MAYA IN CHARLESTON - Key Persons
Chef Jullian Abarca is the Executive Chef at Maya in Charleston, SC. Originally from North Carolina, Abarca's passion for cooking began at a young age while spending time with his mother in the kitchen making meals and learning family recipes.
Before joining the team at Maya, Abarca ran Charleston-based pop-up restaurant Matzo Y Masa, which specialized in Jewish-Mexican food. Exploring opportunities to expand upon the current techniques and approach to Mexican cuisine continues to guide his cooking style today. As Executive Chef of Maya, Abarca oversees the culinary team and prioritizes investing in potential and creating the best work and learning environment possible. Abarca emphasizes teaching the team about the importance of the work they are doing, along with the value of community and working with local farmers in Charleston.
When he's not at Maya, Abarca enjoys spending time with his wife, Samantha Kramer, and their pets, Nutmeg and Coriander, reading, and finding food inspiration on Instagram. Abarca also owns local hot sauce company, Chile Dulce, which produces a line of small batch, preservative-free sauces from a variety of peppers, including flavors like Guajillo Agave, Haberno Pear, and Funky Fresno.
Job Titles:
- Private Events & Sales Manager
Based in Charleston, Lindsey Craft is the Private Events & Sales Manager for several of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group's concepts, including: The Kingstide and The Dime on Daniel Island; and Maya and The Cocktail Club in the bustling Upper King area of the Charleston peninsula. Originally joining the Indigo Road family in 2015, Craft helped to open the East Bay gourmet emporium, Mercantile & Mash, as the Retail Manager, eventually becoming the Assistant General Manager.
As the Private Events & Sales Manager, Craft is intricately involved in all facets of events - from prospecting and coordinating the private events spaces, to the planning and execution of gatherings of all sizes. Her strength lies in developing and maintaining strong client relationships, which she naturally builds through her love of cultivating beautiful events, and her desire to give each client a personalized and joyful experience.
Originally from the mountains of Virginia, Lindsay began her career in hospitality when she was just 15 years old. After moving to Charleston at the age of 19 to attend the College of Charleston, she spent time working with expert teams at the iconic and award-winning Planters Inn, as well as the former McCrady's.