Single Thread, which the blogs have talking about since about a year ago and which we first talked about here in June, is opening at last tonight, December 2, in Healdsburg.
The restaurant, with its own farm and adjoining inn, is the Japanese-inspired passion project of Kyle and Katina Connaughton, with Kyle heading up the kitchen and Katina leading the work of the farm. Farming will be organized around a Japanese famer's almanac of 72 micro-seasons, which will be reflected in the daily changing kaiseki-style menu in Single Thread's dining room. And just to bring things closer to nature, in good weather, the initial courses in a meal will be served on the roof patio overlooking the town and a rooftop garden as seen in the end of the video above.
An 11-course, nightly prix fixe comes in three varieties, for omnivores, vegetarians, and pescatarians, and costs $294 per person. Additional wine pairings, focused on California wines, are either $200, or $385 for the reserve pairing.
Kyle Connaughton has a serious resume to justify these prices, including stints working for Michel Bras in Japan, contributing to the Modernist Cuisine tome, and heading up Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen. And in every way, the service will attempt to bring something that the Japanese call omotenashi, a warm and selfless form of hospitality.
Guests can also opt to spend the night at the inn upstairs, which boasts a few well appointed rooms for $700 to $1000 per night.
As we noted earlier, Single Thread marks the return of high-end fine dining to Healdsburg, which lost its Michelin two-star restaurant Cyrus several years back. And that's a great thing for the already toney wine country town.
Reviews won't likely be in until the new year, but Inside Scoop has a few photo of the dining room, and a sample menu.
Single Thread - 131 North Street, Healdsburg - Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5:30 to 9 p.m. - Reservations here
