Just a two months after opening, Single Thread Restaurant has been named a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation.
The haute Healdsburg restaurant, which runs about $300 per person and can last upwards of three hours, culminates a lifetime dream of Chef Kyle Connaughton and his farmer/wife Katina. The highly anticipated restaurant was been a media darling throughout its construction and opening, considered by some food writers to be one of the most important openings of 2016.
Single Thread joins 27 other nominees for the coveted award which honors restaurants that“…opened in the calendar year before the award will be given that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service, and that is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.” In Situ and Tartine Manufactory, both in San Francisco, have also been nominated for the Best New Restaurant award.
The James Beard Awards, named for famed culinarian James Beard, are the most prestigious awards in the food world.
Also in Sonoma County, Karen Taylor of Sonoma’s El Molino Central has been named a semi-finalist for Best Chef West. For Outstanding Wine, Spirits and Beer Professional, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company and Ted Lemon of Sebastopol’s Littorai Wines have been tapped as semi-finalists.
A smaller list of finalists will be announced in each category on March 15 in the categories of Outstanding Baker, Outstanding Bar Program, Outstanding Chef (Meadowood’s Chris Kostow is a semi-finalist), Outstanding Restaurant, Outstanding Restaurateur, Outstanding Wine Program, Rising Star Chef and Best Chef awards for other regions. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 1.
The Bay Area has more than a dozen semi-finalists up for awards, but historically, the region hasn’t been a big winner.
Here is a complete list of all semi-finalists.