Barbara Sibley

Barbara Sibley was born and raised in Mexico City and is an expert in traditional Mexican cuisine. An anthropologist she opened La Palapa Cocina Mexicana in NYC in 2000. Known for her pioneering cocktail program and commitment to authenticity, she was named Operator of the Year by the Food and Restaurant Expo and is a James Beard Foundation WEL fellow. She has appeared on Chopped, Good Day NY, and CBS Sunday Morning, and co-authored Antojitos: Festive and Flavorful Mexican Small Plates (Ten Speed Press). She’s Creative Director of Holiday Cocktail Lounge and Co-Founder of San Miguel Poetry Week. Barbara has received multiple awards for leadership and labor advocacy, and during the pandemic she helped provide over 90,000 meals to frontline workers. She is currently Co-President of Les Dames d’Escoffier New York and will be a keynote speaker at the 2025 Women and Gastronomy Colloquium in Madrid.