Los Gatos eatery damaged in fire sets reopening date with new dishes
After being closed for two months following an accidental fire, famed Manresa restaurant is reopening Sept. 19.
The July 16 fire ignited overnight outside the restaurant, resulting in damage to an exterior wall and the attic inside the Los Gatos restaurant.
In an interview Saturday, David Kinch, chef-owner of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant, shared details about the aftermath.
“It’s close to $1 million worth of damage,” he said. “I lost a lot, including Japanese glassware and plates that I hand carried back from Japan and had been collecting for the past 15 years.”
It was the second fire in four years for the restaurant. In July 2014, a kitchen blaze forced the closure of Manresa for six months for reconstruction. According to Santa Clara County fire officials, the cause of that fire was arson.
Being closed for two months this summer means the restaurant nearly missed the entire tomato season. That’s why Kinch is planning a signature garden dish made entirely of tomatoes and fruits.
“Soon we’ll be making the transition to a fall menu with lots of squashes, game and matsutake mushrooms,” he said. Look for a corn and caviar dish, too.
In the dining room, you’ll notice new sconces, a fresh coat of paint, new carpet and Kinch’s own photography from France.
The Manresa reopening is not the only project keeping Kinch busy. The chef, who was nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef award in March, is opening a third Manresa Bread, which, unlike the Los Gatos and Los Altos locations, will be an expanded cafe with a liquor license.
“It’s going to be Manresa Bread Cafe,” he said. “We’re going to be open later and do the same signatures breads and pastries but also offer a simple cafe menu with hot and cold sandwiches and simple pastas.”
Kinch also shared details of his highly-anticipated Mediterranean concept in Aptos.
“We’re getting a beautiful Italian oven and plan to make pizzas that are Neapolitan-esque in style, but we’re going to bring our own style to it,” he said. “We’re very close to finalizing the name.”