The greatness of a restaurant—or chef—lies in how their work is appreciated by others.
By David Kinch as told to Zagat Stories
Over the span of a couple decades, David Kinch has all but defined a particular California coast vibe in fine dining. Despite rare and limited forays into books and TV, most of Kinch’s energy and focus remains invested in Manresa, his Relais & Chateaux fine dining room in Los Gatos, near San Jose. His careful attention to the evolving farm-to-table tasting menus are deceptively simple, reflecting Kinch’s abiding interest in local ingredients and the natural landscape in general. But he doesn’t view success as worth having if nobody’s there to enjoy it along with him.