Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Justin Lawson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Justin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The Wine Down Experience came from a project while I was in culinary school. The project was geared towards opening your own restaurant and creating an entire concept on paper. The name came to me while brainstorming in class, it just felt right with my interest in wine and the idea of relaxing and allowing my company to do all the work for you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I began my love for cooking as a kid, We had to take turns as siblings and cook meals for the family, and that’s when I realized I was talented at that age. Fast forward to college, I actually went to school for pre-med in an attempt to be an anesthesiologist. I quickly realized, I had a passion for cooking and decided to go to culinary school halfway through. That was my entrance to the industry and since I made that decision the ball has been rolling in my favor. I created The Wine Down while I was in culinary school, I’ve always wanted to work for myself, and having that opportunity to create and execute a business plan from school to now is a large driving motivator. One key to success is discipline and I’ve been able to gain discipline by being raised within a military family, and having those core values instilled in me as a kid. The Wine Down Experience is a full traveling private chef experience, I offer all cuisines and meal types from meal delivery service, brunch, lunch, dinner, and appetizer parties to full weddings. Offering these services solves tons of questions and problems for my clients, as they can trust me to create an experience for them without any worry. My style of service and ability to cook all cuisines separates me from others, having a white glove service while eating the best food is a rare find.
One of my biggest accomplishments is being able to host a pop-up restaurant that was hosted by The Breakfast Klub and Black Chef Table. Being able to be on that stage and showcase my thought process and vision was a dream come true, it allowed me to get a taste of what is to come and that is to have a brick-and-mortar. Also, I have had the opportunity to cook for some top athletes and celebrities over the years so that was a great experience, to get into those rooms and be able to show my expertise.
The main thing I’d like for everyone to know about me is my drive and passion for not only cooking but to be able to create an experience to remember for everyone.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth has helped me build my reputation within my market. Setting my standard of service and executing day in and day out has led to great reviews and referrals from all my clientele. Word travels fast when you’re good but faster when it’s negative so just continuing to be on the good side has helped build my company up.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I failed to become a full-time private chef twice while working in restaurants and exploring corporate food and beverage. The third time stepped away from being an employee, I successfully executed a year’s worth of business and have been a full-time private chef since then. This shows resilience, as I did not give up or run away from failure, I embraced the journey and understood that when the right time comes I will be ready and I was.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thewinedownexperience.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewinedownexperience
• Other: https://www.thumbtack.com/tx/austin/personal-chefs/wine-down/service/345884243973914632?category_pk=150767068874637772&from_static_sp=true&zip_code=78735

Image Credits
instagram: thequeenofyum