Neal Fraser
Redbird and Vibiana | Los Angeles
April 2024
As a young man working the line at Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka Restaurant & Brewery in Los Angeles, Neal Fraser was inspired to enroll in culinary school. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Fraser went on to work under Thomas Keller at Checkers Hotel in L.A. before heading back to New York to cook at the Park Avenue Cafe for David Burke. When he finally returned to Los Angeles, he got a job at Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, then became a cook at Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox, before joining the team at Spago.
In 1995, Fraser opened Boxer as the executive chef, garnering both local and national attention for his work in the kitchen. In 2003, Fraser and his partner, Amy Knoll, opened their own restaurant, Grace. The following year, Fraser was named a StarChefs Rising Star. In 2006, following the success of Grace, Fraser and Knoll opened their all-day cafe concept BLD, which quickly became a beloved Los Angeles dining destination.
The duo took over the operations of Vibiana in Downtown L.A. in 2012, where they have reimagined the former cathedral into a flourishing events space alongside an impressive food and beverage program. In addition to taking over the venue, the Frasers opened Redbird, their flagship restaurant featuring seasonal modern American cuisine, on the same property in 2015. Since then, Fraser has developed his fried chicken concept Fritzi Coop, become a partner in the Mexican cantina El Granjero at The Grove, and opened a version of BLD at LAX. Celebrated figures in the Los Angeles hospitality community, Fraser and Knoll continue to support both their industry and city through programs like their long-running annual dinner series Beefsteak, which raises funds for the Los Angeles Food Bank, Share Our Strength, and No Kid Hungry.
