We are a group of passionate restaurant experts who love food, the industry and making a difference for restaurant owners.
Nicole Barreto, Principal and Chief Marketing Strategist
Nicole has been immersed in nearly every aspect of the restaurant industry for most of her life, having started as a bus girl at the age of 14. She went on to work as a server on a cruise ship, and later moved to Orlando to get her Bachelor’s degree from UCF. She continued working as a server, bartender and trainer for various restaurants including Marriott's multiple outlets for ten years while pursuing dual degrees, including a Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College. Following her passion for restaurants and marketing, Nicole worked for leading hospitality/restaurant agencies in Orlando, Rare Hospitality and Darden restaurants. After 14 years on the Corporate/agency side, she started private consulting for LongHorn Steakhouse and Ruby Tuesday. Today, she owns and manages Barreto Restaurant Consulting with husband Richard, where they bring together restaurant experts to deliver on their mission of creating a better quality of life for restauranteurs.
Richard Barreto, Principal, Culinary Director and Photographer
Richard has always had a flair for the culinary arts. After graduating Park West Culinary High School, he began his career as a line cook and worked his way up to Executive Chef for both Disney and Marriott. Over the course of 27 years, Richard ran 13 different kitchens, developed catering platforms, and managed various events and banquets. He was Corporate Chef with Oerther Foods (McDonalds Franchise) for many years, developing their Bistro concept and reinvigorating the menu. He also managed all media opportunities, presented to C-level leadership and trained GMs across the world. Richard became intrigued with the operations side of the business and was a GM of Chipotle and Qdoba in various markets in Florida and Connecticut. Most recently Rich has consulted for Oerther Foods to create a new menu for their remodeled Bistro concept. In addition to creating dishes, Rich has a passion for photography and runs a successful photography practice in addition to co-managing Barreto Restaurant Consulting.