Chef Nivia Villanueva

Private Chef In San Juan

I share my passion for Puerto Rico's culture by introducing guests to our authentic cuisine incorporating products cultivated by local farmers and my secret ingredient, a pinch of love.

I was inspired by my grandmother who I used to help in the kitchen gathering aromatic herbs and spices from the garden. As a second carreer, I graduated from culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and worked at Share Our Strength/Cooking Matters, teaching families how to shop and cook healthy incorporating local seasonal produce. Nowadays, as a culinary experiences host and Private Chef, I combine my teaching, advocacy and culinary skills recreating sensorial experiences of a nostalgic era while inspiring visitors and educating local residents to support our sustainable agriculture. Taste Puerto Rico's true authentic flavors with a pinch of love.

For me, cooking is...

what makes me feel the most present utilizing all my senses. If Im not cooking, Im either eating, talking, reading or thinking about food and drinks.

I learned to cook at...

home with my mother and grandmother. A second career in culinary arts at Jonhnson and Wales University and now a days mastering in social media :)

A cooking secret...

Is always adding my own personal flare which I refer to as my secret ingredient, a pinch of Love!

My menus

Pesquetarian

STARTER

All inclusive

My specialty cocktail "Rum Fun Punch" will be served as a welcome drink

Season's Harvest Salad or Homemade Soup

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Ceviche (Seafood or vegan)

Smoked salmon canapes

Bacalaitos (Cod friters)

Setas rellenas (Local mushrooms stuffed with vegetarian or vegan filling)

Pastelillos (turn overs filled with chicken, meat picadillo or seafood) vegetarian or vegan optional

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Arroz con mariscos (Paella style rice with seafood)

*Mofongo with shrimp or chicken a la Criolla - (Interactive*- guests prepare their own mofongo on a mortar and pestel which we call pilón). Served with rice and beans mamposteao

Filete de Chillo al mojo criollo (Red snapper fillet with mojo criollo sauce). Served with tostones

Fish filet with tropical island sauce (mango, tamarind, guava, tamarind or pasion fuit sauce). Served with mashed taro root vegetable

Shrimp al Ajillo (garlic scampi sauce ) Served with rice with pigeon peas

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Artisanal Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)

Homemade Flan

Birthday Cake (at bakers price)

Paella Party

STARTER

All inclusive

My Specialty Cocktail, Rum Fun Punch served as a welcome drink, more available upon request

Ajíes dulces rellenos (Sweet chili peppers filled with herbed goat cheese)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Croquetas

Tortilla Española (Spanish omelette)

Brocheta ~ toasted bread . garlic . tomatoe . herbs . savory toppings

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Paella de carne (Spanish style rice with pork meat and sausages)

Paella de mariscos (Spanish style rice with shrimp)

Paella Valenciana (Spanich style ricce with chicken or rabit)

DESSERT

All inclusive

Homemade Flan

A Taste of Christmas in Puerto Rico

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Arepitas (Mini corn arepas with choice of toping: meat, chicken, seafood, vegan or vegetarian)

Setas rellenas (Local mushrooms stuffed with choice of filling)

Ceviche (seafood or vegan) served with root vegetable chips

Tostones (Fried plantain chips topped with meat, chicken, seafood, vegan or vegetarian picadillo)

Alcapurrias (Root vegetable fritters stuffed with pork or meat picadillo)

Bacalaitos (Cod friters)

Pastelillos (turn overs filled with chicken, meat picadillo or seafood) vegetarian option available on request

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Fresh harvest salad with homemade herb vinagrette

Arroz con gandules (Rice with pigeon peas) side dish

Arroz Mamposteao (Rice and beans mixed together) - (vegan optional) side dish

Arroz congris (Cuban-style rice and black beans) side dish

Yuca or Guineítos en escabeche (Yuca or green bananas in a briny marinade

Majado de viandas (Mashed local root vegetables) side dish

Pasteles (Root vegetables dumplings filled with pork or chicken, wrapped in plantain leaf)

Ensalada de papa con viandas (Potatoes with local root vegetables) side dish

Ensalada de coditos (Traditional Puerto Rican macaroni salad)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pernil (Roasted pork with adobo criollo seasoning)

Pollochón Pollochón (Roasted chicken with adobo criollo seasoning)

Pavochón (Roasted turkey with adobo criollo seasoning)

Filete de Chillo al mojo isleño (Red snapper fillet with mojo isleño sauce)

Pastelón de Yuca o Plátano Maduro* (Ripe plantain or Yuca and meat casserole - vegetarian or vegan option)

Arroz con mariscos (paella style seafood rice)

File mignon wrapped in bacon and guava sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Artisanal Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)

Homemade Flan

Homemade mini cheesecakes with artesanal marmalade

Chocolate Puding (vegan)

Tembleque (Coconut Puding)

Local fingerling bananas flambé

Artesanal Puerto Rican pastry

Brunch for a Fun Bunch

STARTER

All inclusive

Puerto Rican Coffee

Rum Fun Punch Cocktail

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tostaditas with Artesanal Marmalade

Local artesanal patries

Arepitas (Mini corn arepas with artesanal mermelade and queso fresco)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Huevos Revueltos (scrambled eggs)

Omelette with Veggies and Cheese

Fried Eggs

Chicken Sausage

Canadian Bacon

Bacon

Waffles

French Toasts

Breakfast Potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tropical fruit

Yougurt parfait

A Christmas Cocktail Party "Holiday Picadera"

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

Smoke Salmon Canapes

Piononitos (Mini ripe plantain cups filled with meat picadillo, vegetarian optional)

Ceviche (shrimp, fish or vegan served with root vegetable chips)

Tostones (fried plantain chips with choice of topping: seafood, meat or chicken picadillo, vegan)

Arepitas (mini corn arepas with choice of toping: seafood, meat or chicken picadillo, vegan)

Pastelillos (turn overs with choice of filling: seafood, meat or chicken picadillo, vegetarian)

Alcapurrias (root vegetables fritters filled with pork or meat picadillo)

Setas rellenas (local mushrooms with vegetarian filling)

Caribbean Quezo Frito (Fried cheese with sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce)

Pinchitos de Pollo (chicken skewer with sweet spicy dipping sauce)

Sandwichitos Cubanos (mini cuban sandwiches, vegan or vegetarian optional)

Pinchitos Capresse with balsamic glace

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Asopao de Pollo (Chicken and rice stew)

Asopao de Camarones (Shrimp and rice stew)

Arroz Apatelao (rice with pork meat and sausage)

Asopao de Gandules (pigeon peas and pork rice stew) (vegan optional)

Sancocho (root vegetables with pork or chicken stew) (vegan optional)

Arroz con mariscos (Paella style rice seafood or chicken)

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Homemade Flan

Artisanal Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)

Homemade mini cheesecakes with artesanal marmalade

Chocolate Puding (vegan)

Tembleque (Coconut Puding)

Birthday Cake (extra charge)

Puerto Rican Specialties

STARTER

All inclusive

Chef's specialty cocktail - Rum Fun Punch

Chef specialty appetizers

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Season's harvest salad with homemade vinagrette

Local harvest soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Churasco with ajililmojili (Skirt steak with a Puerto Rican style chimichurri)

Fish or Shrimp or chicken al mojo Isleño (Puerto Rican style sauce with onions, garlic, spices and tomatoe sauce)

Stuffed Chicken breast wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce

Local Fish fillet or chicken breast with tropical sauce - a little sweet, a little spicy a little tangy

Beef Filet or Pork Tenderloin wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce

Local Pork Chops "Can-Can"

Portabello Mushroom steak with ajilimojili (a Puerto Rican style chimichurri)

Rice with pigeaon peas (Arroz con gandules )

Rice and beans (Arroz Mamposteao)

Taro root vegetable mash (Majado de malanga)

Yuca or Guineítos en escabeche (Yuca or green bananas in a briny marinade)

Eggplant cutlets with Puerto Rican style pesto

Chickpeas and local pumpkin stew a la criolla - Served with white or yellow rice

Asian style meatballs and vegetables stirfry - Served with white rice

Asian style tofu and vegetables stirfry - Served with white rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)

Homemade Flan

Chocolate Puding (vegan)

Homemade chesecake with artesanal mermalade

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Chef Nivia's reviews

4.82

•

65 services

Google led me to this site and I could not be happier to have encountered Chef Nivea. She was excellent in communicating from start to finish and really made our experience wonderful. Nivea was professional, equipped, knowledgeable and engaging. Plus, the food was fresh and flavorful - exactly what we wanted. I mean, what else can you ask for?! Oh, I guess you can really top of your experience with the interactive appetizer, We LOVED having this option and being able to assist the chef with our delicious meal.

An incredible experience. Nivia is a wonderful chef who’s passion shows through her work. We were catered to a marvelous meal with delicious local ingredients that were prepared with an excellent level of quality.

Chef Nivia was incredible! All the food was delicious and the presentation was so beautiful. We were celebrating a birthday dinner while on vacation and she and her sous chef made it really special - the Airbnb we were at had very bare bones for table settings and the special touches she brought with her (nice placemats, cloth napkins, serving dishes) made it gorgeous. Every dish was amazing and we even had leftovers for the next day. She came out and explained each dish as she served it. I have never done anything like this before and the experience was such a pleasure - thank you! ❤️

Chef Nivia was fantastic — attuned and attentive to allergies and served a beautiful, delicious supper (all with an under resourced kitchen). Would definitely recommend

Chef Nivia was punctual, her assistant was very sweet, the food was incredible, and she was exceptionally friendly! The taught us about the history behind the food, we had an interactive cooking experience and they cleaned up as if they were never even here. I would use her every time I came back to the island.

Thank you Chef Nivia for a wonderful birthday experience. This was truly the highlight of my trip! Everything were very fresh and delicious. Our group had a lot of fun engaging and learning Puerto Rican cuisine! Will definitely do it again the next time I’m in Puerto Rico! Thank you!!!

Chef Nivia is amazing - I only have good things to say! She responded to my request quickly, designed a vegetarian and gluten-free menu using seasonal produce, in ~less than 1 month notice. She came out to Fajardo for San Juan for us, and as a group of all women I was very comfortable having her in our home. All around excellent communication, cooking, cleanup, friendly and professional service. She even brought cute table decor and flowers to make the meal beautiful for my birthday! Oh and of course the food was all so delicious - better and more unique than what we had at restaurants all week. The special tres leches cake was perfect!

Chef Nivia was truly exceptional. We hired her for a group dinner on the rooftop of our Airbnb. She was extremely communicative beforehand and very accommodating with our needs. The menu was carefully curated by Chef Nivia and her team and included a delicious cocktail, mouth-watering appetizers, and the star of the show - a seafood paella that was cooked to perfection by a sous chef from Valencia, the birthplace of paella. The paella was made with the freshest ingredients and the flavors were simply amazing. Everything was gluten free upon request which was very important for our group. What made the evening even more special was Chef Nivia herself. She was incredibly accommodating and had a bubbly personality that brought so much life to the dining experience. She and her team were knowledgeable about the food they were serving and made sure that everyone was comfortable and happy throughout the evening. Overall, I would give Chef Nivia and her team a 5-star rating. The food was amazing, the setting was beautiful, and the chef and her team were truly exceptional. If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience in San Juan, hire her!

We had a wonderful experience with chef Nivia and Sebastian. They were prompt, friendly, informative, engaging and the food was better than expected. We had several chefs to choose from and we made the right choice! You won’t regret reservations with Chef Nivia and Sebastian!