Chef Maria Mazon on Tournament of Champions (Photo by Anders Krusberg)

Chef Maria Mazon of BOCA Competes on Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions”


February 6, 2024
By Matt Sterner

Over the past few years, Chef Maria Mazon of BOCA on Fourth Avenue has become a familiar face on the Food Network and other national TV networks. From choppin’ things up on “Chopped” in 2017 to representing Tucson on Bravo’s “Top Chef” in 2021, Mazon, who’s also been nominated twice for a James Beard Award, has a lot to add to her resume these days.

These are just a few of the achievements. Next up: Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions” hosted by the mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri.

On Wednesday, February 7, “Tournament of Champions: The Qualifiers” will air on TV and then be available on-demand at some point in the Food Network app. Mazon and 15 other chefs will be competing for four spots in the main “Tournament of Champions” competition.

a person smiling for the camera
(Photo courtesy of Chef Maria Mazon)

Of course, we’ll have to wait and see if Mazon snags one of those four spots available. If she comes out on top, the main “Tournament of Champions” show begins airing on Sunday, February 18.

Meanwhile, root on Mazon during the two-hour episode that’s airing at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7 (that’s the time showing on the guide now but let us know if we’re wrong).

If you’ve never seen episodes from prior seasons, the show is all about the following:

“The skills and abilities of 32 of the most talented chefs from the East and West coast, including all four previous champions, will be pushed to the limit in the most difficult sudden-death, bracket-style culinary competition.”

Fieri states that it’s the wildest culinary competition he’s witnessed — bleached hair kind of wild. “So here’s the deal, in order to win, you’ve gotta either be a past champ or take down a champ, as all the winners from previous seasons are back to defend their titles,” he said. “We’re crankin’ up the already fierce competition with heated culinary rivalries, wild cards, and of course, off-the-charts flavor on Tournament of Champions V!”

BOCA by Maria Mazon is located at 533 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, follow Chef Maria Mazon on Instagram or BOCA on Instagram.

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