Chef Neal Fraser of Vibiana - Biography

Neal Fraser began his career in Los Angeles—his hometown—where he worked the line at Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka Brewery and Restaurant. Inspired by that experience, he enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, which led to positions at Checkers Hotel in L.A. during Thomas Keller’s tenure and at Park Avenue Café under David Burke in New York. When Fraser returned to L.A. for good, he cooked at Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, and Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox.

In 1995, Fraser opened Boxer as executive chef, earning both local and national attention. Next, he opened Rix in Santa Monica, where he served weekly 10-course tasting menus, including a controversial, but well received all-hemp menu. After a brief stint running the kitchen at the legendary Jimmy’s in Beverly Hills, Fraser and his wife Amy Knoll Fraser focused their energy on Grace, where he won a 2004 StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Award.

The Frasers followed that success with neighboring café concept BLD in 2006. Since then they’ve added Fritzi Dog at the Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax, BLD at LAX, and ICDC (Ice Cream-Donut-Coffee shop) to the Fraser empire. In fall 2012, the Frasers took over operations of Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles, where the in-house food and beverage program (fondly dubbed Neal Fraser & Co.) offers custom menus complemented by a cocktail program. Redbird, the highly anticipated follow-up to Grace, opened at Vibiana in fall 2013.