Chef David Gayle Villiers

Private Chef In Cañas

I'm a professional chef with 10 years of experience in the industry. I've traveled and learned a lot of techniques to fuze with Costa Rica Latin flavors. I have done internships around the U.S. at Michelin restaurants. I'm very proud of Costa Rica ingredients. I really love what I do and love what a small country can give.

I will take my experience to your home giving you the freedom you need to enjoy the dishes of the highest quality. Take a look at this service to experience an exceptional and delicious gastronomic sensation. You can book long or short term services and I will take care of the rest. You just need to define What style of servicios you whant (clásic modern, gourmet, local food, thematic, family style) and we can customize the menu to your wishes, portions, style of food, and service time. Im looking formar to cooking for you

For me, cooking is...

A way off art and expresion

I learned to cook at...

I come from a chefs family so i knew i would cook since i was 10 year old bueno i develope me carrer when i started working at Hotel grano de Oro.

A cooking secret...

Take care of the small details and créate experiences... but dont just stay there exceed espectation

My menus

Basic Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Arancini milanesse(saffron risotto croquette)

- creamy salmon rolls in smoked salmon served with capers sauce, arugula and red onions

Beef stuffed olives

Avocado hummus with pita bread

Caprese salad skewers

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-Asparagus chilled soup with homemade creme fraiche

French onion soup

Lobster medallion with green salmorejo and citronella foam

Beef carpaccio with crunchy capers and alioli

Charred octoups with roas peppers sauce and warm kale

Burrata cheese, roast balsamic peachs, cured ham and radichio salad

Artichoke and parmesan dip

Modern style capresse salad

Mwditerrean shrimp skewers with harissa sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roast tenderloin with creamy polenta and peperonata

Pulpo a la gallega(crispy octopus, potatoes and smoked paprika s and

Chicken roulade with white wine sauce , served with ratstouille

Au papillote catch of the day served with two sides

Sea bass with home made gremolata sauce and seasonal veggies

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheesecake

Cremee brulle

Peras pochadas al vino blanco( wine poach pears)

Mediterrarnean 2025

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Artichoke and pancetta dip

Home made focaccia, cheeses and hams

Cured jam and roast peach bruschetta

-smoked Salmón profiteroles

Lobster bisque

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-roast beef, arugula, oranges and roast fennel salad

Peas and bacon chilled soup

Roast tomato soup with burrata cheese

Chicken liver pate with tyhme infused honey and home made crostinis

Gallego style octopus with dill alioli

Seafood crostini with arrugula and fresh tomatoes salad

Crispy fish milanesa skewers with lemon caper sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster with gallega sauce and dill potatoes

A la florentina tomahawk stake with traditional veggies with rosemary

Tenderloin roulade with shrimp mouseline and smoked butter sauce

Tenderloin with porcini demiglace

Butter poach snook fish with parsnip

Seabass with meuniere sauce served y fondant potatoes

Shrimps caserole with french bread toast

Pork chop with figs sauce and blue cheese

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheesecake

Crêpes suzette

Flan de pistacho y miel de frutos del bosque

Seafood 2025

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

-Cucumber and crab canapé

Coconut shrimp skewers with sweet tropical sauce

Lobster dip with crispy patacones

Cured macarel fish with toasts

Crispy fish chicharrones

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken or shrimp home made cesar salad

Fresh shrimps carpaccio with lemon dressing

Bbq fish collars with charred chimichurri

Green mango and fish ceviche

Butter poach snook fish with parsnip

Lobster bisque with citric foam

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Surf and turf new york stake andLobster in caribean sauce

Crispy mahi mahi with cilantro sauce

Grilled grouper with fresh avocado pico de gallo

Pasta frutti di mare

Arroz melozo estilo vasco con mariscos

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheese flan with nuts caramel

Tropical fruit cheese cake

Tarta de chocolate con chantily de limon y crumble

Seafood night

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Crispy shrimp toast and shrimp tartar

-fish chicharrones (crispy fish served with cilantro dressing )hummus de aguacate y tostadas de pan pita

Banderillas de gamba y pejibaye

Clams in white wine sauce and lardo

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Green mango and fish ceviche

Banana leaf baked lobster tail

Arroz caldoso de guisantes y frutos del mar

Charred octoups with roas peppers sauce and warm kale

Smoked salmon carpaccio with passion fruit

Local clams chowder

Lobster and arrugula salad

Black tortellini filled with shrimp paste

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-Cioppino (seafood stew)served with bread toasts

Whole baked fish (catch of the day )with sides

Coconut crispy jumbo shrimps with sweet and sour costa rican sauce

Surf and turf (shrimp or lobster)served with local veggies

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Coffee flan

Guava cheesecake

Chocolate lava cake with caramel ice cream

Seafood classics summer 2025

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Crispy lobster wantan pockets with ponzu sauce

-fresh shrimp tatrtar over rice crackers

Fresh tuna and white beans bruschetta

Scallopss ceviche with cilantro aguachile

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Costa ricas style seafood vuelve a la vida soup with shrimp foam

Local seafood Sampler( all sort of local seafood served with local sides)

Coconut breded shrimps with mango dipping sauce

Cured and roast Mackrell with anchovies pil pil and cured cucumber

Japanease style grilled seabass served with slowcooked eggplant and pickle seaweeds salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sea and shore (red snapper and shrimps with curry emulsion)

Surf and turf (shrimp or lobster)served with local veggies

Seabass with green mango and chamoy salsa

Bananq leaf baked mahi mahi

Roast shrimps with mango and corn salsa

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheese flan with nuts caramel

Tartte tatin (french style applenpie)

Basque cheesecake

Roast pineapple with ice cream and nuts crumble

Pintxos night

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Octopus and potatoes pintxo

Pintxo de sardina curada y crema de hinojo

Tortilla de patata y chorizo colorado

Pintxo de chorizo y guindilla(chorizo and guindilla pincho)

Pintxo de Queso de Cabra y Miel – Goat cheese on toast with caramelized onions and honey drizzle

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Gallego style octopus with dill alioli

Andaluz gazpacho a cold tomato soup with Spanish toppings

Manchego cheese and olives tapa

Croquetas de jamón ibérico(rico ham croquettes)

Patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with pimentón hot sauce and alioli

Gambas al Ajillo – Sizzling shrimp with garlic, chili, and white wine

Pan con Tomate & Jamón Ibérico – Grilled rustic bread with fresh tomato, garlic, olive oil, and Iberian ham

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Snook fish al Pil-Pil – snook fish in a silky garlic and olive oil emulsion

Gambas a la Plancha – Grilled prawns with sea salt and lemon

Pulpo a la Brasa – Grilled octopus with smoked paprika and potato purée

Secreto Ibérico con Chimichurri – Grilled Iberian pork with chimichurri sauce

Solomillo al Roquefort – Beef tenderloin with creamy blue cheese sauce

Cordero a la Miel – Grilled lamb chops with honey glaze and thyme

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tarta de Santiago – Almond cake with powdered sugar and citrus zest

Basque cheesecake

Churros with chocolate sauce

Basic Mediterranean

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Arancini milanesse(saffron risotto croquette)

- creamy salmon rolls in smoked salmon served with capers sauce, arugula and red onions

Beef stuffed olives

Avocado hummus with pita bread

Caprese salad skewers

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-Asparagus chilled soup with homemade creme fraiche

French onion soup

Lobster medallion with green salmorejo and citronella foam

Beef carpaccio with crunchy capers and alioli

Charred octoups with roas peppers sauce and warm kale

Burrata cheese, roast balsamic peachs, cured ham and radichio salad

Artichoke and parmesan dip

Modern style capresse salad

Mwditerrean shrimp skewers with harissa sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Roast tenderloin with creamy polenta and peperonata

Pulpo a la gallega(crispy octopus, potatoes and smoked paprika s and

Chicken roulade with white wine sauce , served with ratstouille

Au papillote catch of the day served with two sides

Sea bass with home made gremolata sauce and seasonal veggies

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheesecake

Cremee brulle

Peras pochadas al vino blanco( wine poach pears)

Mediterrarnean 2025

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Artichoke and pancetta dip

Home made focaccia, cheeses and hams

Cured jam and roast peach bruschetta

-smoked Salmón profiteroles

Lobster bisque

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-roast beef, arugula, oranges and roast fennel salad

Peas and bacon chilled soup

Roast tomato soup with burrata cheese

Chicken liver pate with tyhme infused honey and home made crostinis

Gallego style octopus with dill alioli

Seafood crostini with arrugula and fresh tomatoes salad

Crispy fish milanesa skewers with lemon caper sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster with gallega sauce and dill potatoes

A la florentina tomahawk stake with traditional veggies with rosemary

Tenderloin roulade with shrimp mouseline and smoked butter sauce

Tenderloin with porcini demiglace

Butter poach snook fish with parsnip

Seabass with meuniere sauce served y fondant potatoes

Shrimps caserole with french bread toast

Pork chop with figs sauce and blue cheese

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Basque cheesecake

Crêpes suzette

Flan de pistacho y miel de frutos del bosque

Seafood 2025

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

-Cucumber and crab canapé

Coconut shrimp skewers with sweet tropical sauce

Lobster dip with crispy patacones

Cured macarel fish with toasts

Crispy fish chicharrones

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken or shrimp home made cesar salad

Fresh shrimps carpaccio with lemon dressing

Bbq fish collars with charred chimichurri

Green mango and fish ceviche

Butter poach snook fish with parsnip

Lobster bisque with citric foam

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Surf and turf new york stake andLobster in caribean sauce

Crispy mahi mahi with cilantro sauce

Grilled grouper with fresh avocado pico de gallo

Pasta frutti di mare

Arroz melozo estilo vasco con mariscos

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheese flan with nuts caramel

Tropical fruit cheese cake

Tarta de chocolate con chantily de limon y crumble

Seafood night

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Crispy shrimp toast and shrimp tartar

-fish chicharrones (crispy fish served with cilantro dressing )hummus de aguacate y tostadas de pan pita

Banderillas de gamba y pejibaye

Clams in white wine sauce and lardo

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Green mango and fish ceviche

Banana leaf baked lobster tail

Arroz caldoso de guisantes y frutos del mar

Charred octoups with roas peppers sauce and warm kale

Smoked salmon carpaccio with passion fruit

Local clams chowder

Lobster and arrugula salad

Black tortellini filled with shrimp paste

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

-Cioppino (seafood stew)served with bread toasts

Whole baked fish (catch of the day )with sides

Coconut crispy jumbo shrimps with sweet and sour costa rican sauce

Surf and turf (shrimp or lobster)served with local veggies

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Coffee flan

Guava cheesecake

Chocolate lava cake with caramel ice cream

Show me more

Chef David's reviews

4.79

•

77 services

Chef David was amazing! He cooked two meals for me and five of my girlfriends during our short stay in Costa Rica. A five course dinner and an à la cart breakfast. His service and presentation was 100 /100. He was gracious to accommodate last minute changes to our menu the day before our dinner with no additional cost. The surf and turf selection we made was by far one of the best steak and shrimp I’ve ever tasted. For dessert we had cheesecake and it was so moist and fresh. The girls are still talking about that cheese cake today. I will definitely be booking him again during our next trip to Costa Rica. Reserve Chef David and you won’t regret it! :-)

Chef David was wonderful! He worked with me on the menu and executed our meals perfectly. They were delicious and presented very well. Our group really enjoyed his service. I would definitely rebook him again :)

Chef David was incredible. He made local dishes using the freshest ingredients and flavors. He showed up on time, cooked and cleaned up the entire kitchen. He was very thoughtful, nice and fun to chat with. I would highly recommend Chef David to anybody looking for a fun and tasty meal!

David and Ricardo were punctual, polite, and did a wonderful job! The food was both delicious and very beautifully presented.

Cheif David and his crew (wife and brother), came out and prepared us an absolutely amazing meal. Chef David was very responsive to all my request ahead of time to get the menu set for us. Arrived on time at the house and then promptly got to cooking. For sure the best meal we had while in Costa Rica and would absolutely book him again.

I could literally write a book about this experience. The way they were able to accommodate for my vegan travelers, was amazing. They were blown away because everyone cant properly prepare vegan dishes. The freshness of it all was amazing. I also had travelers who ate meat and they couldn't stop talking about the food the entire trip. They ate everything. Desert was a treat as well. No one felt left out. Very very respectful, on time and helpful. They had no issue explaining what the dishes were and what was in them. When we head back we are most definitely looking for them again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Thank you again for the amazing experience.

David was awesome and catered to my groups specific needs and delivered excellent service! Highly recommend

Chef David and his team were there on time, prepared and ready to serve. The whole process from the time I reached out and the very last minute he has been very responsive and responsible. Our vacation in Costa Rica could not have been better if it wasn't for the great authentic breakfast Chef created for us. Chef David is very kind, he was even able to put me in contact with someone for transportation, that how helpful he is. Whenever I go back to Costa Rica I will contact Chef David and also will suggest him to anyone who's going over there and would like to serve great food in Costa Rica.

We really enjoyed Chef David and his team! He created wonderful dishes for our family! I would definitely recommend Chef David for a wonderful meal!

David and his team were absolutely incredible. They came in and immediately whipped us up a cocktail and the most delicious appetizers while we were sitting out by the pool waiting for dinner. Then it was course after course a beautifully presented food that tasted amazing. By the time the main course was presented I was almost full but still had to continue eating because everything was so delicious. A true chef. Dessert was amazing and he even indulged my request to have a birthday cake for one of our friends. We had only spoken about it once and I almost thought he had forgotten about it but all of a sudden there was this adorable cake with candles and we were all singing Happy Birthday. By the time I turned around after dinner I was amazed that the kitchen was absolutely spotless including mopping the floors and taking out the trash. It couldn't have been more perfect. Highly recommend David and his team, it was a great experience to have him cook us this meal.

Chef David was great. Food and clean up and presentation was very very good. I will totally hire him again

This was my first experience with Take a Chef and it was excellent. David prepared dishes exactly as we requested and they were all incredibly. He also made enough food for leftovers the next day, which was very helpful for our 3 & 4 year old girls. Highly recommended!

David and his staff were INCREDIBLE. The whole experience from start to finish was the meal of a lifetime and it’s a memory I will always cherish. Food tasted incredible and David easily catered to our special dietary needs (gluten free). He was engaging, friendly and professional. He made us feel like family. Would highly recommend.

Chef David created a lovely meal for our group of 8 adults in Nosara in February 2024. He was very good at communicating so that we could collaborate on an excellent menu. Then on the day of the dinner, he and his assistant were very pleasant and worked hard to both prepare and present the various courses. Highly recommended!

La experiencia fue excelente. El chef David fue muy atento y amable desde el inicio con las propuestas y hasta el final de la cena. La comida estuvo muy buena y nos dio una explicación de cada platillo. Quedamos más que satisfechos y definitivamente lo recomiendo.