Celebrity Chef David Burke is a leading pioneer in Modern American cooking. Counting his latest restaurant, Orchard Park by David Burke in East Brunswick, he has 18 restaurants around the country. Of those 18, five reside in Chef Burke’s home state of New Jersey.
Celebrity Chef David Burke is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. You may recognize him from his appearances on Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef America; or perhaps you own one of his two cookbooks. Of course, most know him from his exquisite restaurants in New York City, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and Chicago.
Chef Burke’s many accolades include the Nippon Award of Excellence from Japan and the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence; in addition, he is the only American to receive the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d’Honneur. Chef Burke is also a winner of the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef New York award.
However, his most recent masterpiece is Orchard Park by David Burke. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Chateau Grande Hotel; just steps from the Park Chateau Estate & Gardens wedding venue in East Brunswick.
Best of NJ got the chance to speak to Chef Burke. Continue reading below to learn more about Orchard Park, building a restaurant from scratch, and Chef Burke’s Jersey Shore roots.
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Up Close With Chef David Burke, Owner of Orchard Park
Best of NJ: Orchard Park looks stunning. Do you feel like it has that wow factor?
Chef Burke: When you pull up, it’s a serious place. You see it’s not just another restaurant. You say to yourself, “We’ve arrived.” You rub your hands together and ask for the wine list. When you pull up from the well-lit country road, out of nowhere this beautiful French chateau appears. It’s like it should be in the countryside of France.
Best of NJ: This was your first build-out project. What was it like to have a restaurant built and designed exactly to your specifications?
Chef David Burke: It was exciting because I got to have a big space. We used a designer friend, Andres Escobar, who has done some work for me in the past. I’ve done renovations, but not something from scratch. I had a great time with this. It really is a striking restaurant. The ceiling height, the colors, the big windows; I’m really happy to be part of this project.
Best of NJ: Do you have a special connection to your NJ restaurants since you are from here?
Chef Burke: I do. I feel like I’m a good representative of the state, I feel proud to come back. I’m that kind of Jersey guy. I left when I was a kid and moved to Europe. When I look back on my journey, it’s great. You didn’t find food like this in NJ before.
The food industry has come so far. Competition breeds better restaurants in a friendly, professional way. When a good restaurant moves into a town, other ones sharpen their knives and try to stay relevant. It benefits the diner. You have to get better to stay in business.
Best of NJ: Is there a kids’ menu at Orchard Park?
Chef Burke: Yes, we have a kid’s menu. We have kids’ items and a specific section on the brunch menu. It has chicken fingers and pasta. We like kids; I like to take kids in the back to make cotton candy. Then they tell their parents they want to go back to that place where they got to make cotton candy!
Best of NJ: Do you try to incorporate NJ foods like tomatoes and apples in your menu? Do you work with local farmers?
Best of NJ: East Brunswick isn’t typically a culinary destination. Has this been an obstacle for you?
Chef Burke: It’s been the opposite of a hard sell. I am so pleasantly surprised how many people from East Brunswick have come in to Orchard Park and come back. I talk to all the tables and ask them where they are from. They thank me for opening this restaurant in their yard. “We could walk here,” they say. “We haven’t had a restaurant this good here,” they say. We’re not a chain restaurant, but we’re not overpriced. You can come in with the kids and have pizza and pasta. It’s a well-balanced menu with variety.
Best of NJ: How did growing up in NJ shape your career?
Chef Burke: I worked at Fromagerie in Rumson, the mall in Eatontown, several little shore places, hotels; started as a dishwasher. I fell in love with the kitchen. I loved the energy and learning every aspect of food. There weren’t celebrity chefs back then, they didn’t exist. I wanted to be as good as working at a hotel. That was my “more.” I was a young kid, I fell in love with the kitchen. I’d leave with a sense of satisfaction that I was better each day. I still am learning.
Best of NJ: New Jersey often takes a back seat to NYC or Philly as a go-to dining destination. Can you get good food in NJ without a trip into the cities?
Chef Burke: The last few decades have proven that if you build a restaurant that could fit in the city and offer the right value and price point, enough people will support it. Uber and ridesharing help with that. People can drink and go out and celebrate.
I think the pandemic will help suburban restaurants. People can’t go into the city, so they find a lux spot in New Jersey. Maybe they get a hotel room at the Chateau Grande and go to Orchard Park for dinner and brunch. They realize that time is money and there is no traffic. I don’t miss going into the city on a daily basis.
Best of NJ: What is it you love most about New Jersey?
Chef Burke: I grew up in Hazlet in Monmouth County. I have lived in Fort Lee in Bergen County for the last 20 years. But I’m from the Jersey Shore. That’s where I grew up. That’s where I formed my personality and roots. I like to say I’m from exits 100 and up. But I love NJ in general because of the attitude of the people. I love the nature and geography. We have horses, coastline, mountains, there are a lot of charming things about NJ. I love being the underdog when it comes to food and nature and good living.
You can visit Orchard Park by David Burke at The Chateau Grande Hotel on 670 Cranbury Road in East Brunswick. To see the full menu and more, click here to visit their website.
Here (Top) Photo: © “Sophisticated Weddings” Magazine
Other Photos (in Order):
Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ
