Maria González is a warm and motivated chef who founded The Studio, a creative culinary space in Maria Vinagre. With her energy and leadership, she transformed an old shop into a welcoming place where everyone feels accepted and supported. Through events, workshops, art and ideas, Maria brings people together, with food always at the heart of the gatherings.
Family roots and early influences
Maria was born in Valencia, Venezuela, in 1984. Reflecting on her family’s story, she explains, “My grandfather, Manuel, was born in Madeira. He moved to Venezuela in the 1950s to find work. After years as a waiter, he bought a building in a then-undeveloped part of Valencia and opened a humble restaurant. Thanks to good food and a family-friendly atmosphere, the place became popular. Soon, land investors arrived, and buildings quickly sprang up around the restaurant. Big houses and the city’s golf club followed. My grandfather’s business became the soul of the area, earning him respect for his hard work and fairness.”
In 1965, Manuel married Trina, who soon gave birth to Maria’s mother, Fátima, the first of seven children. Meanwhile, the family business continued to grow. Maria, Fátima’s second child, grew up in a lively home and became close to her father’s mother, Maura. “My grandmother was a strong-willed feminist. She showed me that women can be independent and can accomplish anything if they put their heads and hearts into it.”
When Maria was 15, she started working for Manuel under the head baker. This gave her a chance to see the business from both workers’ and managers’ perspectives. These early experiences later helped her teach others and create friendly workplaces. “My grandfather taught me a strong work ethic and good values,” Maria says. “He was a forward-thinker who cared deeply about family, staff, and the country that gave him a chance. I’m forever thankful for how he showed me the importance of doing things right, treating people well, and never giving up. Both he and my grandmother Maura have had a big influence on my professional life and helped shape who I am today.”
A global culinary journey
When Maria was 17, her mother and brother moved from Venezuela to the family home in Madeira. A few months later, curious and eager for adventure, Maria joined them. “That’s how my passion for travelling began!”
From Madeira, Maria moved to Lisbon to work, then to Barcelona, taking on many jobs, often as a chef. “I love meeting people, experiencing different cultures, and trying out various jobs,” she says. Maria travelled through Thailand and then Cambodia, where she opened her first business, a small Mediterranean-style bistro. Later, still in the food service industry, she moved to London and then Bristol.
In 2013, after many years abroad, Maria returned to Venezuela and gave birth to her first child, Antónia. She recalls, “Venezuela is a beautiful country. Growing up there was wonderful, but when I went back, I realised the place I knew from my youth was gone. There were big social changes, and hardship was more evident. Everything felt unfamiliar, and I did not want to raise my child there.”
Two years later, Maria returned to Barcelona and began a significant phase of her career, working for the city’s top catering companies. “I knew then that being a self-employed chef was my passion and path in life.” In 2020, because of COVID-related reasons, Maria moved to the Aljezur area. “By chance, I met Kerensa and began working as head chef in her restaurant, where I had the freedom to express my creativity,” Maria says. “Kerensa also introduced me to a network of interesting people. It became one of my most meaningful experiences in Portugal.”
The birth of The Studio
In 2022, Maria paused working and gave birth to her second child, Yago. “Having my son changed my life. It was then that I was determined to start my own business,” she recalls. Thanks to her great reputation, opportunities arose that encouraged Maria to form a catering company, cooking for events, weddings, parties and markets. She swiftly became involved in several projects at once, including ODX in Odeceixe. She grew popular, attracting clients not only for her cooking and planning skills, but also for her honest, friendly personality, just like her grandfather before her. “During this time, the idea of The Studio was being formed.”
Together with Kali Fauaz, Maria founded an event-organising association called ItinerART. “We invited Cristina Viana, an illustrator and multidimensional artist from Monchique, to join the monthly one-day festival at Salema Ecocamp. She then joined our team, and she and I quickly became friends. We all continued working together, organising dinners in art galleries, DJ sets in tascas, small festivals and creating the type of events we would like to attend.”
Maria needed a base for her work and a structured plan for her future. In August 2024, she found an empty shop for rent in Maria Vinagre. “It is perfect! I now have a fully equipped kitchen, a place for events, and a space for people to meet and work. Bureaucracy needs finalising before I can open daily, but it’s coming. Meanwhile, we have lots going on and plenty of events in the pipeline.”
The Studio consists of a team of four. “I am the founder and manager,” explains Maria. “Dafne Swartz is a food doula and retreat chef. Geraldine Tietzen von Harpe works as a barista and holistic chef. Cristina is the visual identity manager, the glue that holds the concept together and keeps my creativity flowing. She brings real, raw, unapologetic art to complete our team.”
Maria, still being able to satisfy her wanderlust, often works at events abroad, so she leaves The Studio in her team’s capable hands. “I work at cool events in Belgium with Monte Cucs, one of my main partners both there and in Portugal.”
Community, identity and belonging
The Studio’s major goal is to support small-scale entrepreneurs in their creativity. With a garden at the back, the space also offers activities to keep children busy. Parents work close by and often encourage their kids to join in and be interested in what they’re doing.
“I make sure to spend time with Yago and Antónia, which often means I stay up late working after they’re in bed. They’re amazing kids and very adaptable, having been with me through many moves and experiences,” Maria adds.
Several members of Maria’s family follow each other around the world. Any one of them can initiate a move and, without planning, the rest follow. At the moment, her mother, brother, grandma, cousin and aunt are all nearby. “I have Portuguese nationality, but I feel strongly Latin American. It’s who I am, and I’m proud of that side of myself. It’s my identity, even though I’ve spent most of my adult life away from Venezuela. For me, the feeling of belonging and roots comes from being with my family, not from my location or nationality.”
Some of Maria’s family are still in Venezuela, and despite challenges, they stay focused and hardworking. Her grandfather’s business is going strong and is celebrating its 70th year. Although Maria loves Venezuela, the high cost of living and instability keep her from returning with her children. “Venezuelans are wonderful people – hardworking and resilient. They are resourceful and always find ways to keep going despite everything. Many like me have emigrated, especially in the last 15 years. Life has become very tough there.”
Maria is happy to be in Portugal. “I worked hard to get where I am,” she remarks. “But some of my success comes from the luck of meeting the right friends at the right time. They ground and empower me.”
Through her travels around the world, Maria found inspiration for cooking and building communities. Now, in Maria Vinagre, she pours her passion and heritage into creating a space that brings people together and supports them. With dedication, she carries on her family’s legacy by following in her grandparents’ footsteps and working towards a future where everyone feels welcome.
Instagram: @thestudiocokitchen
