CHEF BRUCE UCÁN
Growing up in a village in Mexico’s tropical Yucatan Peninsula, Chef Bruce Ucán knew only of a food culture deeply embedded in fresh, locally-grown foods. Coming to the United States at age 20, he soon learned this farm to table connection was a rarity for most Americans. This urged him to create the concept for his current restaurant, the Mayan Café. Here, he fuses ancient Mayan recipes and indigenous ingredients with locally sourced meat, produce, cheese & coffee. He strives to have a model restaurant, known for his delicious food & strong commitment to local farmers and sustainable products.
The Mayan Café is just the most recent success in Chef Bruce’s four-star culinary career. Bruce’s loyal fans have followed him since 1996 when he first sold tacos & savory Yucatec salbutes out of a bright blue van throughout Louisville, Kentucky. He later parked his van to open his own restaurant, which has been a mainstay in the up-and-coming NuLu gallery district of East Market Street. His famous tok-sel lima beans (a traditional Mayan recipe consisting of roasted lima beans cooked in sesame oil with pumpkin seeds, lime juice & green onions) and cochinita pibil (a Mayan celebration dish of slow roasted pork with pickled onions) have delighted guests for years.
A true “Louisville Original”, Bruce Ucán’s Mayan Café will introduce you to the best of Mayan cooking; Be assured that you’re eating the freshest, seasonal food available!
GENERAL MANAGER ANNE SHADLE
Joining Chef Bruce when he opened the Mayan Café in 2007 was his sister-in-law, Anne Shadle. Anne studied Psychology & French at Ohio Wesleyan University and moved to Louisville after college. Initially offering to help Bruce open the restaurant by typing menus and filing for the ABC license, this grew into the general manager role where she now manages the dining room staff, handles all financial and marketing decisions, coordinates catered events, and creates the wine & beer menus. Anne has been integral in developing and maintaining the relationships with Louisville’s local farmers as she is equally committed to running a sustainable restaurant.
As you enjoy lunch & dinner at the Mayan Café, know that your dining experience has been carefully created by General Manager Anne Shadle and her team.
Chef Bruce Ucán & General Manager Anne Shadle
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