Love your California tour! Just a fun fact about the 24 year old sommelier, he has only been allowed to legally drink wine for 3 years, but if his education was in California, we passed a law largely for the UC Davis wine program (one of the best in the world and benefactor of the Mondavi fortune after some family drama, see the book “House of Mondavi” for more on that!). If you’re a wine student or sommelier, you can legally sip and spit wine as young as 18 here!
@@iamstillvoltron Not just sommeliers but winemakers too! UC Davis is consistently recognized as one of the best Viticulture and Enology programs in the world. I say that as a proud alumnus of their Engineering School who was lucky enough to have a few friends in their wine, beer and food science programs!
This seems like one of the most genuinely impressive restaurants you've posted, with regards to the service, atmosphere, and the food itself. Not a lot of stuck up, pretentious, "modern avant garde" foofy presentations, just good food with good technique. Love the energy from the younger staff especially the sommelier as well to make it seem approachable.
I wouldn’t call what they showed as classic technique. I think they just mastered things in a way that feel much more organic and unnecessarily pretentious.
Love your comments. We agree with everything that you said about this place. We dined here a few years back and loved the food. The service was just ok for us. All in all a great place to experience !!!
He really has the qualities of a young man but doesn't forget to be a professional. How he interacts with Alexander makes him relatable and definitely leveled up his service, kinda cool since he's only been legal to drink for 3 years.
Singlethread is the only 3 starred restaurant I’ve been to. I took my family last August to celebrate my 30th birthday. I echo the same opinions of this place. It was simply an incredible experience with an astonishing attention to detail. I was simply blown away from my experience here.
@@johnnysins1171 Nah, just make it a priority, if that's your passion. You don't have to be rich to enjoy places like this, just skip spending on other things so casually.
@@Supperconductor 100% this, people make out that this is just for the uber rich. But then spend £200 a month on takeaway... literally just skip take out for 2 months and you can happily afford to experience this within your current budget. Shit man that's several times a year experiencing once in a lifetime restaurants like this. Make it your passion and you'd be surprised what you can afford. I say this on minimum wage lol
So far, two 3* restuarants, and the experience and contrast between Atelier Crenn and Single Thread could not be wider. Single Thread appears to be one of those encounters, that if you only got to experience it once you would count yourself very fortunate, and very happy.
@@fadew55 1. No, the guide does not take value for money into account. 2. As the other guy said, it's actually about the same price as Atelier Crenn, the only thing that will make one cost much more than the other is your wine choice. SingleThread just beats AC, as good as the latter is.
Came here to make this comment myself. It's lovely to see the staff not walking around like they have a fence post up their arse. It can be pretty magical when you find someplace where they take what they DO seriously, without taking themselves just as seriously.
This might be my favorite episode. As an American, I think it's important that we respect other cultures and cuisines. This restaurant makes me feel like it respects Japanese cuisine to it's fullest while also not trying to imitate it. That sommelier was such a pleasure to watch as well. Thank you for the great episode! Can't wait for the new series you're teasing!
This one is gonna be hard to top this year. The fight to get here for the owners/chefs is a great asset. And the presentation is just superb. Love that they are letting that young man find his feet too. Rare to see.
You put the smile on my face that was lacking here all day; in miserable, late October-like climate conditions in The Netherlands. Keep up the good work Alexander!
Thank you for sharing your dining experience. Your insightful observations and experienced palate make your videos a pleasure to watch. And thank you for your honesty, you call it as you see and taste it!
First, I absolutely love this suit. Second, I am very happy to see the enthusiasm for this restaurant. Very happy to see there is American culinary excellence.
You are a great storyteller, not like other high-end dining channels, you make it easy and enjoyable to watch by interpreting it with on-point observations, without using unnecessary and exaggerated terms.
Fantastic video, amazing restaurant. A suggestion. Could you start the title with "episode xx, California part 2"? Its nice to keep track of a journey from start to finish, knowing i didnt skip a video.
Your channel is very inspiring and informative! It is not only showing the amazing and unique, top tier cuisine and service in the world of gastronomy but reminds us of an important point: remember to support local cuisine and gastronomy whenever possible. Visit restaurants, be radical, be amazed, be unpredictable, be open to the world of food and gastronomy as it opens to new cultures, people and experiences!
This is the best review you have done yet - bravo Alex! Keep it up! And so glad you show what makes California cuisine so incredible. Hope you are passing by Yountville next...
My dining budget is definitely a long way from these kinds of restaurants and tbh, I feel my palate isn't refined enough to enjoy this kind of food. However, I just can't stop watching your videos. It's art in one hand and food science in the other. Thank you for broadening my horizons.
I could not eat 80% of these fine dining dishes - but I am obsessed with this guy and this channel. 😅 It reminds me how much good living is out there to be had.
Your videos are always such a joy to watch. Your commentary as you go through these culinary journeys is great, and always impressed by your knowledge of wine. Out of curiosity, when you do wine pairings, is it intentional to leave some of the wine in each glass until they all pile up at the end? Seems like an interesting strategy since the flavor of the profiles of each wine change as your go through the course progression. Curious to hear more about this
We have been to Single Thread Restaurant and Inn four times in different seasons and besides the fact that they do an incredible Vegan Dinner for My Wife and a pescatarian for me something that has to be tried is their japanese breakfast that comes with a stay at the INN , They have as well a different Donabe dinner that is also incredible ! and to top it all of they are so good about bringing our dog Lola . The whole team in The kitchen , at The Inn just incredible !! They deserve not only three Michelin stars but also this GREAT review !!
How does tipping work at high-end restaurants? Do guests tip 15 to 20 % even when the bill is $3K? I noticed the 3% service charge on this bill. Is that more common?
I had the opportunity to dine at Single Thread a few months back. Wonderful meal with excellent food, but the service staff and their attention to deal was easily the star of the show. Relaxed and light atmosphere that made the whole experience really stand out vs other tasting menus I've been to.
@@OrganicMachoCapitalist I'm an Executive Chef at Stanford, so a tour and food. We do some pretty fun stuff, I have some videos up for our Chef tables and other events.
@@OrganicMachoCapitalist The university. My daughter goes there. It is well worth a visit. They probably have some decent food nearby as long as it's not campus food service! Lol!
eating my instant ramen noodle while watching alexander the guest video making me feels like sitting next to him and enjoy the food inside the restaurant. amazing content as always
So far, my favorite destination + restaurant has been Hungary + 42, followed by Greenland + KOKS. Having been to none, I love (most of) them all. This time, I enjoyed seeing one of their non-alcoholic beverages. So exquisitely inventive, that I could easily drink my lunch at Single Thread.
This is in my opinion, hands down, the Michelin restaurant in the Bay Area, and perhaps a strong contention for the best Three Michelin in the United States. Although I have yet to try Alinea, Smyth, and Addison, from what I've heard Single Thread is still one of the top contenders for that unofficial title. I'm glad you had the same experience!
@@Scientist12345678910 Not to be that guy, but the bay area includes Sonoma County which is where Healdsburg is located. I know what you’re trying to say though ;)
11:25 His wife overseas 24 acres. I did an organic farm internship, on Lopez Island, that was 2 acres. It's a lot of work. I see the future of top-tier restaurants will absolutely include their own farm. Sourcing high-quality produce is difficult unless you own and control the farm!
Another enjoyable review, but I’m wondering how you manage to eat through all these multi-course meals. I know portions are small, but every restaurant looks like a lot of calories. Do you fast ahead of time? Is the meal so slowly paced that you have more time to digest? I’ve obviously never tried the experience.
The presentation was quite nice. I loved the opening tier design of the 1st course. Japanese food is so intricate and delicate, and I love all the attention to detail with particular sauces and garnishes. The edible flowers always makes a dish look beautiful. I’m surprised there was no sake in the wine pairings. Sake also has a large range, different flavours and adds nicely to wines and champagnes
Alexander what a fantastic episode! You also improved on episodes before and listened to feedback. Very impressive. For me you are the new: Chef's table from David Gelb. You make amazing videos. I am glad you will go start visiting caviar and champagne makers and not do that with an AI voice anymore. It must also be nice to know that if you ask online for the best channels on luxury food everybody is mentioning you as the number one.
Love your videos and California tour! I also would love to see you to go to the De Librije. It's the best restaurant of the Netherlands, and one of the two 3-michelinstar restaurants in this country. Keep it up :)
This is fun to watch because finally Alexander reviews somewhere I went to! I enjoyed my visit in 2018, but it was less uniformly outstanding than your experience. The food was beautiful on the plate, especially the first course as you show here, but overall the meal felt coolly technical and performative, precise more than passionate, and the service was attentive and professional but not warm. I wanted to love it but I came away merely liking it. Perhaps it was an off night for me or them, or perhaps they have just loosened up a bit as they've grown.
Oh, and the wine pairing at the time was like $350pp and felt extremely overpriced, mostly mid-tier California stuff that was quite forgettable and not at all at the level of the food.
Love your California tour! Just a fun fact about the 24 year old sommelier, he has only been allowed to legally drink wine for 3 years, but if his education was in California, we passed a law largely for the UC Davis wine program (one of the best in the world and benefactor of the Mondavi fortune after some family drama, see the book “House of Mondavi” for more on that!). If you’re a wine student or sommelier, you can legally sip and spit wine as young as 18 here!
Very interesting info. I didn't know that. Otherwise, young sommeliers from other countries would have a huge head start.
@@iamstillvoltron Not just sommeliers but winemakers too! UC Davis is consistently recognized as one of the best Viticulture and Enology programs in the world. I say that as a proud alumnus of their Engineering School who was lucky enough to have a few friends in their wine, beer and food science programs!
Ha ha sip and split is very interesting!
It’s so barbaric you still have the 21 age limit, it literally brings no advantage whatsoever
Americans so impressed with themselves. In all of Europe kids drink wine from like 7 years old
This seems like one of the most genuinely impressive restaurants you've posted, with regards to the service, atmosphere, and the food itself. Not a lot of stuck up, pretentious, "modern avant garde" foofy presentations, just good food with good technique. Love the energy from the younger staff especially the sommelier as well to make it seem approachable.
I wouldn’t call what they showed as classic technique. I think they just mastered things in a way that feel much more organic and unnecessarily pretentious.
Love your comments. We agree with everything that you said about this place. We dined here a few years back and loved the food. The service was just ok for us. All in all a great place to experience !!!
That Somelier could easily lead a whole company into war….
@@Andre-Nader fair point. I edited that to just say good technique because you're right :)
@@anonmeatcheesebunI noticed the good/classic difference and wondered. “Good” editing.
Seeing a 24 year old sommelier really brightened my day. The passion and level of service he offered seemed amazing. Great video once again!
Study study study
He really has the qualities of a young man but doesn't forget to be a professional. How he interacts with Alexander makes him relatable and definitely leveled up his service, kinda cool since he's only been legal to drink for 3 years.
you know who else is top tier? the editor, like WOW, every video!
I agree. Every video is a gem. Raise a glass to the videographer!
Singlethread is the only 3 starred restaurant I’ve been to. I took my family last August to celebrate my 30th birthday. I echo the same opinions of this place. It was simply an incredible experience with an astonishing attention to detail. I was simply blown away from my experience here.
Where to this coming August? Have you decided? O Lucky Man!
I have eaten here three times, and each time has been better than the last. The best restaurant I’ve ever visited.
You must be rich rich
@@johnnysins1171 Nah, just make it a priority, if that's your passion. You don't have to be rich to enjoy places like this, just skip spending on other things so casually.
@@Supperconductor 100% this, people make out that this is just for the uber rich. But then spend £200 a month on takeaway... literally just skip take out for 2 months and you can happily afford to experience this within your current budget. Shit man that's several times a year experiencing once in a lifetime restaurants like this. Make it your passion and you'd be surprised what you can afford. I say this on minimum wage lol
How do you compare it with Tom’s laundry?
@@8300dvo And what about the money for groceries? It's still gonna cost $200. I don't think any tasting menu is worth starving for a month lol
So far, two 3* restuarants, and the experience and contrast between Atelier Crenn and Single Thread could not be wider.
Single Thread appears to be one of those encounters, that if you only got to experience it once you would count yourself very fortunate, and very happy.
The difference is the price though. The guide weighs it all, value for experience. This is clearly a better experience.... But waaay higher price tag.
@@fadew55 The tasting menu is around the same price for both - he just chose the highest tier wine pairing here which inflates the price tag
@@fadew55 1. No, the guide does not take value for money into account.
2. As the other guy said, it's actually about the same price as Atelier Crenn, the only thing that will make one cost much more than the other is your wine choice.
SingleThread just beats AC, as good as the latter is.
Now this is a fine dining restaurant that I want to go to before I die. Beautiful and tasty, and professional without a hint of pretentiousness.
Came here to make this comment myself. It's lovely to see the staff not walking around like they have a fence post up their arse. It can be pretty magical when you find someplace where they take what they DO seriously, without taking themselves just as seriously.
That water trick is just brilliant
This might be my favorite episode. As an American, I think it's important that we respect other cultures and cuisines. This restaurant makes me feel like it respects Japanese cuisine to it's fullest while also not trying to imitate it. That sommelier was such a pleasure to watch as well. Thank you for the great episode! Can't wait for the new series you're teasing!
This restaurant really seems like they are having fun playing with their food, and that's the highest compliment I can give a fine dining place
This is the most appealing one I’ve seen on the channel for a while, looks really great. Nice job Alex
This one is gonna be hard to top this year. The fight to get here for the owners/chefs is a great asset. And the presentation is just superb. Love that they are letting that young man find his feet too. Rare to see.
The best channel of this kind anywhere. So glad you started it....AWESOME!
You put the smile on my face that was lacking here all day; in miserable, late October-like climate conditions in The Netherlands. Keep up the good work Alexander!
Same in Sweden. Where the hell is the summer?
@KamiKaZantA The sun and heat have finally arrived in(outside) Seattle, Wa.😊
meanwhile a lot of the US has been battered by excessive heatwaves for the past couple weeks - we’d gladly let you take some of the heat!
watching this while eating my $0,5 ramen noodles
Bro I’m smoking my ramen.. be grateful
What wine pairing did you have? 😅
wrr
@@jjhaya I like it! :)
Never seen him so happy before ahaha goes to show this place was unforgettable
wr
I like how you appreciate and value the vibes of the space and the employees.
Thank you for sharing your dining experience. Your insightful observations and experienced palate make your videos a pleasure to watch. And thank you for your honesty, you call it as you see and taste it!
Always excellent compliments when a restaurant is outstanding. One of my most enjoyable TH-cam subscriptions.
First, I absolutely love this suit. Second, I am very happy to see the enthusiasm for this restaurant. Very happy to see there is American culinary excellence.
A beautiful episode. Thank you. I loved the sommelier too. Just a new fresh breeze through the 3 star environment.
You are a great storyteller, not like other high-end dining channels, you make it easy and enjoyable to watch by interpreting it with on-point observations, without using unnecessary and exaggerated terms.
PRODUCTION AND EDITING ARE AMAZING.
I am really excited that your content will be extended to include not "only" restaurants❤
The wine pairing was absolutely exceptional. Wow!
Very excited to see your future videos expand outside of restaurants! I love the educational component you include in all of these experiences.
Fantastic video, amazing restaurant. A suggestion. Could you start the title with "episode xx, California part 2"? Its nice to keep track of a journey from start to finish, knowing i didnt skip a video.
Your reviews and content never disappoints Sir!
Your channel is very inspiring and informative! It is not only showing the amazing and unique, top tier cuisine and service in the world of gastronomy but reminds us of an important point: remember to support local cuisine and gastronomy whenever possible. Visit restaurants, be radical, be amazed, be unpredictable, be open to the world of food and gastronomy as it opens to new cultures, people and experiences!
This is the best review you have done yet - bravo Alex! Keep it up! And so glad you show what makes California cuisine so incredible. Hope you are passing by Yountville next...
Every time I see that you have released a new video, it makes me happy, I haven't had such a feeling from any creator for a long time.
My dining budget is definitely a long way from these kinds of restaurants and tbh, I feel my palate isn't refined enough to enjoy this kind of food. However, I just can't stop watching your videos. It's art in one hand and food science in the other. Thank you for broadening my horizons.
This looks like one of the best ones yet! Thank you again for sharing your passion for fine dining with us all.
I had such an amazing meal here a couple years ago. Glad you loved it. As a Bay Area native I’m so happy to see you romping around my region!
I could not eat 80% of these fine dining dishes - but I am obsessed with this guy and this channel. 😅 It reminds me how much good living is out there to be had.
What a fantastic review. The staff's confidence and enthusiasm comes through and in a word, is inspiring.
Your videos are always such a joy to watch. Your commentary as you go through these culinary journeys is great, and always impressed by your knowledge of wine. Out of curiosity, when you do wine pairings, is it intentional to leave some of the wine in each glass until they all pile up at the end? Seems like an interesting strategy since the flavor of the profiles of each wine change as your go through the course progression. Curious to hear more about this
So wonderful content - thank you Alexander :-)
I always love when you come to America. Its great to see out best culinary foot put forward.
This restaurant service and excellent quality really stands out
Greetings and salutations from Navajo Nation in Arizona! 🎊 🎉love your channel and insights..cheers!
O my god I’m so exited my favorite TH-cam account just posted a new video!!❤
First restaurant I've seen in a while looking like they are doing something original
Phenomenal video... But which was the better wagyu?
The p2 had me but when he popped out the grand cru ❤
I love watching these videos, even though I cant even afford mcdonalds 😢
Hooray!!! New video ❤️❤️❤️
The only thing better looking than the food is your jacket’s tailoring - wow !
He should start a second channel about tailored garment...
We have been to Single Thread Restaurant and Inn four times in different seasons and besides the fact that they do an incredible Vegan Dinner for My Wife and a pescatarian for me something that has to be tried is their japanese breakfast that comes with a stay at the INN , They have as well a different Donabe dinner that is also incredible ! and to top it all of they are so good about bringing our dog Lola . The whole team in The kitchen , at The Inn just incredible !! They deserve not only three Michelin stars but also this GREAT review !!
I think this is one of the best, if not the best all-around restaurants you’ve reviewed in 2024. Top notch on all levels, and super interesting. ❤
Love ❤️ the sommelier. He is so enthusiastic about his wine 🍷. He obviously knows his job
Now this looks like a restaurant worth saving money for! Thank you for aiding us less affluent in choosing what restaurants are worth it to go to.
Love all your videos!
How does tipping work at high-end restaurants? Do guests tip 15 to 20 % even when the bill is $3K? I noticed the 3% service charge on this bill. Is that more common?
my brother in christ benjamin, what're you doing here??
Always appreciating Alexanders tailoring choices 🙃
I love that the song is back. Looking forward to whats to come
I had the opportunity to dine at Single Thread a few months back. Wonderful meal with excellent food, but the service staff and their attention to deal was easily the star of the show. Relaxed and light atmosphere that made the whole experience really stand out vs other tasting menus I've been to.
Great video! This was on my shortlist for a trip in October so you've made the decision easy
Alexander = GOAT
"I could not have said it better my self" might be the greatest compliment Alexander can give.
Um, why? He's a successful businessman and everything but not like he's a renowned, master orator.
@@Bragglord ah yes, the renowned master orators... Bro stfu you absolute fool XD
Please don't ever stop making videos
Hope to have you at Stanford University next time my Friend!
-Chef Mychel
Stanford University is a must see!
Do you mean a restaurant or the university itself?
@@OrganicMachoCapitalist I'm an Executive Chef at Stanford, so a tour and food. We do some pretty fun stuff, I have some videos up for our Chef tables and other events.
@@OrganicMachoCapitalist The university. My daughter goes there. It is well worth a visit. They probably have some decent food nearby as long as it's not campus food service! Lol!
@@ChefMychel Nice, sounds good!
excited to see what the more varied videos will be like :)
1500 wine pairing. The alpha has entered the room.
eating my instant ramen noodle while watching alexander the guest video making me feels like sitting next to him and enjoy the food inside the restaurant. amazing content as always
Finally! my favorite restaurant in the states!
Alexander was baptized in 'The Krug'
Would love to see a travel type of reviews from you of destinations / hotels that you visit ❤
So far, my favorite destination + restaurant has been Hungary + 42, followed by Greenland + KOKS. Having been to none, I love (most of) them all. This time, I enjoyed seeing one of their non-alcoholic beverages. So exquisitely inventive, that I could easily drink my lunch at Single Thread.
Worked with Jackson at Selby’s. Awesome dude
This is in my opinion, hands down, the Michelin restaurant in the Bay Area, and perhaps a strong contention for the best Three Michelin in the United States. Although I have yet to try Alinea, Smyth, and Addison, from what I've heard Single Thread is still one of the top contenders for that unofficial title. I'm glad you had the same experience!
A bit of a stretch to call Healdsburg the Bay Area haha
@@Scientist12345678910 Not to be that guy, but the bay area includes Sonoma County which is where Healdsburg is located. I know what you’re trying to say though ;)
This is your best review sofar.❤
More videos of the best guest I’m all in !!!🎉
there's gotta be half a million invested into this channel just in the year or so it's been around.
Would love wine content!
11:25 His wife overseas 24 acres. I did an organic farm internship, on Lopez Island, that was 2 acres. It's a lot of work. I see the future of top-tier restaurants will absolutely include their own farm. Sourcing high-quality produce is difficult unless you own and control the farm!
The Video Thumbnail itself is the most floral but artistic thumbnail that I see in this channel
Always watching alexander's video while eating my homemade nasi goreng.
Another enjoyable review, but I’m wondering how you manage to eat through all these multi-course meals. I know portions are small, but every restaurant looks like a lot of calories. Do you fast ahead of time? Is the meal so slowly paced that you have more time to digest? I’ve obviously never tried the experience.
Within 3 minutes I have gasped and said “What” more than I ever have, the experience must have been absolutely insane!
Thanks for shearing that wonderfu videos give us so much inspiration! dont stop to doing it !Keep walking man thans so much
The presentation was quite nice. I loved the opening tier design of the 1st course. Japanese food is so intricate and delicate, and I love all the attention to detail with particular sauces and garnishes. The edible flowers always makes a dish look beautiful. I’m surprised there was no sake in the wine pairings. Sake also has a large range, different flavours and adds nicely to wines and champagnes
This has to be my favorite restaurant you have visited
as always top notch quality. keep going!
GREAT VIDEO as always, you do an AMAZING job here!
And 5:02 YES PLEASE!!
You deserve MILLIONS of subscribers!
“Like a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape/
I’m fine like wine when I start to rap”
- The Beastie Boys
My favorite show on Utube!!!
Alexander what a fantastic episode! You also improved on episodes before and listened to feedback. Very impressive.
For me you are the new: Chef's table from David Gelb. You make amazing videos. I am glad you will go start visiting caviar and champagne makers and not do that with an AI voice anymore.
It must also be nice to know that if you ask online for the best channels on luxury food everybody is mentioning you as the number one.
That water trick was so cool
Love your videos and California tour! I also would love to see you to go to the De Librije. It's the best restaurant of the Netherlands, and one of the two 3-michelinstar restaurants in this country. Keep it up :)
Grew up in Sonoma County, can confirm that we love our farm-to-table food and delicious wines.
Great video! Have to try it soon
Thank you for showing a few of the options on the juice/none alcohol pairing!!!!!
I am so jealous of this dream wine pairing!
Outstanding video. This restaurant is going on my bucket list.
We just went last night and the Somm is so talented. Great kid.
thx for the content :D
Love your videos!
been there 2 times
, the best restaurant in the us
chef kyle is a genius
This is fun to watch because finally Alexander reviews somewhere I went to! I enjoyed my visit in 2018, but it was less uniformly outstanding than your experience. The food was beautiful on the plate, especially the first course as you show here, but overall the meal felt coolly technical and performative, precise more than passionate, and the service was attentive and professional but not warm. I wanted to love it but I came away merely liking it. Perhaps it was an off night for me or them, or perhaps they have just loosened up a bit as they've grown.
Oh, and the wine pairing at the time was like $350pp and felt extremely overpriced, mostly mid-tier California stuff that was quite forgettable and not at all at the level of the food.