Justin rose to local culinary prominence in the kitchen of Handsome Hog in St. Paul, which serves Southern-inspired recipes — many of which can be found in his recent cookbook Northern Soul. Along with a cookbook came the Northern Soul restaurant concept, which has locations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Uptown Ties Rooftop & Lounge, and the seasonal Preserve at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, Minnesota. He also has an egg-centric sandwich chain called Big E’s, which opened its first Minnesota location on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue this year.
A boating accident in 2022 nearly cut his career short after injuries were so severe there was concern he might not be able to comfortably hold a knife again, and he has openly shared his journey of rehab and surgeries through social media.
The Daytime Emmy Awards gave Justin his first Emmy win in December 2023. He took home the statue for Outstanding Culinary Host for his series Taste the Culture, where the Northern Soul and Handsome Hog chef travels the globe to share “BIPOC stories in the food space”. Justin had some stiff competition; other contenders were Food Network luminaries Kardea Brown, Ina Garten, and Guy Fieri, as well as Emeril Lagasse and fellow Twin Citian Andrew Zimmern, whose Family Dinner airs on Magnolia Network.
Since winning the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and competing on Bravo’s Top Chef, Justin has been a fixture on television, including appearances as a judge on Chopped and co-hosting Fast Foodies on TruTV.