Travel & Living

Chef Collective We Are Ona Makes U.S. Debut at Frieze LA

Culinary collective We Ona brings its creations to the U.S. for the very first time, beginning with a pop-up in Los Angeles during Frieze.

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We Are Ona founder Luca Pronzato photographed by Tanya Chavez.

In 2019, Luca Pronzato founded We Are Ona, a global collective of private chefs showcasing culinary innovations at pop-up restaurants around the world. By partnering with local artisans and suppliers in unique locales, the group creates dining experiences that satisfy all five senses. As Pronzato explains, “It was born from the traditional fine dining scene, with the desire to explore innovative ways of creating extraordinary experiences for our guests.” As a continuation of the group’s “Art Tour”—which has already taken them to some of “the most inˆfluential art, design, and architectural fairs,” such as Paris Design Week, Milan Design Week, and the Venice Biennale. 

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We Are Ona’s Paris pop-up in the former studio of French photographer Nadar.

This year, We Are Ona partnered with the Los Angeles design studio Perron-Roettinger to bring their dishes to the U.S. for the very first time during Frieze LA in February. From traditional French gougères made with local cheese to crêpes Suzette carmelized with California-grown blood oranges, the menu imbued signature French fare with LA ˆflavors, bolstered by a tranquil West Coast ambiance. 

After choosing LA as the first U.S. destination on We Are Ona’s tour, the initial step for Pronzato was finding a space. As he says, dining “is not just about the quality of the food; it’s also really linked to the general atmosphere of the place: the architecture of the room, the music, the lighting, the scenography, the set design, and the pieces that the people are eating [with and from]: the tableware, the dishware, the glasses.” 

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We Are Ona’s pop-up during Frieze in LA.

“Dining is not just about the quality of the food; it’s also really linked to the general atmosphere of the place.”

Enter Willo Perron and Brian Roettinger, the creative duo behind Perron-Roettinger, the LA–based design studio most known for their work in conceptualizing Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. “Brian and Willo are one of the most incredible design duos and creatives in the U.S., so it’s such an honor to be collaborating with them,” says Pronzato. 

However, space is just one element in creating an atmosphere. The pop-up also featured benches, tables, and ceramic works by artist Peter Shire and centerpieces from Hot Cactus, a floral design business with an emphasis on cacti. All of these elements set the stage for a very inviting, very LA evening of expertly prepared cuisine.

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