María José Martínez

Lienzo ('canvas') frames the Valencian huerta as an artist's palette — each seasonal menu is a composition of the plain's products: garrofó beans (essential to paella), ñora peppers, Valencian citrus, artichokes from Benicarló. Martínez's painting-as-cooking metaphor runs through every dish.

María José Martínez is the chef and co-owner of Restaurante Lienzo in Valencia, which earned its Michelin star in 2021. Her cooking is built on the extraordinary produce of the Valencian huerta — Valencia's ancient irrigated farmland — expressed with restraint, elegance, and a deep knowledge of regional ingredients.

Valencia, Spain — trained in Valencian and Spanish fine dining; deeply rooted in Valencian huerta produce

Career

• Chef at Spanish fine-dining restaurants, Valencia and Spain (2000s–2015)
• Chef-Owner at Lienzo, Plaça de Tetuan, Valencia (2015–present)

Mentored by Valencian culinary tradition.