Jan 26, 2026 | 4:37 pm
A Spicewood-born chef who earned Michelin recognition in California is returning to his birthplace for a new resort restaurant. Estella, at the upcoming wellness resort Canyon Ranch Austin, will be led by Chef Val Cantú, the chef behind two Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurant Californios.
Canyon Ranch opened in 1979 in Tucson, Arizona, and plans to open its Austin-area outpost in September of 2026. The small chain also has a resort in Lenox, Massachusetts, and spas in Fort Worth and Las Vegas, Nevada. The original Canyon Ranch is very highly regarded, earning its own Michelin award of three keys — the highest ranking a hotel can get — and the chain lauds the wellness benefits of both modern science and “ancient wisdom.”
Estella will be the resort’s signature restaurant, anchoring its 600 acres in the Hill Country north of Austin. In line with the resort’s offerings, Estella will plate up a “seasonal, wellness-driven interpretation of Mexican cuisine,” according to a press release…