The Restaurant at JUSTIN Awarded MICHELIN Star and MICHELIN Inexperienced Star

High-ranking honors awarded Paso Robles, California.-based JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, the restaurant and its tasting menu made from locally sourced ingredients by the Executive Chef Rachel Hagstrom

PASO ROBLES, California., December 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is proud to announce that The Restaurant at JUSTIN has received a coveted MICHELIN Star – one of the culinary industry’s highest awards – as part of the MICHELIN® 2022 Guide California as well as a MICHELIN Green Star for its sustainability practices. The Restaurant at JUSTIN is one of four restaurants in the United States to have received both a MICHELIN Star and a MICHELIN Green Star. The restaurant in the JUSTIN is run by the executive chef Rachel Hagstrom and shows the ultimate California Food and wine experience featuring dishes made with the freshest local ingredients.

The restaurant at JUSTIN has received a coveted MICHELIN star – one of the culinary industry’s highest awards – as part of the MICHELIN® Guide California 2022, as well as a MICHELIN Green Star for its sustainability practices. Led by Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom, The Restaurant at JUSTIN is one of four restaurants in the US to have received both a MICHELIN Star and a MICHELIN Green Star.

The signature dining experience at JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery features a 4-course prix fixe menu that exudes understated excellence and the best of California cuisine. Complemented by pairings of JUSTIN’s award-winning wines and stunning vineyard views, the restaurant brings a fine dining experience to the wine country of Paso robes.

A MICHELIN star is awarded to restaurants that offer excellent cuisine based on five universal criteria: quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastery of techniques, the chef’s personality as reflected in their cuisine and consistency throughout menu over time. The MICHELIN Green Star recognizes restaurants that are at the forefront of the industry in terms of their sustainability practices. First unveiled in 2020, the MICHELIN Green Star has been introduced in several editions of the MICHELIN Guide 2021.

“This MICHELIN recognition is incredible testament to the pursuit of excellence we strive for every day,” he said Clarence Chia, Senior Vice President of Marketing, eCommerce and Direct-to-Consumer at JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “From our award-winning wines to our sustainability practices to our MICHELIN Star status, we pride ourselves on embodying the JUSTIN mantra ‘extraordinary in every way’ in everything we do. We are incredibly proud of Executive Chef Haggstrom and the entire hospitality team at JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery on this tremendous achievement.”

Currently, 95% of the ingredients on the seasonally changing menu come from either JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery’s 26-acre garden or from local suppliers and farmers throughout the Central Coast, with The Restaurant at JUSTIN being one of the largest buyers at the local Farmers’ Market. The garden houses an orchard with 150 trees, edible flower fields and features exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs and an apiary. all of which provide plenty of ingredients.

“The culinary industry is driven by passion, artistry and creativity with a constant pursuit of perfection. I love to watch every day how ingredients are cultivated in the garden, just a few steps from The Restaurant, to be put on the plate and finally how this dish not only nourishes the human being, but his soul,” said Executive boss Rachel Hagstrom. “To be recognized by MICHELIN for something I love is a dream come true and just surreal. I am truly honored to be among the chefs I consider my heroes and mentors.”

Chef Haggstrom and his team source the “less-than-perfect” produce from local suppliers, save these items from food waste, support the local supply chain and showcase these locally sourced produce in pasta fillings, desserts and beautifully presented dishes.

Established in 1991 when Paso robes While it was still in its infancy and there were no other restaurants within miles, The Restaurant at JUSTIN became a beacon for the community with a long legacy of excellence that followed. Awards include the Wine Spectator’s 2017 Restaurant Award, an award recognizing top restaurants with a great wine program, and 17 consecutive years of receiving the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, recognizing restaurants with a well-chosen wine list from quality producers with a thematic adaptation to the menu in price and style. Most recently, Restaurant at JUSTIN was ranked second for Best Winery Restaurant in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards 2022 and first in California. The restaurant also received a Gold Award for Sustainability from Elite Traveler in 2022 for its environmental practices.

A CaliforniaBorn in Haggstrom, Executive Chef joined JUSTIN in 2019 and is best known for her elevated farm-to-table cooking style, which is influenced by the state’s abundance of fresh, seasonal produce and allows her a wide range of ingredients California’s Seasons on the plate. She finished her studies California Culinary Academy – Le Cordon Bleu a san francisco and then worked his way through the kitchens of various elite culinary destinations, including The Dining Room, the MICHELIN starred restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, the former Chef’s “Postrio”. Wolfgang PuckAnd Thomas Kellers The three MICHELIN star restaurant The French Laundry. Most recently, Haggstrom served as Executive Chef at Balboa Bay Resort before assuming her current role as Executive Chef at The Restaurant at JUSTIN.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Paso robesThe restaurant at JUSTIN is open for dinner Thursday through Sunday with seating from 6:30am to 6:30pm 8 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made at JUSTINWine.com.

About JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery
located in Paso robesEstablished in 1981, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is known for producing world-class wines Bordeaux Grape varieties including the legendary ISOSCELES blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Located at 11680 Chimney Rock Road, the winery has a tasting room, luxury five-star accommodations at the JUST Inn, and a restaurant—making it one of the few Central Coast wineries to offer all three options. In Sept 2018a new, second location, JUSTIN Downtown, has opened and features an expansive wine tasting bar, lounge and full dining room prominently located on the plaza along Downtown City Park in the heart of Paso robes. In addition to its outstanding hospitality, JUSTIN regularly receives top awards around the world and is establishing itself as a leader in the new world of Bordeaux-style winemaking. JUSTIN wines are available everywhere from discerning wine merchants and restaurants The United States, or directly from the winery via JUSTIN’s Tasting Rooms, the online shop or to members of the exclusive wine club of the JUSTIN Wine Society. To learn more about JUSTIN, visit www.justinwine.com.

SOURCE JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery