We met at Holiday Lounge in the East Village for a drink before dinner next door at La Palapa. Almost 100 years old, this iconic watering hole has a mahogany horseshoe bar and a hand-painted harem scene mural from its Ali Baba days.

We were guests of one friend who won the dinner at a raffle at Les Dames d’Escoffier New York‘s (LDNY) scholarship reception. LDNY is an unparalleled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all food, beverage and hospitality sectors. We support aspiring professional women in food and beverage and champion critical industry issues.

Since 1977, LDNY has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to over 1,000 recipients. If you’d like to donate to the Les Dames d’Escoffier New York scholarships, click here. We are a nonprofit philanthropic group that helps advance and support aspiring professional women.

Barbara Sibley, LaPalapa’s chef-owner and creative director at Holiday, is the current President of LNDY. She generously offered this meal as a raffle prize to raise additional funds for our scholarships.

After our cocktails at Holiday, we headed next door to the “Music Salon Wednesday” to enjoy a special menu Barabara created for our group and to listen to that night’s entertainment.

We started with a hibiscus margarita and their famous guacamole and chips.

They served us margies in various iterations with lots of food. We had a Ceasar salad with chalupa con chorizo, a tender corn masa boat filled with housemade chorizo, crema and salsa verde.  I would have loved more! Same with the camerones con mole negro Oaxaca, grilled shrimp with mole and plantains.

The authentic, delicious Mexican food and drinks kept coming. Did I mention Barbara was born and raised in Mexico City? 

We ended with traditional churros and hugs all around.

I highly recommend visiting the historic Holiday Cocktail Lounge and the authentic La Palapa.

La Palapa Cocina Mexican
East Village
77 St Marks Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-2357
lapalapa.com/  

Holiday Cocktail Lounge
East Village
75 St Marks Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-9637
holidaycocktaillounge.bar/