i. Biography
Steve Santana is chef/partner at Taquiza in Miami Beach, where the work is organized around Mexican tacos, house-made masa, and blue corn tortillas made by hand in-house daily. “Problem-solving and figuring out what the most efficient way or best way to get something done is such a cool process.” Steve has said.
The Climb
Kitchen work in South Florida often builds through station discipline before ownership. Steve Santana’s early track moved from professional web development into prep, line, and kitchen leadership: line cook at Gastropod, cook at The Freehand's Broken Shaker, chef and running the kitchen at The Freehand / Broken Shaker, and cook at Eating House. Ownership in this register remains tied to production. Today, Steve is chef and co-owner of Taquiza (since 2014) and chef and co-owner of Off Site Nano Brewery.
Current Practice
Taco work at Taquiza starts with masa rather than assembly. As chef/partner, Santana works within a Mexican taco format built around house-made masa and blue corn tortillas, with traditional techniques, ingredients, and recipes guiding tacos such as Pollo, Carnitas, and Barbacoa. The blue tortilla program sets the pace of the shop. Organic, non-GMO blue corn is sourced from small, independent farms throughout the Midwest, then handmade in-house daily into the signature blue tortillas. The sequence is clear: corn first, tortilla first, taco as the outcome of daily production. The menu’s emphasis is on recognizable preparations, patient braising, and direct flavor. Decorative excess is not the point; the craft value sits in masa handling, tortilla making, and the execution of familiar tacos without hiding the base work. The current work keeps Santana in an active Miami context, applying the same problem-solving habit to a local taqueria model built on daily repetition.
Standing
The recognition attached to this career is best read through the work record: the chef/partner role at Taquiza, handmade blue corn tortillas, and tacos shaped by traditional recipes and daily masa work.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Steve
What is Steve Santana's day job?
Steve Santana is chef/partner at Taquiza.
Where did Steve Santana work before?
Earlier in their career, Steve Santana worked at Gastropod, The Freehand's Broken Shaker, and The Freehand / Broken Shaker.
What is Steve Santana known for?
Mexican tacos built around house-made masa and blue corn tortillas.
