Katine and Kyle Connaughton, Co-Owners of SingleThread Farm, Restaurant and Inn in Healdsburg, CA.
Mike DeWald (@mike_dewald)
Chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife Katina opened SingleThread Farm Restaurant & Inn late 2016, little was known about the restaurant’s concept beyond the promise of an elevated fine dining experience. The meteoric rise that followed over the next two years was one in which Connaughton knew was achievable, but never imagined would happen so quickly. 3 Michelin stars, the first new restaurant to ever receive 4 stars from famed San Francisco Chronicle critic Michael Bauer, a ‘One to Watch’ honor from World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and universal press acclaim from food writers across the country.
The restaurant is steeped in Japanese influence and tradition, mixing a foundation in hospitality and service with a hyper-seasonal menu designed specifically to offer the freshest possible ingredients offering a snapshot in time of what’s in season. For Connaughton, no stone is left unturned in the dining experience, the detail in which he describes the small details of the restaurant is staggering, everything has been considered. Connaughton’s culinary and hospitality team reach out to diners in advance of their meal and start a personal dialogue with diners, finding out their food preferences and restrictions, then mapping out a blueprint of each individual culinary journey two nights in advance. For Connaughton, the inspiration for the restaurant’s experience is an emphasis on living in the moment, and creating a memorable experience for diners that will last long after the evening has passed.
Connaughton’s wife Katina heads up SingleThread Farms, just down the road from the restaurant, which has become the foundation for where much of the restaurant’s hyper-seasonal ingredients are grown. The opening of SingleThread was the realization of a culinary dream decades in the making, but the Healdsburg location also served as a metaphor for the couples desire to settle down and grow roots.
The restaurant is hosting a bold new collaboration at the end of August, bringing together four Bay Area Michilen-starred chefs for one night at SingleThread. Chef David Kinch of Manresa, Chef William Bradley of Addison, and Chef Justin Cogley of Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel will come together to develop a menu showcasing the bounty of California ingredients. Even with the star-studded line-up, Connaughton was still surprised at the interest in the event – selling out in 10 minutes with little external promotion. The event, to be held on August 27, is currently waitlist only.
In a new hour-long conversation, Connaughton sits down for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on the restaurant’s influences and origins as well as offering a behind-the-scenes look at the level of detail and care that goes into creating an elevated fine dining experience.
Listen to the full interview with SingleThread Chef/Co-Owner Kyle Connaughton below