Mexican Café Shule’l, let Katia serve you food with soul.
To say Katia is a delightful person is an understatement. She cares; you’ll feel that as soon as you meet her. I first met Katia at Philo’s Bar as she served me she asked about me, she cared. At that time we were only on vacation but the following year when we returned for what has turned out to be forever… for now… Katia made it her job to teach me numbers. Let me tell you, hearing a Mexican quote a number is mind boggling for those not fluent. Its spoken at a rapid fire pace and I’m like “Que?” (what?). She’d slow it down and say it again, I’d hold my breath and hope I had it correct. Sometimes I did, many times I didn’t but the practice helped so that now I, mostly, get numbers correct.
Born in Tepic and raised in La Cruz, Katia González Robles loves that she grew up in this small fishing village. Her eyes lit up when she spoke of running around the town square with her friends, untended by parents, perfectly safe. She still loves the town and the community of people who are friendly and nice. She adores the beaches and is passionate about snorkeling, scuba diving and in school she enjoyed swimming and diving competitions in Vera Cruz. Katia’s parents are both retired; her father was a director and taught in La Cruz in both kindergarten and primary school. Her younger and only sister is a kindergarten teacher. After graduating as a psychologist (more on that later), Katia opened up Café Shule’l, a café catering to locals and visitors originally for breakfast but this year she’s expanded… in more ways than one; she and her man, Arnie, gave birth to beautiful Isabella AND Katia and her parents took over the running of Ballena Blanca Bar and Restaraunt.
I highly encourage everyone (even if means taking a drive) to visit Mexican Café Shule’l for breakfast, lunch or in the evening for coffee, crepes or other dessert. (Call first if you’re thinking of going other than for breakfast as she’ll be opening soon for lunch and in the evening for after meal treats; she’s waiting for the season which is almost here 329 29 5 58 00). It is so peaceful sitting across from the town square. The name of the Mexican Café tells the story of the menu and the people serving it. Katia explained that Shule’l is Mayan for “Things made with soul”. I can promise you her food is made with soul and she makes everything with feelings and with love. I enjoy the omelet; others the burritos and my husband loved the French toast. The organic Mexican coffee had me begging for a second cup even though the first one was served in a wonderfully big mug. Katia opened the café in October 2014 and has been pleased with the continued growth. I first heard that she opened from a guest raving about her coffees and smoothies. Since then we regularly enjoy coffee and eggs there and of course send our guests! Katia says “My clients are mostly foreigners, some Mexicans who come on holiday to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle; we’d like more locals to visit us. I like that in Café Shule’l the people can meet people and sometimes they make new friends.”
When I asked her what inspires her she said two things:
“Since I was a child, I dreamed of discovering the world, traveling and meeting people. Café Shule’l gives me the opportunity to meet people who are traveling on their adventures and I really enjoy their life stories. Katia was telling me of a breakfast shift that made her day; she had an Italian customer trying to learn English, a Canadian customer trying to learn Spanish and she was doing the translating for them all. And; I have always felt a deep admiration for women who know what they want and do it; whether raising a child, traveling the world or working in a business; always strong, special and different; l’ve always wanted to be one of those women.”
Indeed Katia fits the role, she says; “I’m proud to have worked hard to go to Europe by myself, regardless of the fact of going alone. I worked and lived less than a year in Europe, sometimes it was difficult, but most of the time I was happy. I learned that I like art, museums, music and I love the food. I think this is something that the people from La Cruz don’t know about me.” She also studied art in Morelia for one and a half years and then transferred to psychology at CUC or Centro Universitario de la Costa, a division of the University of Guadalajara. After a year she asked the university for permission to travel. “This time I returned to Europe, then USA, then around Mexico, then to Vancouver in Canada and after all that I finish the university”.
Katia’s family; uncles, aunts and cousins run all of the restaurants on that block:
- On one corner at Las Maravillas her Aunt and Grandma run a restaurant specializing in hamburgers with a fabulous shrimp burger. They also have tacos and other items on the menu;
- Then there is Café Shule’l;
- Next to her Uncle Pita serves Asada (barbequed meat) tacos;
- On the other corner at Ballena Blanca, cousin Edwin, a trained chef serves all kinds of food but what I hear folks raving about the most is the Blue Corn tortillas filled with shrimp.
She proudly told of her grandfather, who was the 53rd person born in Puerto Vallarta. He loved to cook and shared that love with his children. All twelve of his offspring; six girls and six men cook and own restaurants.
Katia intends to get the restaurant running really well and then her parents will take over. Already working with her are Papa Tomas and Mama Cony they greet everyone with smiles and love. Katia looks forward to her work with children in the schools teaching them how to express their feelings and know themselves. She’s passionate about the rights of children and would like to assist kids to know the difference between working to make enough money to buy themselves something nice and feeling responsible for the family. She’s motivated by the innocence of children and how they love and trust. She loves seeing and helping them learn and when they are happy and playing.
Katia remembers the changes as they happened around La Cruz. She remembers it started with Philo’s, where she worked on and off for four years. Although its still fun there today she remembers the early days as super fun when people came and played music and Philo would yell “Tequila for everyone”. Haha, we all know you can’t do that forever but not knowing the ‘early Philo’s’ sounds the same to me; music and fun!
The new Marina brought the greatest changes and at first Katia was not enthused. She quickly changed her mind when she realized how growth would help her family and friends and make lots of people happy. Like most of us Katia hopes the growth preserves all that is good about La Cruz!
“What I would like to preserve in our beautiful little town:
~ The joy of the people and how friendly they are;
~ Free access to the beaches and the sea;
~ The Fishermen; they are people who give you everything that they have, just for the sake of giving;
~ And the “plaza” as it is! With the trees and the town style;
~ I wish better education for children, whether in language, technology or sport;
~ More tourism, hotels, cultural activities but retain the rustic style;
~ I also wish that “Café Shule’l continue offering coffee and soul food and that people will visit and enjoy!
I like the word “passion” in the sense of love for life, passion for the little things and simple things of everyday life.
If I had a magic wand, I wish for the future of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, that foreigners and locals, have stronger relationships and continue working together for the good of the town.”
It easy to find Café Shule’l, if coming from Vallarta turn left at our only traffic light and go down until you almost reach the Marina entrance. Directly across from the town square is the block of Katia’s family, lots of wonderful people, food and of course, Café Shule’l! Say hi to Katia for me!
