We Are Ona Introduces a Design-Centric Culinary Pop-Up in New York for Art Week

Engaging chef Mory Sacko and interior architect Harry Nuriev to actualise the experience.

We Are Ona

The culinary studio We Are Ona is hosting a pop-up event in New York during the New York Art Week. The gourmet collective, located in WSA in the Financial District for the weeklong art fair, will provide six-course lunch and eight-course supper offerings, along with the option of beverage pairings.

We Are Ona is recognised for its distinctive culinary experiences, each featuring a meticulously crafted meal for lunch and dinner at a specific venue, lasting from one week to six months. The ensemble has already visited cities worldwide, including London, Paris, Milan, Venice, and Basel.

For its New York installment, the studio is collaborating with Michelin-starred chef Mory Sacko and architect and designer Harry Nuriev. Sacko is recognised for the Parisian restaurant MoSuke, which amalgamates African, Japanese, and French culinary traditions. Nuriev has established his reputation as the creative director of the interior architecture firm Crosby Studios, acclaimed for his innovative and transforming style.

We Are Ona

Sacko, attending his inaugural event in the U.S., stated that We Are Ona’s New York pop-up would adopt “a more playful and significantly less formal approach than in [his] more gastronomic restaurant.” Nonetheless, "structure and elegance" will be a recurring theme throughout the meal. The menu is constructed using French culinary techniques, integrated with spices, chillies, and the essence of African food, ultimately enhanced by Japanese ingredients and condiments,” Sacko disclosed.

Luca Pronzato, founder of We Are Ona, stated, "Mory is, in my opinion, one of the most skilled chefs of his generation." Regarding the venue, Pronzato stated that during the selection of pop-up locations, they prefer places that embody their specific period and place and are unfamiliar to the local populace.

The New York event occurs at a remarkable historic insurance building on Water Street, with a view of the river. Harry conceptualised the dining area, featuring a lengthy table accommodating 60 individuals, a custom kitchen, and dinnerware crafted from silver and stainless steel, symbolising his vision of the virtual realm.

The We Are Ona pop-up event is scheduled from May 12 to May 17 at WSA in central Manhattan. Online reservations for lunch and dinner are currently available.