Justine Marie Dachel is the Owner of Jewel’s Bakery & Cafe in Arcadia, which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, specializing in an all-gluten free menu that anyone, regardless of food restrictions, will love. Justine is young and fiercely passionate about what she does, making her a fabulous person for us to feature. Learn more about Justine…
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
First job: My first job ever was at a local pizza place. I started as a host, but I quickly learned how to do everything in the restaurant. I washed dishes, I was on salad, I was on pizza, I served. I really fell in love with working with people and serving really good food. I came from a big family who loved to cook, and I had a natural drive to learn more, work hard, and be better than I was the day before.
Favorite AZ restaurant: So I have a lot of favorite restaurants – A LOT – let me tell you. But when I think back to what I used to love as a kid, all the feels go back to eating at the Happy Cooker. It was originally alllll the way in the back of the antiques shop, on 38th st and Indian school. There was one cook, all the time, and yes, he was happy, also all the time. He didn’t make James Beard award winning food, but he loved what he did, and he did it REALLY well, especially for being in the back of an antiques store. He was so far ahead of his time, it’s insane to think about it now. In San Francisco or New York, that would have been packed every day. Those home made rolls, and that peanut chicken salad I crave all the time, even years after they closed.
Person who has impacted your life the most: My grandmother, hands down, she’s a saint. Her parents started a tiny Mexican restaurant in New Mexico. She worked there when she was a kid and she would tell me stories about how she was so excited to get a 10 cent tip. She taught me how to cook, she inspired me to love good food, and she showed me every day that you show love by cooking for the people you care about.
Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes: I have yet to figure that out, get back to me in a few years. For now, it’s getting up in the morning before my alarm goes off.
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: Self-doubt. I need to trust my instinct more, I question myself, I care about what would people think. Even when I know I should just run with the bull, sometimes I let my thoughts get the best of me.
Someone who inspires you: My business partner, and best friend, Jonathan. On a daily basis he challenges me to be better, make better food, have better service. He has high expectations for me, almost as high as I have for myself. I feel like you need someone like that to succeed, someone who pushes you to do better every single day.
Favorite quote: And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed).
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: This industry can test every nerve you have, press every button, make your hair fall out, burn you, deprive you of sleep, food, and any type of social life – you have to make sure to take care of yourself. Sit by the pool and do nothing, eat some really good junk food, go get that massage. Put yourself first, treat yourself well, and you can handle anything that gets thrown your way… or lights on fire cause that happens sometimes too.
What makes someone fabulous: Sounds cheesy, but when someone isn’t afraid to be themselves, take risks, and make some money moves.
