Mauricio was born in Mexico City but moved to his family’s small farm in Guerrero in Southern Mexico at the age of 5. Growing up, he helped his grandparents grow corn and other produce, raise chickens and goats and even craft their own chocolate. Everything was natural and organic. Food and family were inextricably tied. Mauricio gained knowledge about the culinary process and hard work.

At age 14, Maurico moved to New York City and began working in restaurants. Through dedication and long days Mauricio worked his way up the ranks from dishwasher to restaurateur. His résumé of New York City experience includes work in the dining rooms of the Theater District’s Thalia and Luxia before his time at Verbena, where he met his future wife, Sasha (Rodriguez) Miranda. Mauricio joined the opening team of New York Times 3-star rated L’Impero under leaders Chef Scott Conant and Managing Partner Chris Cannon. He also worked on the opening of the relocated Union Square Cafe with Danny Meyers' team of culinary professionals.

Mauricio is known for his delicious handcrafted cocktails, his slow-cooked mole sauce and his warm smile. His hospitable and welcoming nature are evident to all those he comes in contact with as mentioned in this New York Magazine article by Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld: “Mauricio Miranda, of Guerrero, Mexico, works the dining room like a young Silvano Marchetto—greeting guests as if they were long lost relatives, recommending bottles of (often organic) wine, and occasionally breaking into a little cha-cha-cha dance whenever the joy of owning and operating a restaurant with the woman he loves becomes too much.

Sasha (Rodriguez) Miranda grew up in culturally diverse Flushing Queens and was exposed to food from around the world through family, friends and neighbors. She enjoyed flipping through the colorful pages of Gourmet Magazine and at just 12 years old, Sasha was crafting multi-course dinners for her family.

By the age of 18, Sasha was off to Hyde Park, New York to earn her toque at the Culinary Institute of America and pursue her dream career. After graduating from the CIA in 2000, she then narrowed her focus by participating in an intensive course of Italian food, wine and language, and through a distinguished scholarship, received the chance to travel and taste her way through Northern Italy. Sasha stayed on at the school to complete a fellowship program in St. Andrew’s Kitchen, an on-campus restaurant focused on healthy cooking. After that, Sasha was part of the opening of Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck, New York.

Sasha dove into New York City’s culinary scene in 2002 landing a job at Verbena Restaurant with Chef-Owners Diane Forley and Michael Otsuka. Sasha went on to gain kitchen experience at Raoul’s in Soho and worked with renowned Chef Gray Kunz who hired her as part of the management team for the opening of Café Gray in Columbus Circle. Sasha was also part of the opening team of Alto Restaurant in Midtown where she worked as a dining room and catering manager with Chef Scott Conant and Managing Partner Chris Cannon.

In 2007, fueled by their love for the industry, Mauricio and Sasha began to seriously discuss the possibility of opening their own restaurant and after considering spaces in both NYC and the Hudson Valley they settled on North Williamsburg for their first restaurant, Miranda.

Located on North 9th and Berry Streets, Miranda was a 40 seat full service restaurant specializing in a blend of Italian and Latin flavors with a focus on handmade pasta, unique cocktails and small production wines. For nearly 10 years the restaurant was a neighborhood favorite known for its unique dishes such as mole-braised lamb with housemade pappardelle and tinga de pollo with gnocchi.

In 2017 Sasha and Mauricio moved to Marbletown along with their daughter Francesca. After a family trip to Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca, right before the pandemic, the couple was inspired by the creativity and flavors they enjoyed there. Having always cooked tacos and other Mexican dishes at home, they are now elated to bring you the foods they love to Stone Ridge at Upstate Taco!