Lefty’s welcomes Executive Chef Paige van den Burg from NYC

There’s a new top chef at Lefty’s Alley & Eats in Lewes. 

The venue recently announced the appointment of Paige van den Burg as its new executive chef.


Van den Burg comes to the property after most recently serving as operator and chef at the prominent Dig restaurant in New York City’s financial district.

“It is with great delight we welcome Chef Paige as Lefty’s Alley & Eats’ new executive chef,” said Gary Foley, general manager. “Her skills, talent and refined taste will take the culinary experience to the next level. She’s a real self-starter and has instinctual culinary acumen which has allowed her to rise quickly to the level of executive chef.”

Van den Burg has more than 10 years of experience in food and beverage. She started her career in St. Louis before moving to Rehoboth and working as a line cook at Espuma. She rapidly rose to a level where she was able to secure a position and thrive in the competitive New York restaurant and theater scene. Her first restaurant job in New York was at the legendary Russian Tea Room, where she would work on 1,000 meals served per night. She then worked for Danny Meyer and the famed Union Square Café, and eventually joined the opening team of the renowned Dig Inn restaurant.

Van den Burg’s cuisine is guided by two principles: 
Less is more, and respect the ingredients. Having fallen in love with cooking at a tender age, her culinary career was slightly delayed by the siren temptress of theater, specifically stage management. She moved to New York to pursue her dream to have a Broadway credit by age 30 and attained that goal three years ahead of schedule.

In her executive chef role at Lefty’s, van den Burg will oversee introducing new flavors and enhanced culinary offerings on site, as well as Lefty’s new Black Hat Catering operations, and the menus for VIP and corporate meetings and events at Lefty’s.

“Chef van den Burg understands the unique benefits and challenges of the resort/seasonal way of life, and the importance of working with the local community to showcase the freshest ingredients and local influences,” said DJ Hill, co-owner of Lefty’s. “There is a new excitement and energy in the kitchen, and we are enthusiastic about the new tastes and the creativity she adds to our gastronomic experience at Lefty’s.”

“Chef Paige’s menu is especially exciting for those looking for vegan and vegetarian options. Every section of the menu features at least one such food option. It’s not always easy to find noteworthy vegetarian food, or even good gluten-free pizza in the beach area. But we definitely have it at Lefty’s. It really is beach food redefined and refined!” said Anita Broccolino, Lefty’s director of sales.

As if the excitement of Lefty’s new drive-in movies, servers on roller skates and a new NYC-trained female executive chef at Lefty’s Alley and Eats wasn’t enough, the venue has debuted a beautifully upgraded outdoor patio seating area to complement the enhanced culinary flavors. “The patio features lush greenery and lighting to give it a verdant vineyard feel,” said Hill. “Along with our incredible new chef, it was perfect timing for this outdoor upgrade.”