaurants in New Jersey and 15 worldwide. In New Jersey, he owns:

Orchard Park by David Burke at the Chateau Grande Hotel in East Brunswick: Flowery, elegant, good for Mother's Day

Ventanas at the Modern in Fort Lee: Asian-Latin nightclub. Sexy and exotic. South American feel. Strict upscale dress code.

1776 by David Burke, featuring Top Golf Swing Suite at 1776 on the Green in Morristown: Clubby, frat boy/finance bro vibe, but a lot of fun. Spacious restaurant/bar on Morristown Green and features a Topgolf Swing Suite. Sip, snack and swing!

Red Horse by David Burke in Rumson: A plush, dreamy, escapist steakhouse and sushi bar in a quiet residential Rumson neighborhood. A meal here is not just a meal; you feel like you've gone down the rabbit hole into "Alice in Wonderland," with red velvet and lots of provocative artwork. Burke is an avid art collector and some of his favorites are on display here. We never thought a steakhouse could be thought-provoking.

Drifthouse by David Burke at the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright: Burke's first restaurant in New Jersey. Laidback, beachy, tiki bar vibes offering superb views of the Atlantic Ocean. Or turn west to watch the sunset over the Shrewsbury River.

Son Cubano in West New York: Offers modern Cuban cuisine with beautiful views of the New York City skyline. Come try the taste, sights and sounds of Cuban style. On weekends, they have live music, a DJ, dancing and entertainment.

THE GOAT by David Burke in Union Beach: Set in a working-class neighborhood, THE GOAT is Burke's most neighborly, down-to-earth offering of the bunch, serving casual Italian-American with a wood-burning oven.

Prior: New David Burke Eatery Set To Open In Union Beach (March 30)

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