Roux Catering at Ralston White Retreat | Mill Valley
There are event venues and then there are places we look forward to returning to again and again—-Ralston White Retreat is that kind of place. Perched on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, surrounded by soaring old-growth redwoods, this 14,000-square-foot Victorian mansion feels like a world apart from everything below it. The trees are so present you can feel their energy the moment you arrive. Groups come here to think differently, to reconnect, to do the kind of work that requires stillness and space.
How We Work at Ralston White
We arrive on the first day with everything we need — ingredients sourced from our farm partners and the Marin Farmers Market, equipment, everything — and we set up in the retreat's commercial kitchen for the duration of your stay. For the next two or three days, we are your personal culinary team, working just behind the swinging kitchen doors through every meal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Made from scratch. On site. Every day. Because we have natural breaks between service, we're able to cook the way we love most — baking desserts fresh, making sauces and dressings from scratch, letting the menu breathe and respond to the group's energy. The food tastes the way it does when someone who loves to cook makes it for people they care about. Spending multiple days with groups is a wonderful experience and unusual in catering.
The Setting
Ralston White Retreat sits on 43 acres on Mount Tamalpais in Mill Valley, just 29 miles from SFO. The mansion features 22 bedrooms, two meeting rooms, and exclusive use of the entire property — your group is the only group. The redwood forest surrounds you on all sides. It's one of the most extraordinary retreat settings in the Bay Area.The retreat holds a maximum of 35 overnight guests and 50 for day use. Groups are typically 15–35 people — intimate enough that we can give every meal real personal attention.
What We Bring
Everything. We source all ingredients fresh, bring our own professional equipment to complement the on-site kitchen, and handle all meal prep, service, and cleanup. You focus entirely on your retreat. We handle everything that happens in the kitchen. Our menus at Ralston White are seasonal, locally sourced, and built around what's extraordinary at the Marin Farmers Market that week. We work with Star Route Farms in Bolinas — the oldest certified organic farm in California — and prioritize produce that's at its peak. Dietary accommodations including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free are always available.
A Sample Retreat Menu
This is a real menu from a recent retreat at Ralston White — updated seasonally to reflect what's fresh and beautiful right now.
Wednesday Welcome Dinner
On the Table:
Rosemary Olive Oil Focaccia
House Marinated Olives
Plated Salad
Star Route Farms Organic Lettuces, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Tomato Vinaigrette
Plated — Your Choice:
Local Line Caught Fish, Late Summer Risotto, Wild Mushrooms, Corn, Heirloom Squash,
Creamed Corn, Cherry Tomato Relish
Slow Cooked Stemple Creek Grassfed Beef Short Ribs, Red Wine, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes,
Star Route Baby Carrots, Golden Beets, Veal Demi
Vegetarian: Late Summer Risotto, Wild Mushrooms, Corn, Heirloom Squash,
Creamed Corn, Iacopi Butter Beans, Tomato Relish
Dessert
Meyer Lemon Tarts, Edible Flowers
Thursday Breakfast
Organic Straus Yogurt, Organic Coconut Yogurt, House Made Granola, Organic Berries,
Whole Wheat Croissants,
Farmer's Market Frittata with Summer Vegetables and Goat Cheese,
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Thursday Lunch
Sourdough Seeded Bread, Whipped Butter
Carrot Ginger Soup
Farmer's Market Salad, Cucumbers, Radishes, Sunflower Seeds, Champagne Vinaigrette
Chickpea Salad, Red Onion, Roasted Fennel, Herbs, Olive Oil
Garlic Shrimp, Ginger, Bok Choy
Jasmine Rice, Nori, Sesame
Stonefruit Crumble, Vanilla Whipped Cream
Thursday Dinner
On the Table
Artisan Whole Wheat Bread, Fennel Butter
Plated
Star Route Farms Little Gems, Garlic Caesar Dressing, Manchego Cheese Tuilles
Family Style
Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Brown Butter, Baby Kale
Roasted Mary's Organic Chicken, Preserved Lemon Relish
Broccolini, Garlic Confit — Roasted Summer Squash, Jimmy Nardelo Peppers
Scallion Pancakes, Pepita Chili Oil
Dessert
Dark Chocolate Tart, Caramel Sauce
Friday Brunch
Buttermilk Biscuits, Honey Butter — Morning Glory Muffins
Farmer's Market Salad, Grilled Peaches, Spicy Pecans, Honey Goat Cheese, Roasted Peach Vinaigrette
Roux Signature Tart, Wild Mushrooms, Leeks
House Made Organic Chicken Apple Sausage
Summer Vegetable Succotash, Poached Eggs, Jalapeño Crema
Breakfast Potatoes, Onions, Peppers
Beverages Throughout
Fresh brewed organic coffee and Rishi hot tea available all day.
Fresh orange and grapefruit juice at breakfast.
Signature organic fruit lemonade and Rishi iced tea at lunch.
Roux Organic Rhubarb Shrub at dinner. Sparkling water always available.
Who We Work With Here
Ralston White draws remarkable groups — nonprofit leadership teams, creative organizations, wellness retreats, corporate off-sites seeking something more intentional than a hotel conference room. We've cooked for scientists, artists, educators, and executives. The common thread is people who care deeply about how they gather and what they put in their bodies. We are proud to be a recommended caterer at Ralston White Retreat.
Planning a Retreat at Ralston White?
We'd love to be your culinary team. Reach out to start the conversation — we'll talk through your group's size, dietary needs, and the kind of experience you want to create around the table.