A decade after redefining farm-driven fine dining in California, SingleThread steps onto the global stage with its first international outpost, SoNoMa by SingleThread, unveiled within the serene new enclave of Capella Kyoto. Intimate, precise, and deeply personal, the opening signals not expansion for its own sake, but a continuation of a philosophy shaped by land, season, and story.
Founded in 2016 by Kyle Connaughton and Katina Connaughton, SingleThread has long been synonymous with hyper-seasonality, much of its produce drawn directly from its own Sonoma farm. Translating that ethos to Japan presents both a challenge and an opportunity. At SoNoMa, the answer lies in dialogue rather than duplication.
Ingredients travel across oceans—heirloom tomatoes, olive oil, nuts, and cheeses—carrying with them the imprint of California’s soil. Yet they meet the richness of Japan’s Kansai region with equal reverence. Nanatani duck, prized for its tenderness, is slow-grilled and paired with Kyoto’s Honda miso.
Bamboo shoots, harvested just beyond the city, arrive at the table with a sense of immediacy, while desserts unfold through the delicate sweetness of Ohara honey.
The beverage program mirrors this cross-cultural exchange, where Californian wines sit alongside Kyoto’s nuanced sakes, creating a layered, fluid conversation between two culinary worlds.
Helming the kitchen is chef Keita Tominaga, whose own journey bridges Sonoma and Japan, echoing the restaurant’s dual identity. With only ten seats arranged around a kitchen-facing counter, the experience becomes almost ceremonial, each dish unfolding within arm’s reach, each gesture intentional.
At SoNoMa, SingleThread does not replicate itself. Instead, it evolves—quietly, thoughtfully—into a new expression of place, where distance dissolves and flavor becomes a shared language.
