Chef Melissa Espino-Alba

Private Chef In Houston

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

EXCLUSIVE FIESTA

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fresh oysters with lime and habanero mignonette 🦪🍋

Baked brie with figs, honey, and pecans 🧀🍯

Crab cakes with smoked saffron aioli 🦀

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster and lemon risotto with fresh herbs 🦞🍋

Tuna tartare with avocado and spicy citrus dressing 🐟🥑

Shrimp ceviche with mango and jalapeño 🦐🥭

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Wagyu ribeye with truffled polenta and seasonal veggies 🥩🍄

Butter-poached lobster with grilled asparagus and citrus beurre blanc 🦞🌿

Grilled lamb chops with pistachio gremolata and lentil salad 🍖🌱

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Handmade churros with Mexican chocolate ganache 🍫

Mango panna cotta with passion fruit syrup 🥭

Grand Marnier chocolate lava cake with candied orange zest 🍊🍫

ASIA FROM THE SEA

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fish crudo with tropical hints (ceviche-style) 🐟🍍

Shrimp or fish ceviche with passion fruit 🦐🍊

Fresh oysters with citrus dressing 🦪🍋

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tartare with avocado and ponzu dressing 🐟🥑

Classic miso soup with seaweed and tofu 🍜

Spinach salad with strawberries and sesame vinaigrette 🥗🍓

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled salmon with white wine butter sauce and wild rice pilaf 🐟🍚

Shrimp fettuccini Alfredo with creamy sauce 🍤🍝

Crispy orange salmon with roasted seasonal vegetables 🐟🍊

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Mango panna cotta with passion fruit syrup 🥭🍮

Classic crème brûlée with a hint of coconut 🍮🥥

Chocolate mousse with fresh berries 🍫🍓

Exclusive Sea Feast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fresh oysters with wasabi-lime mignonette 🦪🍋

Baked brie with figs, honey, and pecans 🧀🍯

Lobster tempura with spicy aioli 🦞🔥

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster and lemon risotto with fresh herbs 🦞🍋

Sashimi-grade tuna tartare with citrus-soy reduction 🐟🥢

Truffle-infused seafood bisque with caviar 🥄🦀

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Wagyu ribeye with umami butter and miso-glazed vegetables 🥩🧈

Butter-poached lobster with grilled asparagus and yuzu beurre blanc 🦞🌿

Whole salt-crusted fish with olive tapenade and citrus zest 🐟🍋

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Handmade mochi ice cream with matcha drizzle 🍵🍡

Margarita lemon tart with citrus sorbet 🍋🍨

Chocolate-covered strawberries with edible gold flakes 🍓✨

Chef Open Table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tomato bruschetta 🍅🍞

Greek salad with oregano vinaigrette 🥗

Polenta bites with wild mushrooms and goat cheese 🧀🍄

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Butternut squash soup with sage and crispy parmesan 🎃🧀

Arugula and goat cheese salad with grilled pears and truffled vinaigrette 🥗🍐

Fresh handmade pasta Alfredo with parmesan cheese 🍝

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Penne Rustica with porcini mushrooms and prosciutto 🍝

Eggplant Milanese with tomato sauce and vegan cheese 🍆🧀

Chicken Marsala with rustic mashed potatoes 🍗

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic tiramisu 🍮

Fruit tart with almond cream 🍓🍰

Crème brûlée 🍮

HOUSTON

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Arepas with pulled pork 🌮🐖

Chicken taquitos with salsa verde 🌮🍗

Empanadas de carne Argentina with chimichurri sauce 🥟🌿

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Esquites (Mexican street corn in a cup with lime and cotija cheese) 🌽

Shrimp ceviche with passion fruit and tropical hints 🦐🍍

Classic Caesar salad with homemade croutons 🥗

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Beef fajitas with sautéed bell peppers and onions 🥩🌮

Chicken tinga with rice and beans 🍗🍚

Stuffed poblano peppers with cheese and crema 🌶️🧀

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Churros with chocolate sauce 🍫

Flan de guava (Latin-style caramel custard with guava syrup) 🍮

Tres leches cake with whipped cream 🎂

Exclusive Chef Experience

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fresh oysters with lemon and mignonette 🦪🍋

Foie gras with red wine reduction and toasted brioche 🦆🍷

Baked brie with figs, honey, and pecans 🧀🍯

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster bisque with garlic and parmesan crostini 🦞

Tuna tartare with lemon-basil emulsion 🐟🍋

Handmade pasta with seafood in saffron sauce 🍝🦐

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Herb-crusted lamb chops with lentil salad 🍖🍄

Butter-poached lobster with grilled asparagus 🦞🌿

Wagyu ribeye with truffled polenta and seasonal vegetables 🥩

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Handmade macarons with seasonal fillings 🍪

Mille-feuille with vanilla cream and red berries 🍓

Grand Marnier chocolate ganache with candied orange 🍊

LOCAL LATIN SURPRISE

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Gambas al ajillo (shrimp sautéed in garlic and olive oil) 🦐🧄

Charcuterie board with a Latin twist (chorizo, manchego, olives, and spiced nuts) 🧀🥖

Arancini parmesan (crispy Italian rice balls with melted cheese inside) 🍚🧀

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster bisque with saffron and butter crostini 🦞

Beet almond and goat cheese salad with balsamic vinaigrette 🍃🥗

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet mignon with roasted asparagus and truffle potatoes 🥩🍄

Crispy orange salmon with creamy truffled mashed potatoes 🐟🍊

Coq au Vin (classic French-style braised chicken in a red wine sauce) 🍷🍗

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate mousse with whipped cream and caramel drizzle 🍫

Basque cheesecake with passion fruit coulis 🍰

Pecan bourbon pie with vanilla ice cream 🥧🍦

Melissa's Experience

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tomato carpaccio with burrata and pesto 🍅🧀

Arancini stuffed with parmesan cheese and tomato sauce 🍚🧀

Mediterranean-style cheese and charcuterie board 🧀🍖

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

French onion soup with sourdough toast and gruyère cheese 🥣

Roasted beet salad with goat cheese and orange vinaigrette 🍊

Wild mushroom risotto with white truffle oil 🍚🍄

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Filet mignon with red wine sauce and gratin potatoes 🥩🍷

Fish à la meunière with roasted vegetables 🐟🥕

Osso buco Milanese with parmesan risotto 🍖🍚

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla crème brûlée with caramelized nuts 🍮

Lemon almond tart with raspberry coulis 🍋

EXCLUSIVE FIESTA

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fresh oysters with lime and habanero mignonette 🦪🍋

Baked brie with figs, honey, and pecans 🧀🍯

Crab cakes with smoked saffron aioli 🦀

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster and lemon risotto with fresh herbs 🦞🍋

Tuna tartare with avocado and spicy citrus dressing 🐟🥑

Shrimp ceviche with mango and jalapeño 🦐🥭

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Wagyu ribeye with truffled polenta and seasonal veggies 🥩🍄

Butter-poached lobster with grilled asparagus and citrus beurre blanc 🦞🌿

Grilled lamb chops with pistachio gremolata and lentil salad 🍖🌱

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Handmade churros with Mexican chocolate ganache 🍫

Mango panna cotta with passion fruit syrup 🥭

Grand Marnier chocolate lava cake with candied orange zest 🍊🍫

ASIA FROM THE SEA

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fish crudo with tropical hints (ceviche-style) 🐟🍍

Shrimp or fish ceviche with passion fruit 🦐🍊

Fresh oysters with citrus dressing 🦪🍋

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tuna tartare with avocado and ponzu dressing 🐟🥑

Classic miso soup with seaweed and tofu 🍜

Spinach salad with strawberries and sesame vinaigrette 🥗🍓

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled salmon with white wine butter sauce and wild rice pilaf 🐟🍚

Shrimp fettuccini Alfredo with creamy sauce 🍤🍝

Crispy orange salmon with roasted seasonal vegetables 🐟🍊

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Mango panna cotta with passion fruit syrup 🥭🍮

Classic crème brûlée with a hint of coconut 🍮🥥

Chocolate mousse with fresh berries 🍫🍓

Exclusive Sea Feast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Fresh oysters with wasabi-lime mignonette 🦪🍋

Baked brie with figs, honey, and pecans 🧀🍯

Lobster tempura with spicy aioli 🦞🔥

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster and lemon risotto with fresh herbs 🦞🍋

Sashimi-grade tuna tartare with citrus-soy reduction 🐟🥢

Truffle-infused seafood bisque with caviar 🥄🦀

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Wagyu ribeye with umami butter and miso-glazed vegetables 🥩🧈

Butter-poached lobster with grilled asparagus and yuzu beurre blanc 🦞🌿

Whole salt-crusted fish with olive tapenade and citrus zest 🐟🍋

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Handmade mochi ice cream with matcha drizzle 🍵🍡

Margarita lemon tart with citrus sorbet 🍋🍨

Chocolate-covered strawberries with edible gold flakes 🍓✨

Chef Open Table

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tomato bruschetta 🍅🍞

Greek salad with oregano vinaigrette 🥗

Polenta bites with wild mushrooms and goat cheese 🧀🍄

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Butternut squash soup with sage and crispy parmesan 🎃🧀

Arugula and goat cheese salad with grilled pears and truffled vinaigrette 🥗🍐

Fresh handmade pasta Alfredo with parmesan cheese 🍝

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Penne Rustica with porcini mushrooms and prosciutto 🍝

Eggplant Milanese with tomato sauce and vegan cheese 🍆🧀

Chicken Marsala with rustic mashed potatoes 🍗

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic tiramisu 🍮

Fruit tart with almond cream 🍓🍰

Crème brûlée 🍮

Show me more

Chef Melissa's reviews

4.56

•

22 services

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

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!