Acclaimed chef David Kinch is tying up loose ends at his three-Michelin-star restaurant Manresa ahead of his upcoming departure later this year.
Kinch made the announcement in a lengthy Instagram post Monday, noting that his last day is Dec. 31 at Los Gatos restaurant. Bloomberg first reported the news on Kinch’s vacation.
“Manresa has been essentially my entire life for the last 20 years,” Kinch wrote on Instagram. “And like all passion projects, it was more challenging and rewarding than I could have imagined.”
Partner Jenny Yun is expected to take over the reins on January 1, 2023 in Kinch’s absence, according to an Instagram post shared by the restaurant. Additionally, the post hinted that Kinch might continue to work with Manresa in some ways. SFGATE requested comment but received no response pending publication.
The chef told Bloomberg he was worried about the future of fine dining. Kinch believes upscale restaurants are moving toward high-end counter restaurants with tasting menus starting at $450 per person, Bloomberg reports. (Manresa currently offers a tasting menu for $365 per guest.) In addition to a price increase, Kinch expects upscale restaurants to continue to be more exclusive.
“As the wage gap continues to widen, all this democratization that’s happened in the last 20 years,” Kinch told Bloomberg.
The Manresa opened in Los Gatos in 2002 and received two Michelin stars in 2007 and a third star in 2016. Along the way, Kinch has received other awards, including 2011 Chef of the Year from GQ Magazine and Best Chef, Pacific 2010 from the James Beard Foundation.
In his Instagram post, Kinch shared that he plans to devote more time to his other Bay Area businesses, Manresa Bread Bakery and restaurant The Bywater, as well as his restaurant in Santa Cruz County, Mentone, in 2023. Also, he wants more time for “new pursuits and return to long-neglected passions.”