JUSTIN Vineyard & Winery Restaurant Awarded MICHELIN Star, Green Star
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is celebrating after The Restaurant at JUSTIN received a coveted MICHELIN Star – one of the culinary industry’s highest recognitions – as a part of the 2022 MICHELIN® Guide California as well as a MICHELIN Green Star for its sustainability practices. The location is one of four restaurants in the nation to receive both a MICHELIN Star and a MICHELIN Green Star. The Restaurant at JUSTIN is led by Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom and showcases the ultimate California food and wine experience with dishes created from the freshest local ingredients.
The one-of-a-kind dinner experience at JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery features a 4-course prix fixe menu. Complemented with pairings from JUSTIN’s award-winning wines and sweeping views of the vineyards, the Restaurant brings an elevated culinary experience to the wine country of Paso Robles.
A MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking with five universal criteria: quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine, and consistency across the entire menu over time. The MICHELIN Green Star highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainability practices. First revealed in 2020, the MICHELIN Green Star was introduced into several of the 2021 editions of the MICHELIN Guide.
“This recognition from MICHELIN is an incredible testament to the pursuit of excellence we strive for every day,” said Clarence Chia, senior vice president of marketing, for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “From our award-winning wines to our sustainability practices and now our MICHELIN-Star status, we are proud to embody the JUSTIN mantra of ‘exceptional from every angle’ in everything we do. We are incredibly proud of Chef Haggstrom and the entire hospitality team at JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery on this tremendous accomplishment.”
The Vineyard said currently 95% of the ingredients on the seasonal rotating menu are sourced locally from either the 26-acre garden at JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery or local purveyors and farmers throughout the Central Coast, with The Restaurant at JUSTIN being one of the largest purchasers at the local farmer’s market. The garden is home to a 150-tree orchard, edible flower fields, and features exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs and an apiary; all of which supply ample ingredients.
“The culinary industry is driven by passion, artistry and creativity with a constant strive for perfection. I love watching each day as ingredients cultivate within the garden, steps away from The Restaurant, to then translate to the plate, and finally how that dish not only nourishes the person, but their soul,” said Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom. “Recognition from MICHELIN for doing something I love is a dream come true, and simply surreal. I’m truly honored to be among the ranks of chefs that I consider my heroes and my mentors.”
Chef Haggstrom and team purposefully purchase the “less than perfect” produce from local vendors, rescuing these items from becoming food waste, supporting the local supply chain and showcasing these locally sourced items in pasta fillings, desserts and beautifully plated dishes.
Established in 1991, when Paso Robles was just in its early days and there were no other restaurants for several miles, The Restaurant at JUSTIN became a beacon to the community with a long legacy of excellence that followed. Accolades include Wine Spectator’s 2017 Restaurant Award, an honor that recognizes top restaurants with a great wine program, as well as 17 consecutive years of receiving Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence which highlights restaurants featuring a well-chosen wine list of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Most recently, the Restaurant at JUSTIN ranked second for Best Winery Restaurant in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards 2022 and ranked first in California. The Restaurant also received a gold award for sustainability from Elite Traveler in 2022 for its environmental practices.
A California-native, Chef Haggstrom joined JUSTIN in 2019 and is best-known for her upscale farm-to-table cooking style that draws influence from the state’s bounty of fresh, seasonal produce, allowing her a wide variety of ingredients that bring California’s seasons to the plate. She completed her degree from California Culinary Academy – Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco and then worked her way through the kitchens of various elite culinary destinations including “The Dining Room,” the MICHELIN Star restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, the former “Postrio” by Chef Wolfgang Puck, and Thomas Keller’s three MICHELIN star restaurant, The French Laundry. Most recently, Haggstrom served as the Executive Chef at the Balboa Bay Resort before landing in her current role as Executive Chef of The Restaurant at JUSTIN.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Paso Robles, The Restaurant at JUSTIN is open for dinner Thursday – Sunday with seatings available from 6:30 – 8 PM. You can make reservations on the restaurant’s website.
