Single thread

Healdsburg, US: The intriguingly named restaurant, led by Kyle and Katina Connaughton, is a star attraction in Healdsburg, a quaint Californian town in the wine-famous Sonoma Valley. The menu has a strong Japanese influence, with much of the produce sourced from a local farm - a signature feature of standalone top-end restaurants worldwide.

The dining experience begins with small snacks and transitions through 10 courses of kaiseki-style dining, where dishes are served in a specific sequence, with the menu predetermined and crafted to reflect the changing seasons of Japan. Depending on the time of year, try white and green asparagus with caviar, sansho-pepper egg and almond, crab with pea tofu and miso crab dashi, or duck with sunchoke, prune and lacinato kale. Be sure to look out for the donabe (Japanese claypot), where rice takes centre stage.

Guests also have the option to stay overnight in one of the five rooms. The bonus: an unmissable in-room Japanese breakfast. While the food is superb, what truly sets this restaurant apart is the staff's dedication to the Japanese concept of omotenashi - going above and beyond to anticipate a guest's needs. What more could one ask for?