We stayed a couple of nights at SingleThread for a year-end trip, wanted to do the full experience (inn stay + shabu + dinner), and what an experience it was. The hospitality is beyond incredible, the staff are amazing, friendly and accommodating, and you’re taken care of from start to finish. I have even more pictures of other aspects of the Inn stay but hit the upload limit lol.
Dinner at the restaurant was phenomenal. I saw some comments before saying the Japanese breakfast is even better but I didn’t find that to be the case for my taste, not to say the breakfast wasn’t delicious as well. That salmon is to die for. The in-room shabu donabe dinner is very mild and all about highlighting the ingredients. It’s definitely veggie heavy so if your party is made up of primarily meat eaters or have a heavy palate, I would skip. It is also a full service meal where someone will be in and out serving each course etc.
The 10-course tasting menu:
Early Winter In Sonoma—small bites, there were so many starting with a shigoku oyster, various sashimi, sesame tofu, and 3 warm bites of SB uni chawanmushi, cod, and another fish I forgot the name of
Sawara, hibiscus, kanpyo, pomegranate, bone tare
Aka amadai with crispy scales, cauliflower dashi, wasabina, yuba, preserved lemon
Duck liver parfait salad with black apple, brown butter, salanova lettuce
Hokkaido scallop katsu-inspired lightly fried in nori with malted candy roaster, Petaluma chanterelle, Burgundy truffle, caramelized scallop jus
Buddha’s hand, Preston olive oil, black tea and Douglas fir jellies
Duclair duck & Miyazaki A5 wagyu ($90 supplement), trio of cabbage, roasted garlic-miso sabayon, farm prune preserves
Luna koshikari porridge shime with wagyu short rib, smoked American chestnut, Piracicaba broccoli
Sunchoke & cacao, Lydgate Farms vanilla, buttermilk, brownie
Wagashi of Meyer lemon verjus blanc in a white chocolate eggshell, Kintoki carrot frozen custard and mokum tops, mochi and miso, and eggnog and mace
Take-home is a packet of komatsuna seeds (traditional Japanese leafy green vegetable)
We chose not to do the wine pairing and instead opted for sake since I saw they have a sake subscription program. The sommelier, Matt, chose two wonderful picks based on our request.
Inn breakfasts with a la carte options:
Sonoma breakfast—chanterelle and honeynut squash poached egg, pomme rosti with black truffle and creme fraiche (bougie tots are bomb), house-made Cumberland sausage, beet and goat cheese salad, crumpet with butter and jam
Japanese breakfast—miso grilled salmon, Luna rice with pumpkin and habanada pepper, broccolini goma dare, spicy glazed kabocha, dashimaki tamago, tsukemono, yudofu miso soup with Ohitashi farm greens
Addons:
Black trumpet mushroom omelette with negi and goma
Japanese souffle pancakes with apple compote and whipped cream
Fuyu persimmon toast with ricotta, citrus, pecan
Journeyman Meats barrel-smoked bacon
You can choose one of the set meals and add on any other items if you wish, including fresh orange juice, smoothie, coffee and tea.
Shabu:
Started off with miniature version of dinner’s first course—grilled shima aji(?) collar, mini tuna taco in a nori and nasturtium shell, chanterelle tempura, yuba and fuyu persimmon, cured salmon
Kinmedai with Kintoki carrots & other farm vegetables
Wagyu beef, assortment of vegetables from their farm, myoga, celtuce
Fuyu persimmon sticky toffee pudding and a burnt orange custard
All of their meals feature primarily ST grown produce or ultra-locally sourced products from other farms.
Some quick Inn info: I think they have activities at their Farm just down the road if you ask/plan ahead of time but we wanted to explore the area on our own. We did stop by the Farm and they let us walk around on our own. Audi Q4 and Q8 e-trons available to reserve for use and great for visiting nearby wineries. Complimentary room service of half-dozen oysters, charcuterie, cheese, crudités, and matcha or espresso affogato. Additional charge for caviar and champagne.
Overall, a highly enjoyable experience.
by chashaoballs
1 Comment
incredible