Meet Mateo Rojas
Chef, teacher and the heart behind Casa Masa.
Our story
From Oaxaca to Johannesburg
How It All Started
Mateo grew up in a small town outside Oaxaca, where his grandmother ran a tortilla stall at the Sunday market. He trained in restaurant kitchens in Mexico City, then followed his love of travel to Johannesburg in 2014. What started as a pop-up taco stand in Maboneng grew into a busy taqueria and a weekend cooking school.
Why I Write These Books
South Africans love bold, fresh food, but most Mexican recipes call for ingredients you can’t find here. Mateo spent years testing swaps that work with local produce, so anyone can cook real Mexican food without hunting for specialty stores.
- 20+
- years cooking
- 180+
- tested recipes
- 4,000+
- students taught
Why Casa Masa
Why Choose Us
Every Casa Masa book comes with tested recipes, sturdy printing and fast delivery across the country.
Delivery Across SA
Your books arrive in 2–5 working days, from Cape Town to Polokwane.
Local Ingredients
Every recipe is tested with ingredients from South African supermarkets. No import shop needed.
Kitchen-Proof Printing
Lay-flat binding and wipe-clean covers that survive salsa splashes.
From Mateo’s kitchen
Recipes Brought to Life
Every dish is cooked and photographed in Mateo’s own kitchen, so what you see on the page is what lands on your table.
Bring Mexico to Your Table
Order Mateo’s full collection of six books and save 20%.
Over 180 tested recipes for tacos, salsas, tortillas, braai and desserts. One box, delivered to your door anywhere in South Africa.
Order the Full Set