Donna Lennard - Founder, il Buco

Explicit content warning

02/05/25 • 36 min

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Donna Lennard, a trailblazer who has redefined how we experience dining, design, and community.

Donna is the founder of the iconic il Buco family of restaurants—destinations renowned for their ingredient-driven Italian and Mediterranean cuisine—and il Buco Vita, a lifestyle and tabletop brand rooted in craftsmanship and cultural heritage. What began as an unassuming antique shop on Bond Street has, over the last three decades, blossomed into a beloved collection of spaces that feel more like homes than restaurants.

From her beginnings working in the kitchen to her journey into antiques and culinary artistry, Donna has built a world where every detail—from the handmade dishes to the plate it’s served on—tells a story. Her ability to bridge the worlds of collecting and curating, in both food and design, creates an atmosphere of warmth, connection, and timeless elegance.

Donna shares how it all started, the pivotal moments that shaped il Buco’s evolution, and the parallels between curating antiques and crafting unforgettable dining experiences. We’ll also explore the balance between consistency and evolution, the importance of community, and the future of il Buco’s ever-growing world. So with great honor, this is Donna Lennard, for Collectors Gene Radio.
il Buco - https://ilbuco.com/
Collectors Gene - https://collectorsgene.com/
il Buco's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ilbuconyc
Cameron's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cameronrosssteiner

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Donna Lennard, a trailblazer who has redefined how we experience dining, design, and community.

Previous Episode

Camilla Marcus - Founder, west-bourne

Camilla Marcus, founder of west-bourne is my guest today and as someone who embodies the intersection of sustainability and community, her various collections feel right at home. She’s a chef, entrepreneur, activist, and environmental trailblazer, redefining how we think about food, gathering, and planetary care - which is probably why she’s been named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.
As the founder of west~bourne, New York City’s first zero-waste certified restaurant turned regenerative provisions brand, Camilla is deeply committed to making a lasting impact.

Beyond her work in hospitality, she co-founded ROAR and the Independent Restaurant Coalition, collaborated with visionaries like Oishii, Ron Finley and MAD Agriculture, and written a cookbook, My Regenerative Kitchen, that empowers us all to eat well while doing good. And yet, as ambitious as her career is, Camilla also finds inspiration and grounding in the art of collecting.

Today, we’ll dive into the stories behind her incredible collections—vinyl records that set the tone for gatherings, signed menus that archive her love for what she calls a restaurant's first piece of art, and ceramics that embody her ethos of mindful craftsmanship. We’ll hear how her collections reflect her values, influence her creative process, and offer a quiet, yet natural place to turn in the midst of her ever-expanding world.
So without further adieu, this is Camilla Marcus, for Collectors Gene Radio.
Westbourne - https://westbourne.com/
Westbourne Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/westbourne/?hl=en
Camilla Marcus Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/camilla.marcus/?hl=en
CollectorsGene.com - https://collectorsgene.com/
Cameron Steiner - https://www.instagram.com/cameronrosssteiner/?hl=en

Next Episode

Ryan Matthew Cohn - Dealer, Collector, Co-Author (The Witch's Door), and Co-Founder, Oddities Flea Market

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Ryan Matthew Cohn, a modern-day curator of curiosities and a master of the macabre.

You might recognize Ryan from his groundbreaking work with osteological art, or perhaps as the co-founder of the Oddities Flea Market, a haven for fans of the strange and unusual. Ryan’s fascination with the peculiar began in his childhood, exploring the woods of upstate New York and uncovering fragments of history and nature that sparked his imagination. That curiosity evolved into a passion for collecting some of the rarest and most unusual artifacts. From skulls and taxidermy to antique medical instruments and objects with mysterious pasts, his personal cabinet of curiosities is a testament to his passion for preserving the rare, the bizarre, and the historically significant.

Ryan’s evolution as a collector, artist, and custodian of history holds stories of uncovering treasures in unexpected places, and acquired several thousand piece collections. We’ll dive into Ryan’s journey from a self-proclaimed seeker of the strange to an internationally recognized figure in the oddities community. We chat about how his time as a jewelry designer for Ralph Lauren paved the way for everything he knows about his passions today, how he curates his collection, and the story behind one of his most intriguing finds: the wood door that inspired his book, The Witch’s Door.
So please enjoy, this is Ryan Matthew Cohn, for Collectors Gene Radio.
Oddities Flea Market - https://theodditiesfleamarket.com/
Ryan Matthew Cohn - https://www.instagram.com/ryanmatthewcohn
The Witch's Door - https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Door-Oddities-Esoteric-Extreme-ebook/dp/B0D7QNFLR9
Collectors Gene - https://collectorsgene.com/
Cameron Steiner - https://www.instagram.com/cameronrosssteiner