The tortilla, made with corn or flour, no fried shell, with cabbage, guacamole, limes, pickled onions, and funky salsas. All with different notes of color and flavor.
Boca Tacos 828 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85719
At Boca Tacos, Chef Maria Mazon grinds chiltepin – pea-sized, wicked-hot chiles that grow wild in southern Arizona – into her unique and ever-changing salsas. The salsas are served with signature made-to-order red tortilla chips. The restaurant also houses a true wonder called The Titanic Taco Dog. This five-pound taco is piled high with pinto beans, a salsa made from cactus buds and 10 bacon-wrapped hot dogs.
Special Dishes: The Titanic Taco Dog, Chiltepin Salsa with Tortilla Chips
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Though she’s all about eating local, she isn’t afraid to admit that her guilty pleasure is the kale salad from Whole Foods. Off duty, Mazon enjoys an extra dirty gin martini with an olive and a twist at Kingfisher, while enjoying food from her “favorite old school chef,” Jim Murphy. “He keeps his head down and continually rocks it,” Mazon said. She’s also a sucker for a good sandwich or soup. Anything to soothe the soul.
Playing with food isn’t limited to tacos and salsa for Mazon. For Thanksgiving, she made dark chocolate cups with goat cheese, mascarpone and figs. “Once you quit learning, get out of the kitchen,” Mazon said. “Period.”
“It’s a very eclectic little joint,” Mazon said. “I’m gonna show you how we eat tacos in Mexico.”
These days, Mazon’s winning awards. This year, she won first place in both the People’s Choice Salsa award with her Banana Habañero salsa and the People’s Choice Tequila Cocktail award for her BOCA Special cocktail at SAACA’s annual Salsa & Tequila Challenge.
Born in Tucson but raised in Navojoa, Sonora, Mazon grew up around traditional Mexican food, but it wasn’t until adulthood when her passion for cuisine kicked in. Studying nutrition at Pima Community College, she found it loathsome and her attention span led to easy distractions. So, she began waitressing and accidentally stumbled into the kitchen at the now closed Papagayo Mexican restaurant, which ignited her culinary flame. At the age of 22 she opened her own catering company with no formal culinary education.
Made in Tucson | BOCA Tacos
FAQ
What happened to Maria from Top Chef?
Where is Maria from Top Chef season 18?
What constitutes a taco?
Where is Boca Tacos located?
Located at 533 N. 4th Ave., BOCA is home to the vibrant and passionate Chef Maria Mazon. It’s also home to Mazon’s over 20 original taco creations.
Who owns Boca tacos?
Washington Post – “Hit pause at Boca Tacos. The chef and owner, Maria Mazon, makes everything from the tortillas to the salsas from scratch.” – New York Times – “Tucson-born chef Maria Mazon creates new, fresh salsas daily with ingredients she grows behind the restaurant.
What is a taco base made of?
The base is made of ground beef, diced onions, peppers, tomatoes, and green chilies. Taco seasonings provide this meal with an authentic Mexican flavor while the cauliflower rice adds substance. Top it off with a layer of shredded cheese, sliced jalapenos and a large dollop of sour cream.
How are tacos made?
All tacos are garnished very simply with onion and cilantro, served with lime, and are made using imported corn tortillas (also available for purchase) grilled to order. The meat has a punchy seasoning, but the real star of this place is a lineup of sauces.