Manresa fire: Los Gatos restaurateur vows to reopen acclaimed venue

By Eric Kurhi and Mark Gomez

Bay Area News Group

LOS GATOS -- After a two-alarm fire ripped through the roof of Manresa, the famous South Bay restaurant with two coveted Michelin stars, its chef and owner said he's "devastated" by the loss but made it clear that the vaunted eatery will once again plate its top-shelf fare.

As far as when diners can expect to see the return of a four-hour, 14-course tasting menu featuring items like abalone and local milk panna cotta or suckling porcelet with chanterelles, apricots and a courgette velout, that's a little less certain. While David Kinch would not put an estimate on how long the doors will stay shut at his famous establishment, one fire investigator estimated it could be several months.

"Absolutely, I think we're going to be a stronger and better restaurant," Kinch said after surveying the aftermath Monday afternoon.

It's a tall order -- Manresa was already the South Bay's premier dining experience, a gem that's earned the venue and superstar chef Kinch numerous accolades since it opened in 2002. The extravagant tasting menu earned raves from gourmets who came from far and wide to plunk down $190 per person for the experience -- and nearly double that for a premium wine pairing.

It was a repeat performer, nailing the two-star (on a three-star scale) Michelin rating for eight years in a row -- an honor held by only seven Bay Area eateries, and that's the most in any one region countrywide. And Kinch won the best chef in America award for the Pacific region from the James Beard Foundation in 2010, shortly after a major remodeling job that brought in a lounge, wine cellar and bar -- complete with concoctions worthy of accompanying the spectacular dishes.

Kinch, who flew in from the East Coast upon hearing the news that his pride and joy was damaged in Monday's early-morning blaze, was noticeably rattled and softly praised firefighters for their quick actions.

"They're about 200 feet away from us and they responded and did a magnificent job," he said. "It could have been a lot worse."

Fire officials gave an early estimate that the structure had about $300,000 worth of damage, but Kinch said it's far too early to make such claims and called it "speculation."

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Manresa fire: Los Gatos restaurateur vows to reopen acclaimed venue