The Dixie Lee Bakery was on e of those must stops along the Raritan Bay area of New Jersey People went to Keansburg Amusement Park and Water Park and then the bakery for cookies.Locals bought their famed onion rye bread that was even good hard and stale.It lasted with the original family then sold them closed just recently.
I found out about its' closing yesterday aduring a day at the shore.I wanted to see if their quarter pound of their yummy chocolate dipped butter cookies had gone up in price. Imagine my surprise when I read that the bakery closed in June. There was shock and surprise. The Dixie Lee has been a staple of the area since 1937 meh the original owners opened it in 1937.The Slovenc family started it , naming it after Bing Crosby's wife at the time Dixie Lee. For decades and generations family went there after mass at nearby St Ann,.s Kids love the Cookie Monster cupcakes while adults loved the checkerboard cakes and croissants.Dixie Lee was responsible for cakes from birthdays to probably weddings. They were there. Always. They caught the eye ,including myself , of visitors to the Bayside city.I fell for the butter cookies dipped in lush dark chocolate and covered in sprinkles. The big cookies were excellent too, every bite buttery and sugary - and satisfying.I bought my Mom's graduation seven layer cake along with that incredibly delicious onion rye bread. That last made for excellent sandwiches and was great slathered with butter.
Then The Slovenc's retired with he kids and grandkids not wanting to take over. In 2022 the famed New Jersey chef David Burke took over. He created restaurants throughout the state , New York and Floritda, I had hoped that he would continue on with the Slovenc';s recipes and charm. I had met him during a visit there.He was in the middle of a tantrum , going on about his pastry chefs. His assistant ,Jake, was much more helpful even agreeing to an interview for this blog.. The brownies and breads remained the same, along with the butter cookies. He did add the fancier macarons which would probably would have been better off in a little shop at Long Branch or in a fancy French bakery in Red Bank.There were also tee shirts and baking lessons offered.Is this part of a typical bakery ?No. That probably was his first mistake. The second was changing recipes people grew up on. That;s when many, according to their Facebook posts went to bakeries in nearby towns. Customer traffic dwindled. There was slowly no more trade. Chef Burke's possession lasted only four years. There is hope with Anthony Rotondo , from Plainview who wants to buy the bakery and return the Dixie Lee to its' former glory.
Is the Dixie Lee poised for a resurrection. SO many hope so. Bring back this grand bakery and all the great recipes with it.
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