Drayton SherylSophistication is just the beginning of the description of a meal at this Healdsburg gem, where every detail is thoughtfully considered, from the moss and flowers that cover the amuse-bouche presentation to the heirloom bags that are sent home as parting gifts.
The menu is distinctly tailored to each micro-season in Sonoma County, thanks to the bounty provided by farmer and co-owner Katina Connaughton. Spring might bring delicately smoked Ora king salmon topped with Arctic caviar and miyogo; while winter showcases pumpkin tartare with Dungeness crab and miso-macerated lime foam.
What Makes It Special: Headed by Kyle and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread is a restaurant in Northern California’s wine country that combines Chef Kyle’s unique Japanese cuisine with fresh ingredients grown on Katina’s farm. Paying homage to ancient Japanese ryokans, or inns, the restaurant is an intimate setting where exquisite attention is paid to every detail. The restaurant is located in a luxurious boutique hotel where Kyle also serves Japanese in-room breakfast, which is not to be missed.
It’s all about omotenashi: SingleThread operates according to the Japanese concept of going above and beyond to anticipate the guest’s needs, with thoughtful extras such as complimentary charcoal toothbrushes in hotel rooms and gold-standard thin-lip glassware.
How the menu works: Starting with the first course, which consists of a variety of small bites beautifully arranged on a wooden board, the tasting menu at SingleThread then moves on to 10 subsequent kaiseki-style courses. Depending on the season, highlights might include black cod ibushi gin with burnt morels, purple barley pancakes and shio koji vinaigrette, or Sonoma cherry dessert with chocolate, yogurt, and vanilla bean.
Meet the Connotons: After starting his career as an apprentice at a Japanese restaurant in Southern California, Chef Kyle worked under renowned chefs including Michel Brasse and Gaston Blumenthal, and farmer and floral designer Katina lived in Japan and Europe studying culinary and agricultural techniques. The couple opened SingleThread in December 2016, winning the 2018 One To Watch award for the world’s 50 best restaurants, and have now led the restaurant to its debut on the Top 50 list.