 |
|
About Ajua Maya Restaurant
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Ajua Maya Restaurant, Playa del Carmen ... offers five star fine dining with lobster, Angus Beef, Mexican and 100% authentic Mayan
cuisine served by Wild Fresh Mayans to the live music of Tierra Vera, its Latin jazz and dance band - nightly! Ajua opens at
11 am, closes at 1 am, every day. Could you ask for more?
AJUA! Maya (ahhhh -- who -- ahhhh ma-ya)
ahhhhh = relaxing
who = you ah= relaxing
Ajua translate to Yahoo!, Yippee!, Yeehaw!
Ajua Maya first opened in 1998 as a Ranchero
style Mexican restaurant under the name of AJUA! and had many owners prior to it acquisition by
Brenda and Jorge Alfaro in May of 2001. It opened its doors in 1998 by a Spanish couple, then followed with proprietors from Mexico,
Yugoslavia, Germany and France -- some lasted a year, others just a few
months -– and finally Ajua found peace when a Mayan-Virginian spirit
entered into its life.
The soul of AJUA Maya finally came to rest in 2001 with Brenda
and Jorge Alfaro and their Mayan staff. Brenda is from a long standing Virginian
family of English-Irish background and Jorge, with his Mayan-Mexican heritage,
is from the state of Chiapas. In the summer of 1983, they met in Cozumel,
married in 1984, and the rest is a wonderful tale of fun, hard work and
a sublime life in a Mayan paradise
AJUA Maya evolves daily with fresh new ideas, recipes
and live Latin jazz and dance music to keep you entertained in the wonderful ambiance of a fine
restaurant with a cantina setting, a lush tropical garden and open air
palapa dining, where you can come, relax, have fun and enjoy the paradise
of Playa del Carmen.
“What a talented staff we acquired,” relays Brenda. “When
we entered the restaurant for the first time as owners, I gingerly spoke
with the young Mayan Chef, Pedro Balam Dzul. My fears that we may have
a chef who was difficult and macho were quickly laid to rest. This marvelous
self-taught chef, who remains with us today, is such a natural talent, capable and
calm, and a joy to work with.”
With the support of Chef Pedro, only a few changes were made after their 2001 acquisition.
The most significant were a commitment to quality with excellent service and a participatory management work environment. This team effort and commitment to quality finally gave
the Chef and Ajua's staff the tools for success – a stable and fun working environment, individual recognition and the
commitment to maintain quality by purchasing only the highest quality seafood, steaks, vegetables,
and ingredients available on the Riviera Maya.
“We withstood quite a first year,” remarked Jorge Alfaro.
“I am from the state of Chiapas and I arrived in Playa del Carmen
knowing hardly anyone. In Latin America that can make it very difficult to successfully manage a business.
Thanks to the envy of quite a few fellow business owners, who seem to push us out of the restaurant market
(for many in the area, competition is not welcomed), I have met so many wonderful
officials and people.”
“Brenda and I laugh sometimes at that first year. Those who sent
us health inspections at midnight, unionization attempts, repeated complaints
that our tables were 2-4 inches beyond are street front limits or our
band's music was too loud, had no idea they were actually doing us a favor.
Since then, we now have wonderful contacts,
both in government and the community, and life in paradise is fantastic.”
Brenda and Jorge personally invite you to come join the AJUA
Maya family of friends, customers and employees and to experience the
most marvelous food, fun and service in Playa del Carmen and, as some say,
in the world of restaurants.
Nightly you can dance to the music of Tierra Vera, their fantastic Latin
band; meet Jorge and Brenda Alfaro and their manager Jorge (yes, Brenda has
2 for 1 – Jorge her husband and Jorge the manager – lucky
girl!); Chef Pedro and his talented crew; Pedro, their public relations manager and Victor their assistant manager; and the fantastic Wild Fresh Mayan waiters, bartenders and the
remainder of their staff who work every day to keep Ajua Maya’s success
on the go.
They will ensure to keep the lights on, the tequila flowing, and the fine food coming with wild fresh Mayan waiters dancing to your table serving you fresh lime margaritas and flavors that you will savor
for a lifetime. AJUA!
Moonlight Kisses the Sea
“Moonlight Kisses the Sea” is the true story of Brenda and
Jorge Alfaro's romantic journey that began in 1983 when their eyes met for the
first time in Cozumel, continued atop the pyramids in Teotihuacán,
on to Paris and the Loire Valley and finally, many years later, returning
to their Caribbean paradise to settle into Playa del Carmen. It was love at first sight –- she spoke no Spanish and he no English -- and for more than 20 years
they have continue this journey of love and devotion.
Their loving commitment is a gift to each and every person who shares
this paradise with them. Devotion, commitment, and service to their community guide them
to provide you with a dining experience whose minimum standards are excellence,
honesty and always fun!
Ajua Maya's Mayan chefs, waiters, and service staff strive, each and every day,
to provide you personalized attention so you may relax and enjoy
your time with AJUA! Their primary goal is for you and your friends to celebrate
this special moment in your life and to leave their paradise with glorious
memories to share forever. If you would like to read Brenda
and Jorge's story, just click on the title “Moonlight Kisses the
Sea” and it will appear.
Reflections on a Southerner
One of Brenda's passions is to write essays, newsletters, web sites, press releases
and perhaps, one day, a novel. Her most recent essays are "Reflections
on a Southerner" and "Wilma the Worst." Hope you enjoy.
|
 |
|
