Kaiseki is a type of Japanese dining offering up multiple courses that together form one long and delicious experience. This is precisely what is on offer at SingleThread, a three-star Michelin restaurant in California’s Sonoma Wine Country, so it’s perhaps no surprise that its proprietors, Kyle and Katina Connaughton, describe themselves as storytellers. But SingleThread is also a 24-acre farm, and a five-room inn, and works closely with nearby ranchers who rear the meat it uses. It’s a multi-volume affair.
Now, all its wisdom, history, instructions for ikebana flower arranging, planting diagrams for the kitchen garden, and a number of recipes are gathered together in one book. As with its restaurant ethos, it’s a publication that assumes you have a great deal of time and inclination to spare: there’s an entire section on the negi onion.
On the other hand, if you’re unlikely to visit Sonoma any time soon, or don’t fancy joining a months-long waiting list, this book is a treat. The photography is stunning and, unlike a ten-course meal—which, however delightful, can feel like being held hostage and will cost a bare minimum of £500—you can dip in and out at leisure in the comfort of your own home.
• SingleThread, DK Alpha, £50 (hb)
