Cooking with JUSTIN

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Cavallo Point Lodge nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge for an interactive cooking class led by Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom from the MICHELIN-starred Restaurant at JUSTIN.

JUSTIN Winery and its restaurant is located on California’s Central Coast in Paso Robles. It’s one of the two restaurants in the region with a MICHELIN star. Recently, Chef Haggstrom’s work at JUSTIN has earned her a MICHELIN star and a MICHELIN green star, in recognition of her commitment to sustainable gastronomy.

A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of dining at JUSTIN in Paso Robles. So this time it was a treat to meet Chef Haggstrom in the Bay Area, where I am based. Cavallo Point Lodge’s Cooking School, renowned for its excellence, provided a spacious and well-equipped environment for our culinary exploration with JUSTIN.

Our experience began with mingling among fellow guests, indulging in cheese and wine while soaking in the breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay that Cavallo Point Lodge offers.

To follow, we made our way to the kitchen to prepare our first course: Seared Scallops in Beurre Blanc with chives, caviar, and cauliflower puree. It was a treat to learn and cook alongside the best.

The group then made its way to an elegantly set table and we savored our first course paired with the 2022 JUSTIN Sonoma County Chardonnay. The Chardonnay grapes were sourced from top vineyards like Sangiacomo Family Vineyards in Sonoma and Flocchini Vineyards in Petaluma. It embodies JUSTIN’s Chardonnay legacy with its round texture, fresh acidity, and a blend of ripe fruit and herbal notes.

Guests remained seated as the second course was presented before them:  Duck Confit with lentils, escarole, duck jus, and frisée salad. It paired seamlessly with the 2022 JUSTIN Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. This wine represents JUSTIN’s debut in northern California after four decades in Paso Robles.

Finally, we ended our culinary journey with a luscious 64% Milk Chocolate Mousse with blood orange, cocoa nibs, and vanilla crème anglaise, perfectly accompanied by the 2021 JUSTIN Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing the quality of their top-tier cabernet sauvignon grapes.

Having paired great wine, food and location, I really enjoyed my evening with JUSTIN at Cavallo Point. Spending time with Chef Haggstrom and learning from her was a highlight that I very much appreciated. With JUSTIN’s new Sonoma selection of wines, I hope to join them again in the future for fantastic wine dinners such as the one at Cavallo Point.