Specialties
Mill Valley Pasta Co. are artisan pasta makers specializing in small batch air-dried bronze & brass extruded pastas and unique provisions. One of only a handful of open-air-dried pastas companies in the whole country (meaning they don't have any drying machinery or dehydrators they use), their selection of dried pastas swells to as many as 90 different dried pastas on the shelves at any given time. They do offer a weekly fresh pasta offering as well though, typically bucatini, their gluten-free casarecce, and a rotating flavored pasta of the week. Their housemade pasta sauces and provisions are made with as many local organic ingredients as possible, and they have curated a selection of pasta-adjacent provisions that are a great match for any foodie. While they are gluten-focused, they have a impressive lineup of gluten-free sauces and provisions for those who need wheat-free products. Their tinned fish offering can swell to 30+ options at times.
Mill Valley Pasta Co. Retail Store currently offers NA Spirits and mixers, and anticipates carrying local and imported wines and beer in early 2025. They also offer unique housewares, pasta-making tools, linen, artisan small-batch coffees, and international ingredients that are hard to find in the area. Cheeses offered are Italian or a locally produced Italian style cheese.
History
Established in 2020.
Mill Valley Pasta Co. was started on accident when Chef Tony Adams, furloughed from his job running a small cooking school, started making pasta for his neighbors for free because he missed sharing food with people. In the following weeks, the initial neighbors (and their friends!) wanted more and offered to pay for it. Eventually making up to 100 pounds of pasta a week in his small apartment, production moved three more times before landing in their current small 1500 sq ft factory in San Rafael, where they also have a small factory store. They opened the Downtown Mill Valley Retail Store in late-summer 2024.
Meet the Business Owner: Tony A.
I was running a small cooking school, teaching more than 200 classes a year, when the pandemic hit in 2020, and I missed cooking for and with people! Previously owning a provisions company in Florida and coming from a very fine-dining background, I thought Mill Valley Pasta Co would be a quick little fun project to keep me busy for a few months. When I was called back to work 13 months later, I knew I couldn't let what I had grown go, and I went all-in on Mill Valley Pasta Co. We now make up to 1600 pounds of pasta weekly, have more than 90 different pastas in our regular lineup, and more than 50 different provisions and sauces. I love meeting folks at our farmers market stops, where I regularly work, and at both our Factory Store, and new Retail store in Downtown Mill Valley.
