Kyle Connaughton

Kyle and Katina Connaughton are the visionary duo behind SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn in Healdsburg, California. Since opening in 2016, SingleThread has achieved numerous accolades, including a perfect 4 stars from The San Francisco Chronicle, a James Beard Foundation Restaurant Design Award, and Three Michelin Stars in the 2019 Red Guide. The restaurant is also a proud member of Relais & Chateaux, and in 2021, it was ranked #37 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. In 2020, SingleThread received Forbes Five Stars and AAA Five Diamonds.

Kyle’s culinary journey began in Los Angeles at prestigious venues such as Spago Beverly Hills, Hama Sushi, Lucques, and the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton. His extensive experience includes working for Michel Bras and at kaiseki and sushi restaurants in Hokkaido, Japan. In 2006, he became the Head Chef of Research & Development at The Fat Duck in Bray, England, collaborating with Heston Blumenthal on the IACP Award-winning The Big Fat Duck Cookbook and contributing to Nathan Myrhvold’s Modernist Cuisine series. Kyle also served as Professor Emeritus at the Culinary Institute of America, developing the Bachelor’s of Culinary Science program and earning an Honorary Doctorate in Culinary Arts. In 2015, he co-published Donabe - Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking.

Katina’s passion for sustainable agriculture and culinary gardening was cultivated through her experiences in Japan and Europe. She trained in Hokkaido, Japan, and later served as a culinary gardener and chef in the UK for a private Victorian estate. Katina studied sustainable agriculture at Santa Rosa Junior College, where she later became a greenhouse manager. At SingleThread, she runs the farm and floral programs, overseeing the roofscape and gardens on the restaurant and inn property, as well as twenty-four acres of premier farmland in the Dry Creek Valley. Her work brings biodiversity to some of Sonoma County’s top vineyards and includes managing fruit and vegetable gardens, orchards, olive trees, beehives, and heritage breed chickens. Katina is also the lead floral designer, overseeing a team of five full-time florists.

Together, Kyle and Katina have created a unique culinary destination that seamlessly integrates sustainable agriculture with world-class hospitality. Their dedication to excellence and passion for their craft continue to elevate SingleThread as a beacon of culinary innovation and sustainability.

For more information, visit www.singlethreadfarms.com.