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. I worked as a Chef Instructor and Nutrition Educator 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...

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

I learned to cook at...

home with my mother and grandmother. Aa a second career in culinary arts at Jonhnson and Wales University.

A cooking secret...

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

My menus

Puerto Rican and International Specialties

STARTER

All inclusive

My Specialty Cocktail ~ Rum Fun Punch / served as a welcome drink

Fresh harvest salad or Seasonal homemade soup

Chef's specialty appetizers - ask for suggestions

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Arroz Mamposteao (Rice and beans mixed together) ~ side dish

Arroz con gandules (Rice with pigeon peas) ~ side dish

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

Arroz Sofrito (Yellow Sofrito Rice) ~ side dish

Arroz Apatelao (Rice with pork meat and sausages) ~ side dish

Ensalada de coditos (Traditional Puerto Rican macaroni salad) ~ side dish

Ensalada de papa (Traditional Puerto Rican potato salad) ~ side dish

Majado de viandas (Mashed local root vegetables) ~ side dish

Roasted Caribbean seasonal vegetables ~ side dish

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Asopao de Camarones (Shrimp and rice stew)

Asopao de Pollo (Chicken and rice stew)

Asopao de Gandules con Cerdo (Pigeon peas and rice stew with pork, vegan option)

Camarones al ajillo (Shrimp with puertorrican style scampi sauce)

Pesca Local (Local Fish fillet with tropical sauce - a little sweet, a little spicy a little tangy)

Salmon (Salmon steak cooked on a cedar plank)

Filete de Cerdo (Pork Tenderloin wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce)

Chuleta rellena (Pork chop stuffed with herbed goat cheese)

Chuleta Can-Can (Fried local Pork Chops)

Pernil (Roasted pork with adobo criollo seasoning)

Filete de Res (Beef Filet wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce)

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

Pollo al Ajillo (Chicken al ajillo)

Pollochón (Roasted chicken with adobo criollo seasoning)

Pollo guisado (Stewed chicken a la criolla)

Pechuga de pollo rellena (Chicken breast stuffed with queso fresco, wrapped in bacon and served with a hibiscus guava bbq sauce)

Pavochón (Roasted turkey with adobo criollo seasoning)

Berenjena con pesto Boricua (Eggplant Cutlets with Puerto Rican style pesto)

Setas Locales (Portabello mushroom steak with ajilimojili or tropical sauce)

Garbanzos con calabaza local guisado a la criolla (Chickpeas and local pumpkin a la criolla stew)

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

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Homemade Flan

Homemade cheesecake with local banana flambé

Homemade cheesecake with artisanal marmalade

Tembleque (Coconut Pudding, vegan)

Natilla de chocolate (Chocolate Pudding, vegan)

Coconut macaroons

Homemade Flan (cheese, coffee and pumpkin options)

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

Birthday Cake (at bakers price)

Ethnic Fusion Inspirations

STARTER

All inclusive

My Specialty Cocktail ~ Rum Fun Punch / served as a welcome drink

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Italy's mini feast's Brochette ~ grilled bread . roasted garlic . tomato . savory toppings

Middle Eastern Lettuce wraps ~ lentils . pumpkin . carrots . cumin . tahini sauce

Venezuelan Arepitas ~ corn masa . ropa vieja . queso fresco . achiote . cilantro

Thai Satay Skewers ~ grilled chicken or pork . coconut peanut sauce . sweet chili sauce

Asian Inspired Meatballs ~ five spice . ginger garlic sofrito . sweet and sour sauce

Greek Cucumber Cups ~ olives . oregano . tomatoes . purple onion . feta cheese

Asian Cucumber Cups ~ salmon . sesame ginger . sweet chili sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Peruvian Style Ceviche ~ local catch . leche de tigre . purple onion, cilantro . root vegetable chips

Ratatouille twirls with Pasta and Longaniza ~ tomato. eggplant . zucchini . basil . local sausage ~ penne rigate (vegan option)

Indian Heritage Chicken Curry ~ chicken . local pumpkin . carrots ~ Jasmin rice

Indian Heritage Chickpea Curry ~ garbanzo beans . carrot . local pumpkin ~ Jasmine rice (vegan)

Thai Style Fish en Papilote ~ local catch . plantain leaf. tropical sauce ~ stir fry veggies

Shrimp Scampi Tacos ~ shrimp with garlic and tangy flavors ~ pickled cabbage escabeche

Cedar plank salmon ~ ginger soy glaze . scallions ~ sesame noodles

Pig in the Tropical Garden ~ pork tenderloin . bacon . hibiscus guava bbq sauce ~ taro root

China boricuas' Pepper Steak ~ beef steak . garlicky tostones ~ sofrito rice

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Homemade Flan (cheese, coffee and pumpkin options)

Tres leche

Key lime pie cups

Island Heritage: “Mar y Tierra“

STARTER

All inclusive

My Specialty Cocktail ~ Rum Fun Punch / served as a welcome drink

Chef's specialty appetizers - ask for suggestions

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Fresh harvest salad or Seasonal homemade soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Local Lobster and Steak ~ rice and beans, sautéed vegetables or root vegetables

Local Catch with tropical sauce ~ rice and beans, sautéed vegetables or root vegetables

Skirt Steak and Shrimp Scampi ~ rice and beans, sautéed vegetables or root vegetables

Mofongo “Mar y Tierra” / Mofongo with Skirt Steak and Shrimp

Paella de Mariscos ~ Spanish style rice with local fish, lobster and shrimp

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Homemade Flan (cheese, coffee and pumpkin options)

Tembleque (Coconut Pudding, vegan)

Homemade cheesecake with artisanal marmalade

Paella Party

STARTER

All inclusive

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

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Croquetas

Tortilla Española (Spanish omelette)

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

Ceviche (Seafood or vegan)

Brocheta (toasted bread . garlic . tomatoes . herbs . savory toppings)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Paella de Mariscos (Seafood Paella - Rice dish with shrimp and local fish and lobster)

Paella Valenciana (Spanich style ricce with chicken or rabit)

DESSERT

All inclusive

Homemade Flan (cheese, coffee and pumpkin options)

Artisanal Puerto Rican pastries

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Chef Nivia's reviews

4.8

•

69 services

Chef Nivia was amazing, so friendly and engaging. We loved the stories behind everything she served. The food she cooked for us was out of this world. From the appetizers to salad to main course and the banana cheesecake. Oh let me not forget the rum punch! Absolutely delicious. Thank you chef Nivia for an amazing experience!!!

Chef Nivia and her two assistants were incredible. We had a dinner for 14 up in the mountains and the dinner service was excellent. I cannot speak highly enough of chef Nivia’s food. We practically begged her to stay and cook breakfast. Everything from the cocktails down to possibly the best flan I’ve ever had, the whole meal was perfection.

Chef Nivia was truly amazing. She was responsive and patient with my group. Very understanding and took great care of us. Her dishes were delicious and beautiful. Her and her helper cleaned up the Airbnb kitchen area. Left the place spotless! I highly recommend her. She showed a lot passion in what she does and made us felt so taken care of. She made a zucchini dish that wasn’t on the menu for us and WOW! She accommodated one of my friend that did not eat seafood, while everyone else did. She brought extra sauces and her specialty hot sauce. We had a little rice and fish left over, she saved in container for us, which was so nice. Everything was well seasoned and well prepared. The fish was made just perfect. We loved her!

Very good

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!