Maria Mazon – Executive Chef/Owner, BOCA Tacos y Tequila, SONA Tortillas De Maiz y Bodega
Born in Tucson but raised in Sonora, Mexico, Chef Maria’s cuisine is inspired by both sides of her borderland home.
Using the unique flavors and ingredients of the Sonoran Desert, her experimental take on classic Mexican fare have earned her local and national accolades including The New York Times, National Geographic, USA Today and The Washington Post since opening her restaurant in 2010.
In 2021, she appeared on Season 18 of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” and won the coveted Restaurant Wars challenge. In 2020 and 2022, she became a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Southwest Region. She has been on the Food Network’s “Chopped,” “Gnormous Food” and “You Gotta Eat Here!” and Cooking Channel’s “Man v. Food.”
She has been pushing the boundaries for years, introducing to people unique flavors and exotic ingredients. When not at the restaurant, Maria loves cooking for her wife, Lilly, and their 12-year-old son.
