Creative, driven, hard working chef and food aficionado. Passionate about life, food and pastries.

Have over 15 years experience and love to create memorable dishes. I enjoy working alongside my clients to make sure every detail is taken into consideration and make it their own. This is where I stand out. I love what I do!

I have partaken in several projects, as sous-chef, pastry chef, and projects ranging from catering services, to pastries and baking, as well as private events. My main focus right now is to deliver high end service and attention to detail for everyone to enjoy at home.

For me, cooking is...

My joy and everyday treat!

I learned to cook at...

I have been cooking since I was 7, but my professional training began when I was a teenager and has not stopped since.

A cooking secret...

I’m a trained pastry chef and can bake and make fresh bread and pasta and adapt to any type of cuisine.

My menus

French Table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Baked Brie Figs Honey Pecans

French onion soup sourdough toast gruyere cheese

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spinach dip pillows

Spring greens blue cheese and strawberry vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef Wellington roasted seasonal veggies

New York Strip Porcini sauce with garlic creamy mashed potatoes

Coq au Vin classic chicken in luscious wine sauce

Grilled salmon white wine butter sauce wild rice pilaf roasted asparagus

DESSERT

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Crème Brûlée

Chocolate Mousse

Latin Table

STARTER

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Shrimp passion fruit Ceviche

Steak empanadas cilantro chimichurri

Arepas with pulled pork

Chicken Taquitos

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tortilla soup

Cesar Salad grilled romaine

Spanish potato and chorizo tortilla

MAIN COURSE

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Chicharron Risotto

Seafood Paella

Beef chimichurri Yuca soufflé

DESSERT

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Tres leches

Flan de guava

Coconut Tart

Italian Table

STARTER

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Panzanella Salad

Arancini parmesan

FIRST COURSE

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Butternut squash soup with sage and crispy parmesan

Burrata and prosciutto eggplant Parmigiana

Burrata Salad Pesto Pine Nuts Tomatoes

Arugula and goat cheese salad grilled pears and truffled vinaigrette candied walnuts

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Braised Short Ribs Truffled Polenta

Lobster and Lemon Risotto

Balsamic and fig chicken with Crispy Potato Millefeuille

Penne Rustica Rock Shrimp Porcini and Prosciutto

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tiramisu

Limoncello Tart

Mango Panna Cotta

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Chef Melissa's reviews

4.57

•

20 services

This was our first experience with a chef coming to our home. It was a delightful experience!!

Everything excellent!! Food was delicious

Chef Melissa was warm and engaged with our family and great with the kids! She patiently taught us while cooking and graciously involved the foodies among us in the process. The food was delicious, and it was a delightful meal to share for my mom's birthday celebration! Grateful for Melissa!

Chef Melissa Espino-Alba is an incredible personal chef. She worked tirelessly with me to create a Valentine’s Day menu and surprise for my wife. Chef was just as excited as I to provide my wife with a once in a lifetime Valentine memory. It was obvious in our pre event communications and showed in her food. Her food was amazing and her presentation was impeccable. I have already recommended her to everyone I know. If you have an opportunity to go on this food journey with her as your captain I highly recommend it.

Chef Espino was def worth the investment. She was everything we could have asked for. Understood what we wanted and was able to adapt to our dietary restrictions. Thanks again for being at our special occasion.

Melissa is amazing!! We will definitely be having her over again