Chef Luis D Lagos
Private Chef In San RafaelLuis Lagos grew up in Mexico City and comes from a long history of cooking where hand written recipes had been passed on through generations for dishes that can take 4 days to prepare in traditional fashion. His memories are of spending hours in the kitchen with his mother, grandmother and aunts and of their dining room table set for 50 people. Every Saturday each relative's family would bring the same dish to the family cook-off, preparing their version of the traditional recipe all competing for the best flavor and style in their dish.
While working as a furniture designer in Mexico City Luis realized cooking was his passion and moved to Oaxaca where he began to cook for friends, turning his home into a restaurant. Every day he would go to the market and buy fresh fish and local vegetables and fruits to prepare a meal for whoever would show up. Sometimes his customers would sit for hours engaged in conversation and sipping wine while their meal was prepared for them in the traditional fashion.
One day he was invited to cook with the best French chef that was living in Mexico City. He sold his business and apprenticed for a year with a number of well known chefs from France, Spain, New York and Mexico. He was next invited to cook at Haramara Retreat, and learned how to cook healthy meals, taking several courses training him in the style that he cooks now.
Cooking and working in a kitchen is not just about perfection, for him it's about the input and opinions of everyone and respect for all those involved. He believes in giving as much love and good energy to the preparation of his meals as he can and believes he can learn from everyone. Luis loves to cook for people who are aware of their health and are interested in what they are eating. You can be sure to find delicious ingredients on the menu when Luis is in the kitchen and you can be guaranteed your meal was made with thoughtful attention and love. Enjoy!
More about me
For me, cooking is...
Enjoying to experiment with flavor
I learned to cook at...
At home with my grandmother
A cooking secret...
Do it and do it until you master perfection
My menus
Mini Ahi Tuna Tacos: Crispy tortilla filled with ahi tuna tartare, avocado, and a drizzle of spicy aioli
Goat Cheese and Fig Crostini: Toasted baguette topped with whipped goat cheese, fig jam, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze
Dungeness Crab Cakes: Bite-sized crab cakes served with a lemon aioli
Avocado and Shrimp Ceviche Cups: Fresh shrimp ceviche served in mini avocado cups with cilantro and lime
Mini Caprese Skewers: Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic reduction
Grilled Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Aioli: Charred artichoke hearts served with a zesty dipping sauce
Seared Scallops with Mango Salsa: Perfectly seared scallops topped with a refreshing mango salsa
Duck Confit Lettuce Wraps: Shredded duck confit wrapped in butter lettuce with a light orange and fennel salad
Mushroom and Truffle Arancini: Crispy risotto balls infused with truffle oil and served with a light herb dip
Mini Lemon Curd Tartlets: Crisp tart shells filled with tangy lemon curd, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a fresh berry
Almond Cake Bites with Fresh Berries: Small, soft almond cake squares topped with a mix of fresh raspberries and blueberries, and a dusting of powdered sugar
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries: Fresh California strawberries dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt for balance
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Cheese Board: Featuring local California cheeses with honeycomb, fresh fruits, and artisanal bread
Salade Niçoise: A classic Niçoise with fresh California produce, seared ahi tuna, heirloom tomatoes, haricot verts, and a citrus vinaigrette
Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Aioli: Local California artichokes char-grilled, served with a bright, tangy aioli
Herb Butter Green Beans: Lightly sautéed in butter and fresh herbs
Moules Frites: Steamed mussels in white wine, garlic, shallots, and herbs, served with crispy pommes frites
Ratatouille: Layered roasted vegetables in a light Provençal sauce, finished with fresh herbs and olive oil from California
Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken: California chicken marinated in fresh herbs and lemon, served with a light beurre blanc and seasonal roasted vegetables
Basque Cheesecake: Creamy with a caramelized top, served with seasonal berry compote
Tarte Tatin: A delicate French apple tart with caramelized apples and puff pastry, served with a dollop of crème fraîche
Lemon Verbena Sorbet: A refreshing and zesty palate cleanser made from California lemon verbena
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Tuna Tartare Tostada - Fresh tuna, avocado, mango salsa, crispy corn tostada, microgreens, and a drizzle of chipotle-lime aioli
Elote Skillet Cornbread - Warm cornbread with roasted corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, and a dollop of jalapeño-honey butter
Ceviche Trio - Trio of ceviche featuring shrimp, scallop, and octopus, each with unique flavors of lime, cilantro, avocado, and mango, served with crispy plantain chips
Grilled Sea Bass with Mango Salsa - Grilled sea bass, mango-pineapple salsa, cilantro-lime rice, and a side of sautéed seasonal vegetables
Braised Short Ribs with Mole Sauce - Slow-braised short ribs in a rich mole sauce, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a side of sautéed green beans
Vegetarian Enchiladas - Spinach, mushroom, and cheese enchiladas topped with a creamy tomatillo sauce, served with black beans and Mexican-style rice
Churro Ice Cream Sandwich - Crispy churro sandwich filled with vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with warm chocolate sauce and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar
Tequila Lime Cheesecake - Creamy cheesecake infused with tequila and lime, with a graham cracker crust, served with a berry compote
Flan with Caramelized Pineapple - Traditional Mexican flan topped with caramelized pineapple and a hint of coconut, garnished with fresh mint
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Mediterranean Mezze Platter Hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, marinated olives, stuffed grape leaves, and pita bread
Grilled Halloumi Cheese with Pomegranate Molasses Served with a side of fresh arugula and cherry tomatoes
Octopus Carpaccio Thinly sliced octopus with lemon zest, capers, and olive oil, garnished with microgreens
Stuffed Zucchini Flowers Filled with ricotta, herbs, and a hint of lemon zest, lightly fried and drizzled with honey
Chilled Cucumber and Yogurt Soup With fresh dill, mint, and a drizzle of olive oil
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup Topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and basil oil
Fregola Sarda Salad Mixed with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted vegetables, and a lemon-oregano vinaigrette
Quinoa Tabbouleh With parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a lemon-tahini dressing
Grilled Lamb Chops With rosemary and garlic, served with a side of roasted vegetables and tzatziki
Seafood Paella Featuring saffron-infused rice, mussels, shrimp, and calamari, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges
Stuffed Eggplant (Imam Bayildi) Filled with a mixture of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices, served with a side of herbed couscous
Chicken Souvlaki Marinated chicken skewers with a side of Greek salad and pita bread
Baklava Layers of phyllo dough filled with nuts and honey syrup, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Pistachio and Rosewater Panna Cotta Topped with a sprinkle of crushed pistachios and rose petals
Lemon and Olive Oil Cake With a side of Greek yogurt and fresh berries
Fig and Honey Tart A flaky crust filled with fresh figs and a drizzle of honey, served with whipped cream
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Burrata and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Creamy burrata cheese served with roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic reduction, accompanied by grilled crostini
Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs Fresh figs wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto, drizzled with honey and balsamic glaze, and garnished with arugula and toasted pine nuts
Dungeness Crab Arancini Crispy risotto balls filled with Dungeness crab and mozzarella, served with a spicy marinara sauce
Polenta Fries with Truffle Aioli Crispy polenta fries dusted with Parmesan cheese, served with a side of truffle aioli
Panzanella Salad A classic Tuscan bread salad with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, basil, and toasted bread cubes, tossed in a red wine vinaigrette
Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad Chopped Tuscan kale with house-made Caesar dressing, topped with garlic croutons, Parmesan shavings, and a sprinkle of lemon zest
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup A rich and creamy soup made from roasted tomatoes and fresh basil, garnished with a swirl of pesto and served with Parmesan crisps
Minestrone Verde A light and fresh minestrone soup with seasonal green vegetables, cannellini beans, and a touch of pesto, served with a slice of rustic bread
Pan-Seared Branzino with Caponata Pan-seared branzino fillet served with a Sicilian caponata of eggplant, tomatoes, olives, and capers, finished with a drizzle of lemon-infused olive oil
Osso Buco with Gremolata Slow-braised veal shanks in a rich tomato and wine sauce, served with saffron risotto and topped with a bright gremolata of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley
Porcini Mushroom Tagliatelle Fresh tagliatelle pasta tossed with a creamy porcini mushroom sauce, finished with Parmesan cheese and truffle oil
Chicken Piccata Lightly breaded chicken breast cooked in a lemon-caper sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans
Tiramisu Cheesecake A decadent fusion of tiramisu and cheesecake, featuring layers of mascarpone, coffee-soaked ladyfingers, and cocoa powder
Limoncello Panna Cotta A silky panna cotta infused with limoncello, topped with fresh raspberries and a mint sprig
Affogato al Caffè Vanilla gelato served with a shot of hot espresso and a sprinkle of dark chocolate shavings
Ricotta Cannoli Crisp cannoli shells filled with a sweet ricotta and orange zest filling, garnished with pistachios and a dusting of powdered sugar
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Heirloom Tomato Tartare Diced heirloom tomatoes, shallots, capers, and fresh herbs, drizzled with a balsamic reduction, served with toasted sourdough crostini
Sonoma Cheese Board A selection of local cheeses including Point Reyes Blue, Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog, and Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam, served with honeycomb, fig jam, and assorted nuts
Dungeness Crab and Avocado Stack Layers of fresh Dungeness crab, creamy avocado, mango, and microgreens, finished with a citrus vinaigrette
Wild Mushroom Bruschetta Sautéed local wild mushrooms on a bed of ricotta spread, topped with arugula and a drizzle of truffle oil, served on toasted artisan bread
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad Grilled local peaches, creamy burrata, arugula, and toasted almonds, drizzled with a honey-lavender vinaigrette
Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Mixed greens with roasted beets, Sonoma goat cheese, candied walnuts, and a citrus vinaigrette
Butternut Squash Soup Creamy butternut squash soup with a hint of sage, garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds and a swirl of crème fraîche
Chilled Cucumber and Avocado Soup A refreshing blend of cucumber and avocado with a hint of lime, garnished with fresh mint and a dollop of Greek yogurt
Pan-Seared Sonoma Duck Breast Crispy-skinned duck breast served with a cherry-port reduction, wild rice pilaf, and roasted seasonal vegetables
Grilled Pacific Salmon Fresh Pacific salmon grilled to perfection, served with a lemon-dill sauce, quinoa tabbouleh, and steamed asparagus
Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops Local lamb chops crusted with rosemary and thyme, served with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed broccolini
Wild Mushroom Risotto Creamy risotto with a medley of local wild mushrooms, finished with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of truffle oil
Meyer Lemon Cheesecake A rich and creamy cheesecake made with local Meyer lemons, topped with a blueberry compote and a graham cracker crust
Chocolate Almond Torte Flourless chocolate torte with a hint of almond, served with a raspberry coulis and whipped cream
Strawberry Basil Shortcake Fresh strawberries macerated with basil, served on a flaky shortcake with whipped cream
Olive Oil Citrus Cake Moist olive oil cake infused with orange and lemon zest, topped with a light citrus glaze and a dollop of mascarpone cream
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POINT REYES MIAGY OYSTERS
ARTICHOKE WITH VINAIGRETTE
Cambozola Crostini
Seasonal Farmers Market Pappardelle
Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
Sirloin Stake Pizzaiola
White chocolate tiramisu
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JAMON CROQUETES
MUSHROOM CRUSTINI
SHRIMP TOSTADA
ARTICHOKE WITH ZEN VINAGRETE
AVOCADO SOUP
CARROT AND HERBS SALAD
AHI TUNA SALAD
CHILE RELLENO WITH CHEESE
CHICKEN ALMOND CHILLI SAUCE WITH RICE
SALMON WITH PUMPKIN SEED CRUST AND HERBS SALAD
CHOCOLATE CAKE
CHOCOLATE MOUSE
CREAM TART
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