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.
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.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
