Justine Zegna brings over two decades of experience creating restaurants that go beyond food to define atmosphere. From the original Planet X Café in College Park, MD — featured by The Washington Post for its ahead-of-its-time concept — to Venus of the Half Shell and Planet X in Rehoboth Beach, her work has consistently lived at the intersection of food, culture, and design.
Long before farm-to-table became a trend, Justine was building spaces rooted in local ingredients, character, and place. She later founded Planet X Catering, a touring operation that spent more than a decade feeding major artists and events, including HFStival and the Tibetan Freedom Concert, while working as a private chef for artists including Foo Fighters and Perry Farrell.
In 2014, Justine brought that experience to Berlin, Maryland, creating Blacksmith as a modern gathering place centered around local food, craft beer, and small-batch spirits. Blacksmith’s ethos remains grounded in community, passion, and decades of experience.
