Elote Wrestles Up a New Bar with Recycled Materials

Libby Billings is the owner of Eloté Café and Catering. She prepares delicious, fresh, organic Mexican food for people in Tulsa and the surrounding area. She is also environmental trend setters.

Curtis Restaurant Supply assisted Billings when she originally opened Eloté Café and Catering in May 2008. She recycles glass, aluminum, plastic and cardboard with local recyclers, Recycling Revolution. She supports local family farms, compost, and re-use cooking oil to make clean-burning bio-diesel fuel. Even her to-go containers, utensils, cups and lids are made from 100% compostable corn and sugar beets.

So it only seemed fitting that the construction of her new Luchador Bar was as green as her guacamole, and limited any negative environmental impact during the construction process. Interestingly, the bar area was always there. It was a storage room. Billings said she always had plans to use the storage room to expand the restaurant to include a bar, but hadn’t got around to it. Because the room was already there, she simply opened a wall to provide the area for the bar.

Most impressive is the beautiful artisan-crafted bar made from recycled materials. The bar was made by a local designer using wood that came from a remodeling project at her home, as well as old wood found in the basement of the restaurant. Billings went to the recycling center to gather colorful glass bottles to use as decoration for the bar. “The recycling center isn’t used to someone taking things OUT,” she said. “But the glass is beautiful, it won’t negatively impact the environment, and it didn’t cost a cent.”

She wanted to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the opening of the restaurant with a Cinco de Mayo celebration. With help from local vendors, the project came about VERY quickly. “It only took a month to complete,” said Billings. “Everyone involved rallied around the project to get the bar completed. Curtis Restaurant Supply was instrumental in providing and installing the bar equipment, cooler, sinks, chairs and tables, so the bar could open on time. Our Curtis sales rep helped us pull it all together.”

The Luchador Bar is decorated in Lucha Libre style (Mexican professional wrestling). The colorful masks of the Lucha libre are reflected in the vibrant colored walls in terra cotta red, parrot green, and glimmering gold. A luchador pinata and traditional paintings of the wrestlers adorn the walls.

The Luchador Bar offers a full-service bar, including a wonderful selection of traditional Mexican beers, as well as locally produced beers. Also served are Mexican inspired specialty drinks such as mojitos, margaritas, and Sangria. New on the menu are the flavor-infused tequilas. Three choices are currently available, including, Japanese chili pot tequila, citrus (lemon, lime, orange) tequila, and hibiscus and anise tequila. Look for a sampler tray of the tequilas coming very soon.

The Luchador Bar is open until midnight on most evenings, and later on Friday and Saturday when they feature live music.

Eloté Café and Catering
514 South Boston
Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: (918) 582-1403
Website: http://www.elotetulsa.com
Facebook: Eloté Tulsa