SingleThread reveals opening menu for Sonoma at Capella Kyoto
SingleThread has officially opened the doors to its first international project, Sonoma by SingleThread.
Located within the new Capella Kyoto, the intimate 12-seat restaurant and lounge introduces SingleThread’s distinctly agricultural, hyper-seasonal philosophy on modern gastronomy to Japan.
The venue showcases a wide array of native Kyoto vegetables and floral varieties, complemented by a curated selection of hyper-seasonal ingredients from SingleThread Farm in Healdsburg and Northern California including heirloom tomatoes, summer squash, olive oil and flowers such as hibiscus.
Just as at SingleThread in Healdsburg, the menu guides guests through a multi-course journey that endeavours to capture a moment in Kyoto through the produce, craftsmanship and products of local farmers and craftspeople as well as the culture that surrounds them.
The opening menu serves as an evocative dialogue between the ancient terroir of the Kansai region and the spirit of Sonoma. Each course is a choreographed reflection of the micro-season, beginning with an homage to sansai, the wild-foraged mountain vegetables that herald the fleeting arrival of Kyoto’s spring.
The journey continues with a focused exploration of local heritage livestock, centred on Nanatani duck, a premium breed from Kameoka renowned for its exceptional tenderness. The duck is slow-grilled over coals to develop a savoury complexity and served alongside the bright tender flavours of spring cabbage and kumquat with a seasonal miso from the historic Honda Miso in Kyoto.
The dining experience culminates in a three-part dessert dedicated to the agricultural foothills and local honey farms of Ohara, a rural village in the mountains of northern Kyoto. This final act tells the story of the honeybee’s essential role in the ecosystem, featuring a honey and milk entremet resting upon a Japanese mixed-grain sablé. The service is completed with a Sauternes madeleine and a delicate honeycomb ice cream.
Complementing the culinary narrative, the wine programme follows the same intentional approach, focusing on Old World producers alongside celebrated selections from Japan and California. Sonoma also offers an extensive sake list featuring sakes from many of the most compelling and innovative Toji, with a dedicated focus on sakes from in and around Kyoto.
