CHEF ROBYN ALMODOVAR
Chef Robyn Almodovar has spent more than two decades building a career defined by creativity, resilience, and an unwavering passion for hospitality. From cooking aboard luxury yachts to launching the award-winning Palate Party food truck during the peak of South Florida's food truck scene, she has never been afraid to take risks in pursuit of her dreams.
Over the years, Robyn has earned national recognition through appearances on popular cooking competitions, including Hell's Kitchen, Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and most recently 24 in 24. Her culinary journey has also taken her across the country, including serving as Executive Chef at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, before returning to South Florida to lead celebrated restaurant concepts such as Timbr in Fort Lauderdale.
Today, as Co-Founder and Executive Chef of 4 Corners Hospitality, Robyn brings together a lifetime of experience, innovation, and perseverance. Her approach to food is rooted in bold flavors, heartfelt hospitality, and the belief that some of life's most meaningful moments happen around the table.
OUR 'MEAT CUTE'
Every great partnership has an origin story. This one started with a meatball slider.
Chef Robyn Almodovar and Austin Gaines first met 17 years ago during the height of South Florida's food truck scene. At the time, Robyn was building a loyal following through Palate Party, her award-winning food truck and one of the standouts in the region's emerging foodie scene.
Austin and his wife were among those followers. What started with their love for Palate Party's famous meatball sliders quickly became something more. They found themselves seeking out events where the truck would be serving, drawn not only to the food, but to Robyn's energy and unmistakable passion for her craft.
As the years passed, their friendship grew. Austin would occasionally jump in when the truck was short-staffed and offer advice as Robyn pursued new restaurant ventures. From the sidelines, he watched her continue to chase bigger opportunities—following her journey through television appearances, cooking competitions, restaurant openings, career pivots, and every challenge that came with them.
Through every chapter, one thing remained constant: no matter the setback, Robyn never stopped betting on herself. Life eventually took them in different directions, and during the pandemic they lost touch. But years later, Robyn invited Austin to visit the restaurant where she was serving as Executive Chef, and the connection picked up right where it had left off.
By then, Austin had spent nearly two decades watching Robyn build successful concepts, overcome setbacks, and pour her talent into opportunities that often belonged to someone else.
When another unexpected career crossroads appeared, he asked a question that had been years in the making:
"What if we finally did this our way?"
That conversation became the spark for 4 Corners Hospitality.
Today, 4 Corners Hospitality stands as the culmination of a friendship nearly two decades in the making—a company built on trust, resilience, shared belief, and the understanding that sometimes the right people enter your life long before the right opportunity arrives.
AUSTIN GAINES
Austin Gaines is a Miami-based entrepreneur and hospitality operator with a background spanning luxury development, operations, and guest experience. As Vice President of Canterbury Homes, Inc., Austin has spent 20+ years leading complex projects, building teams, and developing a reputation for precision, communication, and exceptional service.
Hospitality has always been at the center of Austin’s story. A fourth-generation hospitality entrepreneur, Austin grew up with a family legacy rooted in hotels and the belief that great hospitality is about creating meaningful experiences and lasting connections.
He continued that legacy as a founding partner of Arcane Estate Coffee, a modern hospitality concept recognized within seven months of opening as one of the top 100 coffee shops in the world.
Today, Austin brings his operational expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and hospitality background to Against All Odds (AAO), Chef Robyn Almodovar’s first restaurant concept. As a partner in the venture, he is helping build the operational foundation and guest experience behind a restaurant designed to bring together food, culture, and community.
Austin studied at the University of Miami, where he founded the Joan G. Gaines Breast Cancer Research Fund at age 12, raising $500,000 for breast cancer research and becoming the youngest Grand Founder in the university’s history.
