Margarita mix master Marco Teran is ready to re-enter the World Margarita Championship ring on Friday, June 14 at Westward Look.
Representing Nana’s Kitchen, Marco, along with his brother and restaurant co-owner Javier, are the reigning champs and two-time winners of both the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice awards for Best Margarita.
As the competition heats up this Friday with one of the highest numbers of entrants to date (nearly 30!), Marco is set to unveil a brand-new surprise cocktail served alongside Nana’s Pollo en Mole.
It was a pleasure to speak with Marco about the history of Nana’s Kitchen and how he is aiming to defend their title and wow the crowd for a third time.
Speaking about Nana’s origin story, Marco told me, “Nana’s Kitchen opened in 2008. We started working on the restaurant in 2007 after our previous business, in a different industry, went under due to the recession. My brother always wanted to open a restaurant and have our mom be the chef. So, he took the initiative to open the restaurant, and my mom and I helped with the process. My mom handles all the recipes as the chef, while I contributed to the build-out with some manual labor.”
“We finally opened the doors on August 25, 2008. Initially, I worked as a server and bartender and eventually became the director of the bar. My main responsibilities include customer service and managing the bar, while also trying to implement cool new ideas.”
Nana’s Kitchen’s first World Margarita Championship was in 2022; then, it was hosted at the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance’s CATALYST Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall.
They then made a repeat appearance at the 2023 championship hosted at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and will be coming back for more at this year’s event at Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa.
In 2022, the Teran brothers won dual honors with Nana’s Mango Tamarindo Margarita, and in 2023, their Sonoran Passion Margarita swept the show.
Offering some insight on last year’s drink, Marco said, “The margarita I made last year was probably one of the most unique margaritas I’ve ever created. It featured fresh prickly pear, coconut, pineapple, habanero, and tequila—just five ingredients that came together to make something truly special.”
But, as for this year’s masterpiece? Marco is keeping tight-lipped, wanting to save the cocktail’s big reveal for the night of the 2024 World Margarita Championship.
What he can share with us, he said, is that his goal was to create a refreshing drink that was “authentic to Mexican culture and the nostalgia of my childhood.”
“It’s definitely a summer drink, perfect for cooling off, with flavors that are surprising and right on the money,” Marco added.
Nana’s Kitchen was even awarded a trophy recognizing their duo of double wins from the World Margarita Championship from Discover Marana, the Marana Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of Marana! Despite this, Marco’s keeping it humble and speaks to us about how he views his role in the next competition as we wrap things up.
“I’m always nervous because I never know if people will like the margarita. I don’t know how it will be received or enjoyed. The nerves I feel right now are gut-wrenching and tormenting. It’s not a pleasant feeling. I don’t really breathe easy until we’ve unloaded the truck back at the restaurant. Even up to that moment, I’m very shy. Being in the spotlight when they announce the winners is a bit off-putting for me.”
“Once I’m in the moment, it’s fine. When I start making the drinks and interacting with people, I begin to relax. That’s when I remind myself it’s not a competition; I’m just serving my drink. I like to approach it as if I’m just serving people as I always do.”
General admission tickets are still available for the 2024 World Margarita Championship at $80. It all goes down on Friday, June 14 at Westward Look!
The World Margarita Championship is happening at Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, 245 E. Ina Rd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit saaca.org.
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