Sodexo Live! and Chef Rich Mead Bring a Fresh, Local Focus to Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens has long offered visitors a peaceful retreat into nature's embrace. Now, through a partnership between Sodexo Live! and acclaimed farm-to-table chef Rich Mead, this botanical sanctuary is becoming a premier culinary destination that showcases the company's approach to working with celebrity chefs and supporting local food systems.

Sodexo Live!, which manages food and beverage operations at cultural venues worldwide, has a history of partnering with notable chefs to create distinctive dining experiences. At Descanso Gardens, this expertise comes together with Chef Mead's commitment to California agriculture to launch Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens — a restaurant that puts local sourcing and sustainability at the center of fine dining.

"We're proud to bring something truly local to Descanso," said Sodexo Live! General Manager Jason Salmon. "Chef Mead has deep, decades-long relationships with farmers and purveyors throughout California. That kind of connection translates directly into the quality and soul of the food."

Built on Farmer Relationships

Chef Mead has been a leader in the farm-to-table movement since before the term gained popularity. His approach centers on sourcing the best ingredients from trusted producers and letting those ingredients drive menu development.

"I've worked with many of the same farmers for years," Mead shared. "Their produce is what inspires our menus — what's fresh, what's in season, what's special. It's a relationship-driven process, and that's what makes the food memorable."

This philosophy drives Farmhouse's menu, where dishes like grass-fed culotte steak with Weiser Farms potatoes, coriander-spiced carrots with burrata, and garden-herb salmon reflect both culinary skill and a commitment to freshness and sustainability through local sourcing.

Sustainability Through Design and Operations

The restaurant's design reflects environmental consciousness through thoughtful use of local materials and craftsmanship. The bar was made by local craftsman William Stranger using fallen oak trees from the grounds, while murals of Descanso's botanical collections create a seamless connection to the surrounding nature.

The space features indoor and outdoor seating with a garden patio that extends the dining experience into the landscape. The cocktail menu takes cues from the gardens, using herbs and botanicals sourced from the surrounding grounds.

Future plans include special events and dinners featuring produce grown directly on-site, further integrating the restaurant with its garden setting.

Multiple Local Concepts

Sodexo Live!'s commitment to local sourcing extends throughout Descanso Gardens via three complementary food and beverage concepts:

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens serves as the flagship restaurant, demonstrating how fine dining can celebrate local agriculture and seasonal ingredients.

The Market offers a reimagined grab-and-go café with fresh meals, snacks, drinks, and soft-serve ice cream, maintaining the same focus on quality local ingredients.

Jones Coffee Roasters brings the beloved Pasadena-based coffee company into the gardens, serving high-quality brews and pastries throughout the day.

Each concept highlights Sodexo Live!'s goal of delivering hospitality that celebrates local culture while supporting regional producers and artisans.

A Partnership Model

The collaboration with Chef Mead illustrates Sodexo Live!'s approach to working with culinary talent. The company creates partnerships that support chef creativity while providing operational expertise.

"Working with established chefs requires understanding their vision and values," explains Salmon. "Chef Mead brings decades of farm-to-table expertise and established relationships with local producers. We provide the infrastructure and operational support to bring that vision to life at scale."

This model allows chefs to focus on menu development and culinary direction while Sodexo Live! handles the complex logistics of sourcing, operations, and venue management.

Community Focus

For Chef Mead, the partnership represents an extension of values that have shaped his career. "I've learned over the years that success isn't just about the food," Mead said. "It's about building something with integrity — treating your team well, supporting local farms, creating a space where guests feel welcome. That's how you create something lasting."

The collaboration demonstrates how large-scale food service operations can maintain artisanal values while supporting local food systems. By partnering with established local producers and focusing on seasonal ingredients, the restaurant creates economic impact that extends beyond the venue itself.

"Every relationship we build with a local farmer or producer creates a ripple effect in the community," notes Salmon. "That's the kind of impact we want to have in every market where we operate."

Setting a Standard

The success at Descanso Gardens may serve as a model for similar collaborations at other Sodexo Live! venues. The company operates food services at cultural institutions nationwide, many of which are exploring ways to better integrate local sourcing and sustainable practices.

The partnership demonstrates that exceptional dining experiences and environmental responsibility can work hand in hand, creating value for guests, local communities, and cultural institutions alike.

Together, Sodexo Live! and Chef Rich Mead are redefining the culinary experience at Descanso Gardens through seasonal ingredients, meaningful partnerships with local producers, and a shared vision for community-focused hospitality that celebrates the intersection of great food and cultural experiences.