Healdsburg, USA
From Michelin Guide
Here, in the bucolic loveliness at the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, sense of place combines exquisitely with the deeply personal vision of owners Chef Kyle Connaughton and head farmer Katina Connaughton. The nearby 24-acre farm provides much of the bounty prepared in the kitchen, and the couple’s time in Japan informs the restaurant’s ethos and the kaiseki-influenced cuisine. The menu begins memorably with a botanical landscape interspersed with impeccable first bites that introduce the central themes of the meal: impeccable ingredients, precise knife technique, artistic presentation and pure, harmonious flavors. The expert use of the donabe (Japanese clay pot) is also a trademark and transforms seafood and vegetables alike into true delicacies.
From Visitor Experiences
Here are three unique and unconventional aspects of SingleThread, the Michelin 3-star restaurant in Healdsburg:
1. Integration of a Biodynamic Farm and Self-Sustaining Practices
SingleThread operates a 5-acre organic farm that grows 70% of the produce used in the restaurant. The farm uses no municipal water and includes over 100 olive trees that produce all the olive oil for the restaurant. Additionally, 100% of the floral materials used in the LEED-certified dining room and inn are grown on the farm or gathered from the surrounding forest. This deep farm-to-table integration is a defining feature of SingleThread’s culinary philosophy and sustainability efforts.
2. The Combined Experience of a Michelin 3-Star Restaurant and a Boutique Inn with Personalized Concierge Services
SingleThread is not only a restaurant but also a tiny, food-driven inn with just five luxurious guest rooms. It is one of the only Three Key hotels in the United States recognized by the Michelin Guide. Guests benefit from a highly personalized experience, including concierge-organized excursions such as vineyard tours, art gallery visits, cheese tastings, fly fishing, helicopter tours, hikes, and visits to nearby redwoods. This combination of fine dining and immersive local experiences is quite rare and elevates the overall guest experience beyond just the meal.
3. Culinary Style: Seasonal Californian Cuisine with Heavy Japanese Influences
The menu at SingleThread is a distinctive blend of seasonal Californian cuisine infused with Japanese ingredients and techniques. This fusion reflects the chef’s background, which includes experience in California, the UK’s The Fat Duck, and several years in Japan. This unique culinary approach results in dishes that are innovative and culturally nuanced, setting SingleThread apart from typical Californian fine dining establishments.
These elements collectively create a unique and unconventional dining and hospitality experience at SingleThread.
From Visitor Experiences