Los Cuiles staff

Toña Maria (Toñis) is superwoman. Not only is she the Los Cuiles chef by night, but she is the cafe manager and a student (studying education) by day. She was born in the small town of San Juan Mazatlan, and left her family to come to Oaxaca five years ago (two younger sisters have since joined her.) In her time off, she likes to read, listen to music, “and catch up on my sleep!” And take care of that beautiful waist long hair!

Doña Ines, from San Pablo Huitzo, has been cooking all of her life, first for her five children, then here in Oaxaca for a hospital and various restaurants, and then more recently for Cafe Los Cuiles. She describes her personality as "feliz y tranquila," and the staff enjoys working with her in the kitchen.

Fredy, the cool dude in the cafe, came to Oaxaca city three years ago, and started working in Los Cuiles in mid 2009. He was born in Miahuatlan (Sierra Sur) the youngest of three children. Here in Oaxaca he is studying graphic design, and hopes to graduate in June if the teachers don't go on strike too many times, and then possibly continue on in graduate school. Send your graphic design projects to him at toki_walkman@hotmail.com

Abel, serious and hardworking, is the youngest of 7, and is from the town of Santa Maria Ocotlan in the Mizteca region. He arrived to Oaxaca city just a year ago in search of work, and caught a job at Los Cuiles, where he works the late shift. He speaks Spanish and Mizteca, and hopes to study and learn English. In his spare time he likes to read, play sports, and dream about his girlfriend back home. Abel's email

Los Cuiles hired Antonio Banderas in Febuary of 2005 to wash dishes and give back rubs to the Cuiles ladies (and customers who leave good tips). Unfortunately, Antonio is quite the slacker, and rarely shows up for his shift at Los Cuiles. But when he does show up, the ladies leave smiling...and it's not because the dishes are done.

Shy at first but quick with a pretty smile, Tere, the cafe prankster, was born in San Juan Quiahije, and at the age of 12 her parents sent her to Oaxaca to work. She managed to put herself through high school, and is now studying to be a nurse at the U. of Benito Juarez, working mornings at Los Cuiles to help finance her studies. When she finishes she plans to return to her village, where she will be the first (and only) nurse.

Doña Hilda, with plenty of experience is the café’s morning chef. She can make a torta for the students faster than you can say “ya?” She is from San Juan Guelavaria and is the mom of two. She loves a joke: you will probably hear her wisecracks if you get close to the kitchen, but don't let your kids pick up any of her vocabulary. In her spare time she likes to study alternative medicine.

Paul commutes back and forth between Olympia Washington, where he sweeps floors in Compass Rose, and Oaxaca, where he is the cafe's back up dishwasher. He drinks copious amounts of coffee and sits in the corner on his computer all day, oblivious to everything going on outside in Oaxaca city. You can email Paul at pabloshep@gmail.com and tell him to get a life.