Chef + Owners : Brian & Amanda Light

Howdy! We are a husband and wife team, Brian and Amanda Light. Amanda is a graduate of Texas A&M University - Class of 2018 (Whoop!) and Brian is a 2005 graduate of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management.

Ronin is the name for our restaurant, as well as our family farm. Our vision is to preserve the gastronomic and cultural traditions of Texas by sharing sustainable foods and genuine experiences with our community. Tradition is important here in the Brazos Valley, and we feel it is our honored duty and privilege to carry the role as stewards of this history.

Ronin began on a whim, wing and a prayer after catering for our midwife’s wedding in July 2011. The farm property was previously owned by the late Don Ganter of Dixie Chicken fame. With the help of family and friends alike, an old barn of Mr. Ganter’s was converted into a commercial kitchen with the intention of providing offsite catering. We gradually began adding to our family by raising chickens, pigs, gardens, guineas, turkeys and more, learning about how to live life in the country along the way. Slowly but surely, we began hosting weddings, special events, and Full Moon Dinners at The Farm because it is too lovely not to share.

In 2015, the folks who were developing the Ice House on Main approached us and asked if we had ever thought of opening a restaurant. From there, the planning began, which led to a full year of construction. The Ice House was built in 1912 (making it 111 years old!), so with the intention of paying homage to its history, we kept as much of the original infrastructure intact as possible. Examples of this can be seen in the custom table tops (wood repurposed from the office floors), the wood burning grill (bricks from the long-standing Ice House walls), and the original (now refinished) floors throughout. Charm, character, and stories abound in this building we now call home, making for a rich and carefully balanced ambiance - the perfect setting to enjoy a meal with friends and family.

Our farm continues to flourish with the help of the many loving hands that work there. Heritage breed pigs, chickens, guineas and more continue to be raised on pasture along with the countless heirloom vegetables, fruits and flowers. Each week our gardens provide for the restaurant, as well as the special events & Full Moon Dinners we serve. To see our farmers bringing freshly harvested vegetables through the door of the restaurant in the afternoon, to be served that same night, instills a sense of season and ecological connection that is irreplaceable.

We are grateful for the privilege to be a part of something greater, a commonality that connects all humans alike – food.

We look forward to sharing a meal with you.