Retreat Chef
Elevate your retreat with nourishing, wholefood catering - thoughtfully managed so food is one less thing to hold.
Proudly serving Byron Bay, Gold Coast & Beyond
I take care of the food, so you can hold the space.
From planning and prep to service and clean-up, I quietly manage every food detail so you can stay present with your people.
Retreats I Commonly Cater For
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Women’s Retreats
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Yoga Teacher Trainings
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Health & Fitness Retreats
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Leadership & Creative Retreats
This Service Is For You If…
This service is for retreat facilitators and venues who value presence, care and consistency.
It’s a great fit if:
You’re running a multi-day retreat and need food you can fully trust
You want meals that support steady energy, digestion and focus across long days
You don’t want to manage dietary needs while also holding space
You value calm, organised kitchens and seamless service
You’re looking for a chef who understands the rhythm and responsibility of retreat work
If you want food to feel supportive rather than distracting, and abundant without being heavy, you’re in the right place.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
I approach retreat catering with the same care and intention that you bring to your work.
You can expect:
Clear, thoughtful communication throughout your retreat
Menus designed around your schedule, intention and participant needs
A calm, respectful presence in shared spaces and kitchens
Full responsibility for timing, service, and clean-up
Support for dietary requirements, without fuss or overwhelm
I quietly manage the food so you can stay fully present with your participants. Most facilitators tell me afterwards they felt supported, unburdened, and completely able to focus on holding the space.
“We were deeply nourished - body and soul - by Chef Amy Klitscher at our recent Lionsgate Mindfulness Retreat at Heartwood Farm. Her meals were nothing short of sublime: seasonal, elegant, flavourful, and thoughtfully prepared to support intention and wellness.
Her professionalism, attention to dietary needs, and ability to nourish people on all levels made her an unforgettable part of our experience.”
- Nicole S. - Founder of Lionsgate Events
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Antioxidant shots with cold-pressed beetroot, pineapple, ginger, lemon and orange
Homemade granola with coconut yoghurt, bananas and berry coulis
Scrambled eggs with thyme
Selection of sourdough, rye, multi-grain and gluten free bread
Avocado and tomato platter with sprouted micro-greens and toasted pumpkin seeds
Homemade hummus, basil pesto, cultured cashew-feta, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper
Assorted seasonal fruit platter
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Green smoothies with banana, coconut yoghurt, spinach, kiwifruit, mint, chia seeds and spirulina
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Rustic roast pumpkin tart with filo pastry, parmesan, crispy thyme and caramelised onions
Garlic and herb roasted chickpeas
Creamy caesar salad with cos lettuce, shaved celery, coconut 'bacon' & sourdough croutons
Slow-roasted beetroot salad with candied walnuts, olive oil and micro-herbs
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Raw bounty bars dipped in dark ghana and cacao dust
Assorted seasonal fruit platter
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Butternut, turmeric, lentil and ginger soup, served with a coconut cream ripple
Portobello mushrooms with garlic confit, crispy rosemary and macadamia gremolata
Marinated tofu, grilled with capsicum and red onion, drizzled with chimichurri
Roast broccolini with caramelised lemon cheeks and flaked almonds
Quinoa salad with orange, goji berries, toasted almonds and fresh herbs
Garden salad with assorted greens, cucumber, tomato, olives, french vinaigrette
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Spiced pear, ginger and nutmeg cake, served with vanilla bean and brandy thickened cream
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Herbal tea and coffee station, rolling and replenished throughout the day
Sample Menu
An example of a fully catered retreat - your offering can be simpler.
This sample menu shows what a full day of nourishing meals can look like, from breakfast through to dinner, dessert and drinks.
Many retreats only require select meals, and every menu is tailored to your schedule, group, and retreat rhythm.
Whether your retreat is intimate or large-scale, the goal is the same: grounding, beautifully prepared food that supports your guests and lets the retreat unfold with ease.
FAQs
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I’m based in the beautiful Byron Bay, and travel all around NZ and Australia (and beyond) to cater for retreats.
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The earlier the better really! As a general rule of thumb, retreats are booked in 6-12 months in advance.
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An accommodation allowance of $80 AUD per night is required for all retreats, and I will arrange my own accommodation with this. I find this to be the preferred option (rather than a room in the retreat accommodation) allowing you to fill all vacancies on retreat.
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Absolutely, the kitchen will be cleaned spotlessly between meals. You or your guests won’t need to lift a finger - I'll take care of all things catering related.
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All meals are served buffet style, allowing guests to help themselves to each of the different meal components.
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Chickpeas, lentils and other pulses are quite a common source of protein and fibre in my cooking. Their nutritional and environmental benefits are huge - I just love them as an ingredient.
To mitigate the gas and bloating caused by the complex carbohydrates which some people do experience, I only use dried pulses. I cook them for a long and slow 24 hours in the slow cooker which helps removes some of the phytic acid, making them more digestible. While they are cooking I add half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water to increase the PH of the water, in turn weakening the pectin bonds. Once cooked thoroughly, they are triple rinsed to remove any leftover phytic acid and pectins.
At the end of the day our stomachs are all different and things like this are bound to come up during retreats. I like to let everyone at the beginning of the retreat know that they can chat to me about any funky things that come up during the retreat so I can adapt and find them something else suitable - this may in relation to dried pulses or something else.
There will always be a variety of protein sources with the meals as well (e.g. tofu, tempeh, eggs, nuts and seeds).
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They can be but they don’t have to be - this is totally your call.
The sample menus provided are a combo of vegetarian and vegan dishes, but I’m more than happy to either:
a) make your whole retreat menu vegan
b) make your whole retreat menu vegetarian
c) incorporate some ethically sourced meat and/or seafood throughout your retreat menu
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Totally. Whether it’s salads, mains, sides, smoothies, desserts or something else, no two days will be the same!
The only exception being the Herbal Tea & Coffee Station which will be the same each day.
How It Works
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Share your retreat dates, location, and a rough idea of your food needs - even a partial plan is enough.
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We’ll discuss your schedule, group size, dietary needs, and the rhythm you want to create.
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I’ll craft a menu tailored to your retreat, balancing nourishing, grounding meals with ease of service.
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From planning and prep to service and clean-up, I quietly manage the food so you can focus fully on your participants and the space you’re holding.
Retreat Catering Feedback
Let’s Nourish Your Retreat
Not sure exactly what you need yet? That’s completely fine; share what you know and we’ll figure out the rest together.
