David Burke
Fueled by passion, grit and a knack for artful innovation, CIA graduate, David Burke, is one of the best-known and most respected chefs in modern American cuisine with his signature whimsical, boundlessly creative approach to food. In addition to being an internationally celebrated chef, Burke is a restaurateur, artist, philanthropist, businessperson, author, educator, art collector, puppeteer, minister, beekeeper and a doctor of business administration, honoris causa from Johnson and Wales. David Burke Hospitality Management (DBHM) owns, manages, licenses and consults for restaurants, hotels, clubs and schools worldwide. Currently, Burke and his DBHM team operate, consult or orchestrate the culinary component of multiple properties, including a bakery. He and his team also oversee a growing roster of David Burke branded products, including cookware, bakeware, steak sauce, cutlery and wine. Just this month, it was announced that he is one of the 2025 new members to the NJ Hall of Fame! He has always been proud to help others and so humbled by this award.
At just 26, Burke’s kitchen mastery won him the executive chef position of New York City’s legendary River Café, where he earned a prestigious three-star review from The New York Times. While at River Café, he became the fi rst (and remains the only) American to win the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d’Honneur, cementing his status as a leading chef on the global culinary stage. He subsequently won Japan’s Nippon Award for Excellence, and the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence, all of which earned him a place in James Beard’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. He was seen on the Top Chef TV show and gained US patents for several innovations, including his famous Himalayan salt dry-aging process for beef.
After opening several restaurants with the founder of the iconic Smith & Wollensky steakhouse brand, he went on to form a hospitality company that owned and operated numerous award-winning restaurants around the country, mostly in his home state of NJ and NYC. In 2025, Florida residents now indulge at his newest location, Seahawk Prime by David Burke, in Lake Park!
Often giving back, he created the #FeedTheHeroes program, which prepared and delivered more than 100,000 meals to Covid19 frontline workers and charities. He has instituted a scholarship fund at Brookdale Community College, and mentors culinary students around the globe. Next week he is taking part in the Jacques Peppin 90/90 fundraiser for the JP Foundation supporting culinary students as well. He just completed his fi rst season of Cooking with David Burke on EatThisTV and Fox Food’s American Kitchen. He is always looking to create in and out of the kitchen so keep your eyes open on where you may see him next.
