Justine Miner

A classically trained California cuisine trailblazer, chef Justine Miner started as a line cook for Wolfgang Puck and helped Thomas Keller launch Napa Valley's Bouchon before opening her own acclaimed San Francisco restaurant, RNM. Throughout its profitable run, RNM celebrated California’s Mediterranean climate and crossroads flavors, including chef Justine’s own Assyrian family recipes. An early leader of the global locavore movement, chef Justine has championed sustainable sourcing and regenerative agriculture throughout her 30+ years as a culinary entrepreneur and conservation advocate, including pivotal collaborations with Jim Denevan's Outstanding in the Field and Marin Agricultural Land Trust.

Working in kitchens with people from all walks of life has given chef Justine a close-up view of community resilience in action, through economic shifts, pandemics, and climate change. Chef Justine’s signature shared dishes invite everyone to the table as equals, including creative icons and captains of industry across the political spectrum — but she's especially proud to serve meals to anyone who needs care and comfort, from Project Open Hand AIDS survivors to California fire first responders.

A lifelong philanthropist, chef Justine is widely admired for her critical early support in humanitarian and climate crises as well as her long-term commitments to ongoing community challenges, including teen mental health and substance use disorder recovery. As her philanthropic partner Connie Sobczak, Executive Director of The Body Positive, says, "Justine is a compassionate and deeply caring person, whose generous support of The Body Positive has allowed us to build resilience and improve the mental and physical health of more than a million young people across 34 countries and 45 U.S. states.”

Through her visionary creative and philanthropic work, chef Justine continues to invest in the resilience of our people, our planet, and our democracy. A dedicated multitasker, she spends rare downtime advocating for causes while rolling dolmas or reeling in 7-foot marlin.