Aspire

Every once in a while something completely unique comes along. Something or someplace distinctive, special, exclusive. From the moment I walked into SingleThread, I knew it would be one of those places. Having been tipped that there was something great happening out in Healdsburg, I made plans to visit and see what this hyper-local, farm to table happening was all about. One languid, remarkable late Summer lunch later? I was convinced that I was in one of the finest restaurants anywhere and several meals since then have only served to fix my feeling that this is not only the best restaurant in the United States, but that it could soon be the top table in the world.

SingleThread is an interconnected operation of farm, inn and restaurant located in the Sonoma valley. A “thread” connecting all. Chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife, Katina offer an experience that is elegant, vibrant and curated with precision. The food is visually stunning, and executed flawlessly. The dining room is serene and everything about the meal has a comfortable, Zen-like quality. Artisanal touches abound, from the hand thrown pottery to the bespoke knives fashioned from driftwood that the Team themselves sourced, the theme is certainly Sonoma but with a very strong Japanese sensibility. The menu, the space and the PERFECT service all serve to tell a story of sophistication and grace. 

Describing the experience of being at guest at SingleThread is a challenge. There are words that one can use… words like hospitality, warmth, conviviality. These are good words. Descriptive, clear, honest. But none capture the spirit of @singlethreadfarms well or completely. One of only 15 three Michelin star restaurants in the entire country, SingleThread is unique in so many delicious and captivating ways. But the one thing I take away from my visits here is the spirit of this place. It is warm, relaxed, tranquil. It’s as if the dining room is simply an extension of the Connaughton’s home. Impossibly beautiful dishes, one after the next elevate and inspire.

This is a singularly California kaiseki that in every way is also a real and true vision of Japan. From the initial plate, which in my mind is the most beautiful presentation of food I have ever seen, to the final sweet courses – Chef Kyle and the Team create and conduct a journey unique in all my experience. On this most recent visit, I had the opportunity to see and share in a vegetarian tasting simultaneous to my own. I can unequivocally say that nothing at all was lost in translation to a plant based meal. From salsify, to mushrooms, lotus root to sesame – all expressions were not only on point but remarkable in their direct and unapologetic flavors. Each dish, each plating from both cards was a harmonious and singular thought. This is a kitchen confident in its language and its mission and it shows. SingleThread is exceptional, striking, it is a tour de force and the meal(s) here will likely shape my feelings and expectations about food for years to come.

SingleThread isn’t attempting to be anything but its best expression of itself, and what an expression it is. A soulful, tranquil and extraordinary vision, a place of harmony and art, a room where the finest cuisine in the world is on display and served by a Chef and Team that want (and succeed) in making you feel at home. I can only offer a single word to share my gratitude and wonder at this remarkable place… Bravo. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼