About Us
Our Story
Palma and her husband, Pierre, met in 1987 in New York City. The two instantly fell in love... A first generation Brooklyn Italian girl and a native Parisian boy who spent his best time near the Italian border in Cannes. Together they started D'Orazio Food Events, one of the first photoshoot catering companies, catering to the fashion and entertainment industries. They continued their love story when they opened Palma in 2001, a small 35 seat restaurant.
The restaurant thrived as an extension of their home. You could always find their daughters sitting at a table doing homework or running around playing games. This atmosphere extended to their guests, who they host as they would their friends and family. Over the years, their restaurant has grown organically and independently, and all the while Palma's heart has stayed the same. She explains that food nurtures the soul as well as the body. It is essential for her to feed her guests what she would feed her family.
Fresh produce arrives from organic, biodynamic farms and local open-air Farmers' Markets. Palma believes that every season provides the body with what it naturally craves and needs. She and Pierre believe that everyday there is a reason to celebrate the love and beauty of life. Their dream is to continue developing their living homage to Italian culture and to create unforgettable memories for all those who visit. Their eldest daughter, Chloerose, is now a partner while their youngest daughter, Amber Mark's music can be heard throughout the restaurant (and all over the world).
Food Philosophy
Palma is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with many local and biodynamic farms. Biodynamic farming is the synergy of treating the world as one... from the sun and the moon, to the animals, to the soil, to the plants, to the people... it's all one, together. We follow authentic, traditional practices and recipes. Our pasta is handmade, prepared the same way for centuries. Our focaccia is made in house using our generations old mother yeast. The fish we source is wild and the meat and eggs humanely raised, from small happy farms.
"Food nurtures the soul as well as the body. It is essential for us to feed our guests as we would our family" - Palma