A Venezuelan restaurant cook in Florida faces felony charges after surveillance cameras captured him stealing proprietary recipe books from his employer's kitchen. The theft has exposed the high-stakes world of culinary trade secrets and the significant financial value of signature restaurant recipes.

Carlos Francisco Gottberg Marquez, 50, was arrested Monday and charged with theft of trade secrets, a third-degree felony, after allegedly stealing three recipe books from Mordisco Miami, according to The Daily Caller. Police said surveillance video showed the cook removing the books without authorization over the course of a week.

The restaurant's owner and chef, Cesar Gonzalez, described feeling betrayed by the alleged theft of materials he considers central to his business operations. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez emphasized the significant monetary value of such culinary secrets, stating that "recipes are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Surveillance Video Captures Alleged Theft

Security cameras at Mordisco Miami recorded Gottberg Marquez removing two recipe books from the kitchen without permission on October 12. The surveillance footage provided clear evidence of the unauthorized removal, allowing investigators to build a strong case against the employee.

A week later, on October 19, cameras again captured the suspect allegedly taking a third recipe book from the restaurant's kitchen. The systematic nature of the thefts, occurring over multiple days, suggested a deliberate plan rather than an impulsive action.

Gottberg Marquez had been employed at the Venezuelan restaurant for approximately one month before the alleged thefts occurred. His relatively short tenure at the establishment raised questions about his motivations and whether the theft was premeditated from the time of his hiring.

Recipe Books Contain Valuable Trade Secrets

The stolen recipe books contained detailed instructions for preparing Mordisco Miami's signature dishes, according to Chef Gonzalez. The comprehensive guides included specific temperatures, spices, and other crucial components needed to recreate each menu item accurately.

Gonzalez described the recipe books as "the heart of the restaurant," emphasizing their critical importance to his business's success and unique identity. The detailed culinary instructions represented years of development and refinement of the restaurant's distinctive Venezuelan cuisine.

The proprietary nature of these recipes makes them valuable trade secrets worthy of legal protection under Florida law. Such detailed culinary formulations can provide restaurants with competitive advantages and represent substantial financial investments in research and development.

Police Discovery And Arrest Details

Officers found Gottberg Marquez in possession of the stolen cookbooks at his second job, a smoothie and sandwich shop located just a few blocks from Mordisco Miami. The proximity of his secondary workplace to the restaurant raised additional questions about his intentions for the stolen materials.

When police detained him, Gottberg Marquez reportedly said in Spanish, "It's in my bike," directing officers to the location of the stolen recipe books. His immediate acknowledgment of possessing the materials provided further evidence for the prosecution's case.

Investigators recovered all three stolen recipe books and returned them to the restaurant, allowing Mordisco Miami to secure their trade secrets once again. The successful recovery prevented potential further distribution or misuse of the proprietary culinary information.

Lessons to Learn

1. Protect Proprietary Knowledge Within the Workplace: Business owners should take steps to safeguard valuable information such as recipes, formulas, or processes. Access should be limited to trusted individuals, and surveillance systems can be an essential tool in monitoring suspicious activity.

2. Be Aware of Multiple Job Holders: While working multiple jobs is common and not suspicious by itself, employers should be cautious when employees have roles at competitive or closely related businesses. This can increase the risk of sensitive data being transferred between organizations.

3. Recognize That Anyone Can Be A Target: It's important to understand that even with careful protocols, theft can still occur. Owners and law enforcement alike stress that crime can happen to anyone. We must avoid blaming the victims when bad actors exploit trust.

Why This Story Matters

This incident sheds light on a lesser-known type of theft that can have major consequences for small businesses. As restaurants operate in increasingly competitive markets, protecting trade secrets like recipes becomes crucial to their survival. By investigating and addressing these crimes, law enforcement sends a clear message that stealing intellectual property—whether corporate blueprints or a chef’s special sauce—will not be tolerated. Moreover, this case underscores how trust in the workplace must be balanced with vigilance, especially when proprietary knowledge is vital to a company’s success.

Conclusion

Carlos Francisco Gottberg Marquez was arrested by Florida authorities and charged with theft of trade secrets after he was seen on surveillance footage allegedly stealing three recipe books from the Venezuelan restaurant Mordisco Miami. The books, considered essential to the restaurant’s operation, were retrieved from the suspect’s second job location and returned to the restaurant. The ongoing investigation is evaluating whether additional individuals might be involved, as authorities assess the motive behind the theft and determine the full extent of the potential damage.