Latest news with #SingleThread
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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
13 Best Small Towns in California, According to Locals and Experts
California's marquee cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego—tend to steal the show. These cities are home to some of the best food, cultural attractions, and vibrant communities in the nation, but the Golden State delivers something even more rewarding for those who veer off the major freeways: small towns filled with abundant charm. From artist enclaves and wine country spots to quiet beach towns and alpine outposts, the best small towns in California offer experiences you won't find in any major city. A busy patio in Healdsburg, California. Adrian Rudd/Travel + Leisure Healdsburg is a small town with plenty of buzz—and for good reason. "Healdsburg is truly a slice of small-town Americana," Daniel Strawn, the director of leisure sales at Montage Healdsburg, shared with Travel + Leisure about the community, which has a population of around 11,000 people. "What people don't realize is even though, yes, the region is known for wine, it truly has its roots as an agricultural community with many families living here for generations." Visitors can experience that balance between rural charm and modern refinement everywhere, including the town's Tuesday Concerts in the Park, three-Michelin-starred dining at SingleThread, and visits to its best galleries. Strawn is a big fan of The Harris Gallery—Art & Wine Collection, a father-and-son-run tasting lounge and gallery where you get the best of both worlds under one roof. Strawn also recommends visiting in early November, just after harvest, or during the quiet of winter: "These months offer the best time to curl up by our outdoor fire pits while drinking a glass of beautiful pinot noir." Sunset over a beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure "This area is where the country meets the coast in one of the most breathtaking parts of California," Melissa Krueger, the CEO of Classic Vacations, shared about Carmel-by-the-Sea, which has a full-time population of just over 3,000 people. Think dramatic cliffs, redwoods, and white-sand beaches, all in the same panoramic view. Carmel is also filled with fairy-tale cottages, art galleries, and wine rooms. "It's perfect for outdoor lovers: hiking, golf, and coastal adventures are all part of the everyday experience," Krueger added. It's also the perfect place to bring your four-legged family member. "Carmel-by-the-Sea is a romantic destination that's also very pet-friendly," said Mark Jason Williams, the co-author of LGBTQ+ travel guide Out In the World . He recommended making a stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve during your stay, adding it's key to "stay for the sunset." Williams also noted that fall is a particularly great time to visit as it's the area's sunniest season, with September and October offering warm weather and perfect golden light. A person kayaking on Caples Lake near Kirkwood, is an escapist's dream come true in all four seasons. "While it's known for having some of the best skiing in California, summer is my favorite time here," Krueger said about this town with a population of just 400 full-time residents. "The wildflowers are incredible, the hiking is top-tier, and the alpine lakes are peaceful and pristine." However, it's key to note that this isn't the place for high-end hotels or plentiful amenities. "Services are minimal—just enough to get by—but that's part of the charm," Krueger said. She recommends grabbing a bite and then spending the day wandering the area trails or kayaking Silver Lake. Lifeguard stand in Carpintiera, California. Carpinteria, located just south of Santa Barbara, delivers beach-town charm in droves. "Carpinteria is a special town with its small, local, old-school surfer's vibe," Louise Astbury, the general manager of California-based Paradise Retreats, shared about the town with just under 13,000 residents. "The beach is amazing and claims to be the 'World's Safest Beach.'" Downtown "Carp" offers galleries, family-owned cafes, and walkable blocks for visitors to explore during a stay. Like others on this list, the shoulder season in October is a prime time to visit, thanks to the annual Avocado Festival and warm fall weather without the trouble of massive summer crowds. A vineyard in Lodi, California."Lodi reminds me a lot of Healdsburg 20 years ago," famed chef Charlie Palmer explained of the Central Valley town. "It's got all the right ingredients: amazing wines, hard-working growers, serious food talent, and a strong sense of community." With a larger population of around 67,000, it's not a true small town, but it remains somewhat under-the-radar as a travel destination, which makes it easier to meet winemakers and find open tables at the area's best restaurants. That said, you may want to hurry up and visit—Palmer sees Lodi as a town on the verge of a breakthrough. "You feel this energy, like it's right on the cusp of something big," Palmer added. Aerial view of Jonson's Beach in Guerneville, California."Guerneville is a charmingly rustic town on the Russian River," Lauren Levin, California resident and chief marketing officer of Lightstone/Moxy Hotels, said. "It mixes towering Redwoods, calm river waters ideal for tubing, and laid-back attitudes with trendy restaurants, breweries, and boutique hotels," along with a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Levin recommended checking into the retro-chic Boon Hotel + Spa, renting a canoe, and ending the day with craft beer at Stumptown Brewery. Levin added that San Franciscans have long come here, and Angelenos are now catching on thanks to short flights into Santa Rosa. Storefronts in Los Olivos, California. "Tucked into the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos feels like one of those rare places where time slows down in the best way," Levin said about the tiny town that's home to fewer than 1,000 people, about 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara. It's home to a walkable downtown that features wine-tasting rooms, art galleries, and shops, all "surrounded by vineyards, ranches, and open skies," Levin said. "It's equal parts rustic and refined." Sam Highley, the founder of U.S.-focused travel company All Roads North, agreed, noting the town is "the perfect place for a languid weekend exploring the winding backroads." A person hiking between giant sequoias in Three Rivers, Rivers, a town of 2,300 people located in the Sierra Foothills at the entrance to Sequoia National Park, deserves at least a full day's stop, according to Highley. "Many pass through the town on their way to the park, but that would be a mistake." According to Highley, there's whitewater rafting on the Kaweah River, hiking in the foothills, and an emerging food scene that simply must be tasted. Furthermore, Autocamp just opened a stylish glamping retreat here, offering riverside Airstreams and fire pits under the stars, making it a destination in its own right. A couple fishing in Mammoth Lakes, has one more must-visit small town to recommend for outdoor lovers: Mammoth Lakes. "As mountains go, Mammoth has never had the glitz of Aspen," Highley shared, "but things are fast changing." With its namesake high alpine lakes, fantastic hiking and biking trail systems, and nearby hot springs, the town that's home to fewer than 8,000 full-time residents is just as attractive to visit in the summer as it is during ski season. Buildings in Ojai, California. WendyWeatherup/Getty Images Ojai has long been the bohemian dream down in California, and Alex Alioto, the Cali-based head of growth at Whimstay, thinks it's high time you visit, too. The haven, Alioto said, is "nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains and has attracted artists, spiritual seekers, and luxury travelers for decades." With walkable streets full of wellness shops, bookstores, and juice bars, just about everyone can find their little slice of heaven. Alioto shared that it's best to come in spring for the citrus blossoms or in the fall for harvest season. Don't miss the "Pink Moment," when the mountains are bathed in a rosy alpenglow from the sunset. Buildings in downtown Solvang, California. With its half-timbered buildings, bakeries, and windmills, Solvang blends whimsy and tradition, and the town comes recommended by several of our local experts. "This little Danish town in California's Santa Ynez Valley was my very first taste of Europe," Jonathan Alder of Jonathan's Travels explained. "It still holds a special place in my heart." "Solvang is so unexpected. You're driving through wine country and suddenly find yourself in a Danish village, complete with windmills, wooden shoes in the windows, and bakeries selling aebleskivers (little pancake balls made of fried batter)," Eugene Triasun, from online travel agency eSky Group, added. "Solvang is playful and super walkable, and there's a warmth to it that goes beyond the architecture." According to Triasun, the best time to visit is in September during the Danish Days celebrations. Promenade with shops in Avila Beach, California. "Avila Beach takes its independent spirit seriously," Kirstin Koszorus of Highway 1 Road Trip shared. "The town has long embraced its role as the liaison between the sea and the woodlands and between the field and the vineyard." Koszorus said visitors can spend a day biking the Bob Jones Trail, hiking to the historic Point San Luis Lighthouse, or exploring the Central Coast Aquarium. She also noted you can always find something fresh at Valley Barn, including "seasonal fruits and vegetables, including world-famous See Canyon apples." Houses along the coast of Cambria, California. Joe Josephs/Cambria, a town of just 6,000 people, is the perfect pit stop on a road trip between two of California's major cities. "Perfectly positioned between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this pristine seaside village punches well above its weight culinarily," Alioto explained. "The town's remarkable restaurant scene rivals much larger destinations, featuring everything from farm-to-table establishments to oceanfront dining." But it's not just the food that makes it great. Alioto also recommended stopping at Moonstone Beach, which offers "dramatic coastline walks, while the village center bustles with art galleries, antique shops, and cozy bed-and-breakfasts housed in Victorian buildings." As for the ideal time to book a trip, Alioto said it's best to go in September or October for "warm, sunny days and calm seas."
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Travel + Leisure
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This Restaurant in Lima, Peru, Was Just Named the Best in the World
The 2025 edition of The World's 50 Best Restaurants unfolded in Turin, Italy, on June 19. Maido, the Lima institution where Peruvian and Japanese traditions meet, claimed this year's top spot. Asador Etxebarri in Spain, which is all about fire and fermentation, held steady at No. 2. Mexico City's Quintonil landed at No. 3, further proof that Latin America now sits confidently at the center of the global culinary map. North America, by contrast, made a quieter statement, but not an insignificant one. Atomix in New York City, the intimate tasting counter helmed by chef Junghyun 'JP' Park and his wife, partner and hospitality director Ellia Park, slipped from No. 8 to No. 12. SingleThread, the elegant farm-restaurant-inn in Healdsburg, California, led by husband-wife duo Kyle and Katina Connaughton, dropped from the main list to No. 80 in the extended 51-100 ranking. I spoke with JP and Ellia Park earlier this week at the James Beard Awards in Chicago, where they had just won for Outstanding Hospitality. 'We're not just plating food,' JP told me before flying to Italy. 'We're trying to offer a place where guests can truly feel present, maybe even feel seen.' Atomix's rise from No. 33 in 2023 to the top 10 last year marked a turning point for Korean fine dining in America. But its real triumph lies in how it frames hospitality as a cultural act—one where the tasting menu becomes a vessel for storytelling, tradition, and connection. Out west in Sonoma County, I visited SingleThread's 70-acre farm in Dry Creek Valley, where Kyle, the chef, and Katina, the head farmer, are building something far larger than a restaurant. 'We're part of an ecosystem,' Katina said as we walked between rows of young greens and flowering herbs. 'Our goal is regeneration, not just of the soil, but of the way we think about food.' Their inn, perched above the dining room, serves the most quietly extraordinary breakfast I've ever had: house-milled grains, just-laid eggs, persimmons still warm from the tree. While SingleThread is no longer in the top 50, its impact has only deepened, shifting the focus from accolades to ethos. William Drew, managing director of the 50 Best portfolio, echoed that sentiment. 'It's not just about which countries are ranking,' he told me. 'It's about what values are showing up on the plate—sustainability, indigenous ingredients, and a deep respect for culinary heritage.' The interior of Quintonil in Mexico City. With more than 1,100 anonymous voters around the globe, the list is always evolving. This year, that evolution is also geographic. For the first time, North America will receive its own dedicated ranking. North America's 50 Best Restaurants will debut this September in Las Vegas. The list, compiled by a new academy of 300 regional experts from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, will reframe the continent's culinary narrative, spotlighting restaurants well beyond the coastal strongholds of New York and San Francisco. The live countdown will take place inside the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on September 25. The Ganjang Gejang from Atomix in NYC. The launch coincides with Revelry, Wynn Las Vegas's immersive food and drink festival, which has evolved into a global culinary summit. The programming reads like a love letter to craftsmanship: tastings, talks, hands-on workshops, and a constellation of collaborative dinners. Atomix will team up with Casa Playa, where chef Sarah Thompson was a 2025 James Beard finalist, for a dinner that traces flavors through Korea and Mexico's Yucatán. SingleThread will unite with chef Jeff Ramsey at Mizumi for an afternoon exploring Japanese gastronomy through a Northern California lens. 'It's not just about a dinner,' JP Park said. 'It's about learning from one another, creating something ephemeral and meaningful.' Beyond the headline dinners, the week will include: The Feast, a multi-cuisine tasting experience, anchored by chefs from coastal Greece to Texas's 6666 Ranch; and the All-Star Chefs Dinner, hosted by Christopher Lee and featuring names like Spoon & Stable's Gavin Kaysen and Le B.'s Angie Mar. For those hungry for more, the Connoisseur Series offers everything from a whiskey tasting with Mahesh Patel to a burger-and-bubbles masterclass with Dominique Crenn. While Maido and Quintonil may currently dominate the top slots in The World's 50 Best Restaurants, it's clear North America is moving in its own direction—one marked less by dominance than by depth.
San Francisco Chronicle
05-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Which Bay Area restaurants landed on the World's 50 Best list?
Two of the Bay Area's most decorated restaurants, SingleThread and Atelier Crenn, have landed on a global stage once again. Influential restaurant ranking group World's 50 Best Restaurants included the fine dining institutions on its extended list of restaurants, from 51 through 100, which includes 37 cities around the globe. Atelier Crenn in San Francisco placed at No. 96, while Healdsburg's SingleThread was named No. 80. 'We are grateful when our name appears, a sign that our labor is seen,our flame recognized,' Atelier Crenn executive chef and owner Dominique Crenn wrote on Instagram. The restaurant has appeared on the main 50 best list, at no. 48, as recently as 2021, but fell off the list completely last year; SingleThread, meanwhile, fell from its place last year at No. 37. Past Bay Area honorees on World's Best 50 Restaurants' main list include Saison, Benu and the French Laundry, which has been inducted into the organization's 'Best of the Best' hall of fame after being placed in the No. 1 spot. The World's 50 Best Restaurants, published by the British media company William Reed, put out its first rankings of top fine dining destinations in 2002. The group has been criticized in the past for a lack of diversity in its organization, not requiring members to pay for their meals, as well as uneven gender and geographic representation in past lists. The main list, which will rank restaurants from 50 to No. 1, will be revealed in Turin, Italy on June 19.
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meet The Winemaker Changing The Face Of Sonoma Wine
Jesse Katz walking in his Farrow Ranch vineyard For decades, Napa Valley has been synonymous with pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, but the spotlight is beginning to shift westward—toward Sonoma. Sonoma is rightly celebrated for its exquisite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines but now its Bordeaux varietals are earning a seat at the table—and wine lovers should take note. A growing number of producers are earning critical acclaim, including rare 100-point scores that were once almost exclusively the domain of Napa's elite, and one of the key figures driving this evolution is winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars. Kyle Connaughton, chef and owner of Sonoma's three-Michelin-starred SingleThread restaurant, credits Katz with helping to raise the region's profile: 'In such a short time, Jesse has raised the bar so incredibly high in our region. His wines stand at the top of their class compared to great Old World counterparts, while simultaneously being innovative, provocative, and approachable. He is ushering in a new era of what's possible in California winemaking, and as a chef, I'm always incredibly excited and inspired to cook for his wines.' Katz is not alone. Wineries like Vérité, which has received perfect scores for red blends that blur the line between Sonoma and Bordeaux, as well as Skipstone, Stonestreet, and Peter Michael have contributed to Sonoma's increasing stature in the wine world. The numbers don't lie; according to Wine-Searcher, the number of Sonoma County wines receiving 95 points or higher from top critics has more than doubled over the past decade. Tasting room at Aperture Cellars in Sonoma Katz, whose résumé includes tenure at the revered Napa estate Screaming Eagle, brings obsessive precision and artistry to his winemaking and viticulture and the results reflect his focus. Indeed, Katz is the first and only winemaker to ever earn a 100 point score for wine made in Sonoma's Alexander Valley—from six different critics no less. And, he's earned more perfect scores than any Sonoma winemaker to date. While critics' scores aren't the sole measure of quality, they are an important barometer of excellence. And in this case, they signal a notable shift: Sonoma is no longer just Napa's country cousin. It is emerging as a destination for world-class wines and deserving of equal—if not greater—attention from collectors and connoisseurs alike. After so much success in Napa, it's worth asking why Katz ventured into Sonoma. For him, the decision was a no-brainer: greater opportunity and diversity. 'There is so much potential in Sonoma,' explains Katz, 'finding the next great site is still very much a possibility. The best sites in Napa have already been discovered. And for someone like me who wasn't born into this industry or into wealth the barrier to entry in Napa was almost unachievable. It was hard enough even in Sonoma.' Rolling hills of Aperture's Farrow Ranch in Sonoma's Alexander Valley This sprawling county (Sonoma is 1,575 square miles compared to Napa's 789 square miles) runs from the Pacific to the Mayacamas Mountains and is home to every kind of microclimate imaginable. It has more soil diversity than the entire nation of France and is composed of a constellation of quirky small towns populated by a mix of hippies and farmers. Only a few decades ago, Sonoma's now buzzy Healdsburg Square was a Hell's Angels biker hotspot (some of whom used the square's fountain to bathe). Today, the bikers are gone, replaced by Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, and boutique shops. In keeping with this evolution, the winemaking has become more focused; consider that Alexander Valley is about to debut its first-ever sub ava, Pocket Peak, which will represent some of the region's most exquisite vineyard offerings. Not surprisingly, Katz's most prized vineyard, Farrow Ranch, sits right in the heart of it. 'It's a magical, unicorn of a site,' explains Katz, 'One of the best I've worked with in my career.' It was at Farrow Ranch that Katz discovered an intriguing block of old vine Malbec, (the source of his now-famous Devil Proof bottling, which received the first-ever 100-point score for a Malbec in US history). That success inspired Katz even more. 'For the last decade of my life, I've been focused on soils and identifying unique pockets where I can unlock their potential. One of Aperture's great successes has been our ability to find sites others have overlooked and redesign, replant and farm them in a completely new way.' Farrow Ranch is a bowl-shaped paradise where Katz cultivates Bordeaux varietals on a range of different soil types, at different elevations and oriented in all directions. This amazing tapestry of vineyard variety gives Katz and his team remarkable flexibility at the blending table, enabling them to craft deeply complex wines. 'It's a site that hasn't even hit its stride yet,' he says. 'We've planted 17 new acres and have another phase planned for 2026.' Sonoma's rise isn't about one winemaker making 100-point wines; it's more of a team effort with everyone sharing in each other's expertise across all aspects of winemaking and hospitality. On any given day one might spot a local chef wandering Aperture's vineyards on a foraging mission. Not long ago, Katz shared some of his decommissioned wine with local chef Dustin Valette (owner of The Matheson) who then used it to craft a wine-infused mustard. And, Christopher Jackson, proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, is working with Katz on a special winemaking project called Prophet and Poet; the 2021 releases just made their debut. Katz owns Aperture in partnership with his father, acclaimed photographer Andy Katz—and the winery name couldn't be more fitting. In photography, 'aperture' refers to the control of light and focus, and that's exactly what Katz is bringing to Sonoma: a sharp focus and a spotlight on the region's viticultural brilliance. If you want in on the ground floor, you'd better make your way to Sonoma soon. Aperture Collage: Katz's newest and most groundbreaking wine, these two bottlings feature the best of the best hand-selected fruit from across a portfolio of 200 acres. 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon ($425) and a 2022 Sauvignon Blanc ($125). Aperture Site Series is a collection of single-vineyard wines, each sourced from one meticulously chosen vineyard site in Sonoma County 2022 Aperture Oliver Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture SJ Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 2022 Aperture Proterra | $175
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Justin Timberlake's ‘unforgettable' Wine Country moment revealed by Jessica Biel
When Kyle Connaughton, chef-owner of Healdsburg's three Michelin-starred SingleThread, discovered Justin Timberlake's favorite sweet treat, he didn't just take note — he took action. To satiate the pop singer's love of Heath Bars, Connaughton drove to a nearby gas station, purchased a few, and served them side by side with the singer's dessert course. That moment, as if scripted by the writers behind the hit Hulu series ' The Bear,' is a favorite Wine Country memory that actress Jessica Biel shared with the Chronicle ahead of her husband's headlining performance at BottleRock Napa Valley on Saturday, May 24. BottleRock Napa Valley 2025: Lineup, tickets, food and more Photos: Highlights from Napa Valley's star-studded music festival BottleRock's most luxurious bites: 7 fancy foods to indulge in at the 2025 festival Biel, who described the chef's gesture as 'unforgettable,' was at opening day of the Napa music and food festival on Friday, May 24, to host a tasting of her new wine brand, Prophet & Poet, in BottleRock's premier Platinum Lounge. She also spoke with the Chronicle about her favorite wine region, what she and Timberlake like to drink at home and which of the pair is the bigger wino. Yesterday at @BottleRockNapa , I spoke with @JessicaBiel and winemaker @jkatzwine about their new wine brand Prophet & Poet. @jtimberlake headlines the festival tonight. — Jess Lander (@jesslander) May 24, 2025 For the wine brand, Biel partnered up with California winemaker Jesse Katz, best known for his Healdsburg winery Aperture and Devil Proof, a world-renowned Malbec. Katz is a childhood friend of Biel's brother (also named Justin), and he notably crafted a wedding wine for both of the siblings on their respective big days. Years later, Prophet & Poet, named in honor of Justin and his wife Rosita Biel as he's a writer and she a shaman), was tasting great, she said, and 'had the DNA to be something really special.' That's when Katz and the three Biels decided to join forces to make the wine brand 'for high-end collectors,' Biel said, aimed to 'set a new standard for wines hailing from Sonoma County.' Katz brought another famous Sonoma County vintner into the fold, Jackson Family Wines' owner Chris Jackson and his wife Ariel Jackson, to source premium grapes. While Katz said his friends give him 'full artistic freedom' in crafting the wines, he explained how he allows them to taste blends and wines from the barrel to get their feedback. The wines, released earlier this week, include a Cabernet Sauvignon, two red blends and two Chardonnays.
