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As I make my way into the Ancient Way Café for lunch, I wonder if I can skip lunch and go straight to dessert as I see a listing of their homemade all organic pies.  But I’m good, I eat my lunch first and enjoy dessert with the general manager and head chef, Maqui.  I learn that Maqui was a potter for years but fell into an opportunity at the Café as he says, “I have become an artist of food and now I get to create edible glazes!”  As a long-time resident of the area and a past board member of the El Morro Area Arts Council, he understands the challenges that both the artists and community face.

As Maqui has been with the Café for several years, he said, “In the first two years I doubled revenues by creating gourmet meals utilizing local and organic ingredients, and by establishing regular hours and a dependent staff.”

Maqui comments that, “In order to be successful you have to be fresh and cutting edge and you always have to show up.”  He also believes that you always have to affect other people in your work.  He loves the constant interactions amongst the public and friends, and feels the restaurant is the community hub.

Maqui understands the need for attracting tourists and is working with Sharron, the owner of the Café and campground, to provide more options for tourists. They offer massage and reiki in one of the studios on the property and are considering building a yurt to offer weeklong yoga retreats.  They want tourists to experience the way of life, not just get a taste of it.  This is cultural entrepreneurship at work.

Maqui has some great ideas for further development of the area.  Up the road there is an old gas station for sale.  He thinks it could be a great place to turn into a local market or even a co-op.  Even though there is the farmer’s market in nearby Ramah, it’s not enough for local farmers and gardeners so they have to bring their veggies to places over 50 miles away, like Gallup, to sell.  Maqui says, “It’s all about creating and thinking outside of the box.”