Doral Cook Arrested for Stealing Restaurant's Secret Recipes

Carlos Francisco Gottberg Marquez, a line cook at Mordisco Miami, a popular Venezuelan restaurant in Doral, Florida, was arrested on charges of theft of trade secrets after stealing three secret recipe books. Surveillance footage revealed Marquez stealing two books on October 12 and a third on October 19, with the books containing exclusive recipes for Venezuelan-style dishes such as steaks and handmade arepas. Marquez was apprehended at his second job at Shoma Bazaar food hall and confessed to the theft, stating he intended to use the recipes at another restaurant in Orlando. Police recovered all three recipe books after Marquez led officers to his moped and home. He was granted pre-trial release with a $2,500 bond and ordered to stay away from Mordisco Miami. The case highlights the seriousness of protecting proprietary culinary secrets under Florida law, where theft of trade secrets is treated as a felony.