Redbird | Vibiana Chef | Owner Neal Fraser

Chef Neal Fraser, owner of multiple restaurant concepts in Los Angeles, started his career in the kitchen at age 20. Fraser touts an impressive resume that includes a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and an honor roll of kitchen credits such as Wolfgang Puck’s Eureka and Spago, Checkers Hotel under Thomas Keller, Joachim Splichal’s Pinot Bistro, Hans Rockenwagner’s Rox, and the highly revered Boxer. Currently, he and his business partner/wife Amy Knoll Fraser own and operate critically acclaimed Redbird and high-volume special events and performing arts venue Vibiana.

Located in downtown Los Angeles, Redbird is Fraser’s flagship where he showcases his signature sensibility of refined yet approachable modern American cuisine, influenced by the city’s multitude of cultures. Carved into one of the city’s most historic architectural gems, inside the former rectory building of Vibiana (the cathedral-turned-event-venue), Redbird is singular, timeless and “blissfully grown-up.” The restaurant has received many accolades including a coveted spot on Los Angeles Times' Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurant List.

Prior to the success of Redbird and Vibiana, Fraser and Knoll Fraser opened two of Los Angeles’ most loved restaurants – critical darling Grace, and ever-beloved, breakfast, lunch and dinner bistro, BLD. A second location for BLD currently operates inside the Los Angeles International Airport.

Fraser has also been catering for over 30 years in and around Los Angeles and across the country with events ranging from intimate dinner parties in private homes to a week-long 3 meal a day Breeder’s Cup event at Santa Anita to open-air dining events with the Outstanding in the Field group, and at Coachella and Burning Man.

At Fraser’s award-winning flagship property Vibiana, which houses his critically acclaimed restaurant Redbird in its rectory building, he and his staff execute over 100 events a year in the former cathedral and over 700 events in the 5 private dining rooms of the rectory building and adjacent garden. This is in addition to regular dinner service seven nights a week and brunch on the weekends in the 140 seat Main Dining Room. Redbird | Vibiana received the Los Angeles Conservancy’s 2019 Preservation Award Chair’s Award. The Chair’s Award is the LA Conservancy’s highest recognition celebrating the persistence, creativity and ultimate success of the revitalization for adaptive reuse of the cathedral, rectory building and surrounding property.

Over the years, both Fraser and Knoll Fraser have been active members in the community, donating time and talent to a variety of charities. Fraser currently resides on the board of LA’s Best. Nine years ago, Fraser and Knoll Fraser co-founded Beefsteak, an annual event benefitting the Los Angeles Food Bank with Simpson’s creator Matt Selman, comedian Eric Wareheim and comedy producer Cort Cass. As an avid cyclist, Fraser is an active participant in Chef’s Cycle, an annual event in support of No Kid Hungry.

Outside of the restaurants, Fraser has logged some hours on the small screen, most notably on Bravo TV's 'Top Chef Masters,’ Fox’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ and Food Network's 'Iron Chef America,' on which he won his battle against chef Cat Cora. He also won his battles on Esquire TV's 'Knife Fight,' and Food Network's 'Beat Bobby Flay.’

Fraser and his restaurants have been featured in publications such as Food & Wine, Los Angeles Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest and Eater Los Angeles.