After visiting The French Laundry last fall, we were wanting to try more Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the country. Since we visit Sonoma several times throughout the year, we decided it would be fun to try SingleThread Farms. This is another 3-star Michelin restaurant located in the heart of Healdsburg. I had heard amazing things about this restaurant from a few other bloggers, so I knew we had to experience it for ourselves.
We dined at SingleThread on a Thursday evening around 6 PM. We walked right in and we were immediately greeted with a warm beverage from the kitchen. I don’t remember what they called it, but it tasted like a floral hot tea. Typically, they bring guests to the rooftop patio and gardens for the first course, but it was too cold since we visited in February. I guess we will have to come back in the summer months so we can experience that!
After enjoying our welcome drink, we were seated in the dining room. Once we sat down, I couldn’t help but notice all of the lovely interiors. The attention to detail was fantastic and the space made you feel right at home. It was very serene and relaxing.
Our first course was already set-up when we arrived at the table, and the presentation was unlike anything I had ever seen. The dishes were displayed beautifully and were surrounded by several fresh flowers and greenery. There was also a beautiful flower arrangement on top of the napkin that we got to take home with us when the night was through.
Once we were settled in, we were presented with a few different options for beverages. They offer a couple different wine pairings, and they also have wines by glass and/or bottle. We both opted for the wine pairings because we love to try different wines with each dish. Also, I feel like you get the most bang for your buck when you do the wine pairings!
The first course was one of my favorite parts of the entire dining experience because we were able to try several different types of fish. Each piece of fish that we tried was extremely unique. There were a few other items included on the spread like oysters, a beet salad, and some custard-like dishes. I didn’t really care for the custard/creamy dishes because of the texture, but I did love all of the fish we tried! We paired all of this with a beautiful and light white wine from France. It was the perfect pairing to go with all the fish.
After we were finished with the first course, we were presented with a warm towel to wipe our hands. I thought this was a really nice touch before getting into the next course. I kind of wish all restaurants did this because its s so relaxing!
The second course was also one of my favorites because it closely resembled sashimi. It was called “Akabana Kanpachi” and it was absolutely delicious. It was accompanied alongside winter citrus, sorrel and meyer lemon curd. The wine pairing with this dish was a Sauvignon Blanc from Lake County, CA.
The next course reminded me of the Oysters and Pearls dish at The French Laundry, but with an added bonus. This this course was technically a Santa Barbara Abalone with turnip, caviar and wild seaweed. I loved how this dish just melted in your mouth. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overly rich. The turnip was a nice touch and a contrast of texture. The wine pairing with this course was a Grand Cru Champagne from France. Champagne and Caviar…..what could be better?
The next course was really interesting because it was unlike anything I had ever had before. The housemade tofu was served with local mushrooms, pine nut and a mushroom tea. They actually plated the tofu at our table because it was cooked in a larger pot. Apparently this is how they make it in Japan, so it was neat to learn a little bit about the cooking process. Also, the mushrooms were gathered locally by their very own forager. The wine pairing with this dish was a White Burgundy from France.
For the fifth course, we were served a Guinea Hen Roulade. This was also something really unique and new to me. It was served alongside sunchoke, charred broccoli, and preserved lemon. I thought it tasted very similar to ham, but with more flavor. The texture and mouthfeel was definitely very similar to a piece of ham. The wine pairing with this course was a white wine from Rhóne Valley in France.
For the sixth course, we went back to fish with a Black Cod. This was pretty similar to some of the miso cod dishes I have had at other restaurants, but of course this was way more “extra.” It was served with miso, yuba, and fresh vegetables from their farm. I thought the presentation on this dish was fantastic and the attention to detail was something else. This was probably the richest dish that we had all night and there were so many different flavors presented. It really was the fanciest piece of cod I have ever had! The wine pairing was also extremely unique since we were served a white wine from Austria. I know nothing about wines from Austria, so this was quite the experience to try something out of my comfort zone.
The last course we had before the desserts was the Sonoma grains. It kind of reminded me of a beef broth soup with some wild rice. Of course, that is way oversimplifying this dish, but that is the best way I can describe it in layman’s terms. This dish also had some roasted bone marrow, and I thought that was pretty tasty. The wine pairing with this was a California red wine from the Central Coast near San Luis Obispo. I thought it was delicious and a great pairing choice.
For the ninth course, we were served a really nice and refreshing palate cleanser. It was called Whey Granité, and I thought it was the perfect thing to eat before dessert. It was kind of like a refreshing shaved ice, but with more to it. It was beautifully presented with rosemary flowers and Douglas fir. It really was just what I needed!
At this point in the dinner, we were given a drink menu with several coffees, teas and dessert wines to choose from. This wasn’t included as part of the dinner experience or wine pairing, but it was nice that they offered additional beverages at this point. We both ordered herbal teas because we thought it would be a nice change of pace towards the end of the night.
The first dessert course we were given was a Walnut Miso Ice Cream with Hojicha Steam Cake and Nocino. It was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed every single bite. For the wine pairing, we were served a 1973 Maderia and to my surprise, I actually liked it. I hardly ever like dessert wines because I find them to be too sweet, but this one was actually really well balanced.
The final course was another set of sweet treats, and it was called Wagashi. Everything in this course was beautifully presented, and it really rounded out the entire experience. We were served these Golden Milk eggs, and it was a really interesting sensation when you ate it. The outside shell was more creamy, but the inside was a nice lavender or floral flavor.
At the conclusion of our dinner, they brought over our check in a little box with threads (get it….SingleThread?) Again, every little detail throughout the entire evening was on point, including the way they presented the check. It really goes to show how incredible this place is. Everything was so well orchestrated throughout the entire evening.
Once we paid the bill, we were sent on our way with a copy of the menu from that evening. They made sure to include the original flowers that were sitting at the table when we arrived. It was the perfect ending to an amazing evening!
Overall, I loved everything about our experience at SingleThread Farms. The entire staff was warm and welcoming and made us feel right at home. The restaurant itself was inviting, and I loved that you had a view of the kitchen throughout your meal. Every single staff member was extremely knowledgeable about the wine, food and even the cutlery. I was fascinated at every single detail throughout the evening and how it all tied into one common theme.
If you are looking for an amazing dining experience in Healdsburg, look no further. You will love this place and everything they have to offer.
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