Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez
Recoveco | Miami, FL
May 2025
Raised in Venezuela by parents of Spanish and Italian descent, food played a major role in Maria Teresa Gallina’s childhood. Her family moved to Miami when she was 15 years old. During a college internship in New York, a visit to Gramercy Tavern led to an unexpected introduction to Pastry Chef Miro Uskokovic. He invited Gallina to stage at the restaurant, marking the beginning of her industry career. Persistent in gaining experience, she landed a pastry job at ATLA, where she worked for six months before returning to Miami in 2018. Back at home, she joined the team at Rising Stars alum Brad Kilgore’s Alter, becoming a junior sous chef alongside her future husband, Nicolas Martinez.
Martinez got his chops in the kitchen while living in Uruguay. After culinary school, he came to the United States, landing first in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a visit to Miami, he decided to move to the 305. His first job in town was at Alter in Wynwood, where he worked his way up in the kitchen and eventually became a junior sous chef before joining the opening team of Kilgore’s Kaido.
When Alter and Kaido shut down during the pandemic, Gallina and Martinez took on co chef de cuisine roles at Itamae under Rising Stars alums Nando and Valerie Chang, where they collaborated on menu development and team leadership. Their complementary skill sets and shared work ethic naturally evolved into a partnership, leading them to open their own restaurant, Recoveco, in 2024. Gallina and Martinez are heavily engaged in Miami’s food scene through organizations like the Rare Fruit Council, and collaborations with local farmers and fishermen. The à la carte tasting menu at Recoveco reflects their seasonal, global approach while also daring guests to lean into the new and unfamiliar.
