BLUE LAKE, CA – Blue Lake Casino Hotel has appointed Justin Schlink as Executive Chef. Schlink, who has spent 25 years in professional kitchens, joins the property from Reno, NV, where he most recently worked with the Caesars Palace family of restaurants at Silver Legacy Casino.
“My favorite dish is learning something new,” said Schlink. “That’s the whole point of this job: learning new cuisine and expanding your horizons.” His culinary background includes Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cooking, as well as Neapolitan-style pizza.
At Blue Lake Casino Hotel, Schlink plans to emphasize locally sourced ingredients and scratch cooking, including house-made dressings and sauces. He has connected with the Blue Lake Rancheria’s agricultural program and will help plan next year’s growing season to incorporate ingredients grown for the casino’s kitchens. He also plans to develop a fermentation program featuring kimchi and sourdough and explore opportunities to incorporate local seafood.
“I really want to focus on locally sourcing, and working with the community,” said Schlink. “I want to build that up here completely.”
Schlink will oversee updates to the property’s banquet offerings and lead a refresh of Alice’s Restaurant, Bluefoot’s Coffee & Deli and Blue Fusion Bistro, retaining guest favorites while reviewing each menu for new offerings.
