Chef Maria Mazon is the Executive Chef and Owner of BOCA Tacos y Tequila in Tucson, Arizona. Born in Tucson but raised in Sonora, Mexico, Maria’s cuisine is inspired by both sides of her borderland home. Using the unique flavors and ingredients of the Sonoran Desert, Maria’s experimental takes on classic Mexican fare has earned her national attention in The New York Times, Food Network, and The Travel Channel, among others. In 2020, Maria became a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southwest Region and currently competing in Season 18 of Bravo’s Top Chef. When not at the restaurant, Marialoves cooking for her wife—Lily—and their 12-year-old son.