By Krystle J. Bailey
“You had me at ‘bacon!’”
That is the recurring sentiment of customers as they approach the vibrant Bake’n Bacon food truck making its way across South Jersey. Justin Coleman of Cape May is behind the wheel of this mouthwatering restaurant-on-wheels that locals are going crazy over.
Bake’n Bacon, founded in 2019, offers a unique twist on mouthwatering favorites such as the baked macaroni and cheese crowd pleaser that features smoked chipotle tomato sauce and bacon crumbles. Bake’n Bacon offers a tantalizing menu of sandwiches, fries, sides, sweets, and bacon-y treats that are sure to get the taste buds going.
Using thick slices of applewood smoked bacon, baked to perfection, Justin Coleman aims to bring the best in food quality and customer service everywhere his bacon mobile takes him. The Cape May native was raised in a cooking family that loved to spend time together in the kitchen. Justin was blessed to be brought up surrounded by three living great grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and other members of the family who took great pride in their homemade meals.
“Cooking from scratch made our family proud. It’s a way to show people you love them,” explains Coleman in reference to his family’s cooking. “In a lot of cultures, cooking with your hands and taking a great deal of time in the kitchen shows cultural pride.”
Justin and Derek 
Photographer – Justin Steere Photography
Justin, the oldest of four siblings, was inspired by his late brother, Derek who passed away in 2016. Justin and Derek shared a unique bond that Justin continues to hold close to his heart. They loved hard and with intention. As the older brother, Justin did his best to look after his younger siblings, especially Derek who faced personal struggles with addiction.
After his passing, Justin felt a deep, posthumous connection to his brother. His enormous grief left him feeling both devastated and thankful for the time that he did share with Derek. Through his grief, Justin’s spirituality began to expand as he was met with consistent divine hints in the form of a sparrow that he knew was coming from his late brother.
Justin, who has always been creative in the kitchen, had planned for years to one day open a food truck. Before Derek’s passing, they’d often spend time together discussing plans for a healthy truck featuring Justin’s signature sauces.
Those plans changed when Derek came to Justin in a dream after his untimely death. When Justin woke from his dream, bacon was the only thing on his mind. Thus, Bake’n Bacon was born. With a sparrow-inspired homage to Derek in the top corner of the truck, Justin brought his dream to life in 2019.
Like so many businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Justin was challenged to get creative in 2020. His mentor, owner of Not Your Mama’s Tacos food truck, inspired Justin to get out into the community and begin serving neighborhoods. Neighborhood visits kept Bake’n Bacon in business throughout 2020 and allowed Justin to build his reputation, which is based on top notch customer service, attention to detail, and of course, delicious food.
“I love bringing good food, presentation, and an experience to people without being in a traditional restaurant setting. It’s the experience that we sell more than the food. We pay incredible attention to detail,” explains Coleman.
Customers who stop by the Bake’n Bacon truck are greeted with Justin Coleman’s infectious smile and the mouthwatering smell of bacon along with a full menu from sandwiches to desserts. This summer, as Coleman gets back on the road, he looks forward to serving from South Jersey to Philadelphia while continuing to keep the memory of his brother alive.
“Having the food truck has given me freedom. It makes me feel alive on days that I don’t feel myself. I get to be a part of moments and memories, watching people graduate, celebrating 70th birthdays, and so much more. I get to be a part of LIFE.” – Justin Coleman, owner of Bake’n Bacon.
Find Bake’n Bacon at the following locations this summer:
Sundays @ Stone Harbor Farmers Market, 8:00am – 12:30pm
Tuesdays @ West Cape May Farmers Market, 3:00pm – 7:30pm
Saturdays @ Wildwood Farmers Market, 8:00am – 12:30pm
West Cape May’s First Annual WCME Family Food Truck Festival, 7/9
Wildwood Anglesea Night Market Series, 7/1, 7/15, 7/29, 8/12, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Crest Mobile Truck and Movie Night in Wildwood Crest, 7/25 and 8/8
Connect with Bake’n Bacon at www.bakenbacon.com and on social media at Baken_BaconFoodTrucks on Instagram and Bake’n Bacon on Facebook.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
