Our Team
Patrick Costa
Owner / Executive Chef
Patrick spent his first six years in Rome — and honestly, that says it all. Those early days were spent in the kitchen with family, learning from a grandmother who believed fresh herbs and market produce weren't optional, they were the whole point.
As the kid of a Naval officer, Patrick moved around a lot. But instead of complaining about it, he just... ate his way through every new place. Those experiences turned a curious kid into someone who genuinely loves food.
He's cooked at some serious spots over the years — including a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant in Chicago — and helped launch a pizza concept in the heart of Hollywood. He's run kitchens, built menus, opened restaurants, and mentored teams. The résumé is real.
But what drives Patrick isn't the accolades. It's the table. The idea that a great meal, made with care, shared with good people, is one of life's simple joys — no matter who you are or where you come from. That's the spirit behind De La Nonna, and every dish on the menu.
Lee Zaremba
Owner / Operations
Lee Zaremba is an experienced beverage and operations professional living in Los Angeles, California. Before moving to California this past fall, he was acting beverage director for the James Beard Award winning Boka Restaurant Group in Chicago, Illinois. Lee spent the last four years opening 9 new concepts and overseeing beverage programming for all 16 locations including Momotaro, Girl and the Goat, and Lazy Bird, a cocktail bar he helped create located inside the Hoxton Hotel. There he published his first cocktail book and received a number of acknowledgements including Hotel Bar of the Year 2020.
His move to California was inspired by a dream to open his own bars and restaurants with a distinct code of ethics that takes care of its people, and is excited to start that journey with his good friend Patrick, as De La Nonna.
“De La Nonna”, represents the idea of Italian soul food that your Nonna would approve of. After a year of successfully popping up at various locations throughout Los Angeles, the Nonna team brought their dream to life with a brick and mortar space in the Arts District!