Chef Nivia Villanueva
Private Chef In San JuanGet to know me better
I share my passion for Puerto Rico's culture and cuisine emphasizing local products and my secret ingredient, a pinch of love.
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.
More about me
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
My specialty cocktail "Rum Fun Punch" will be served as a welcome drink
Season's Harvest Salad or Homemade Soup
Pastelillos (turn overs filled with chicken, meat picadillo or seafood) vegetarian or vegan optional
Ceviche (seafood or vegan)
Smoked salmon canapes
Bacalaitos (cod friters)
Setas rellenas (Local mushrooms stuffed with vegetarian filling)
*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
Arroz con mariscos (Paella style rice seafood or chicken)
Fish or Chicken served with a Tropical Island Sauce (mango, tamarind, guava or pasion fuit sauce). Served with mashed root vegetables
Fish filet or Shrimp al Ajillo (garlic scampi sauce ) Served with rice with pigeon peas
Homemade Flan
Artisanal Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)
Birthday Cake (extra at bakers price)
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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)
Croquetas
Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette)
Pan con Tomate (Tomato Brocheta)
Paella de carne (Spanish style rice with pork meat and sausages)
Paella mariscos (Spanish style rice with shrimp)
Paella Valenciana (Spanich style ricce with chicken or rabit)
Homemade Flan
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Arepitas (mini corn arepas with choice of toping: seafood, meat or chicken picadillo, vegan)
Setas rellenas (Local mushrooms stuffed with choice of filling)
Ceviche (seafood or vegan) served with root vegetable chips
Smoked salmon canapes
Tostones (fried plantain chips topped with seafood, meat picadillo, chicken, vegan or vegetarian)
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
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)
Yuca or Guineítos en escabeche (Yuca or green bananas in a briny marinade
Majado de viandas (Mashed local root vegetables) side dish
Roasted caribbean pumpkin and seasonal vegetables - side dish
Pasteles (Root vegetables dumplings filled with pork or chicken and wrapped in plantain leave)
Ensalada de papa con viandas (Potatoes with local root vegetables) side 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 criollo (Red snapper fillet with mojo criollo sauce)
Pastelón de Yuca o Plátano Maduro* (Ripe plantain or Yuca and meat casserole - vegetarian or vegan option)
Filete de Res pinta'o de amapola y aceitunas (Beef tenderloin with hibiscus flowers and olives sauce)
Arroz con mariscos (paella style seafood rice)
Salmon steak with tropical sauce
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
Assortment of Puerto Rican artesanal deserts
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Puerto Rican Coffee
Rum Fun Punch Cocktail
Tropical Seasonal Fruit
Tostaditas with Artesanal Marmalade
Local artesanal patries
Breakfast Potatoes
Tortillas with Beans and Salsa
Huevos Revueltos (scrambled eggs)
Omelette with Veggies and Cheese
Two Fried Eggs
Chicken Sausage
Canadian Bacon
Bacon
Waffles
French Toasts
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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
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)
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)
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Chef's specialty cocktail - Rum Fun Punch
Seasonal appetizers
Season's harvest salad with homemade vinagrette
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)
Chicken breast wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce
Local Fish fillet or chicken breast with tropical fruit sauce
Beef Filet or Pork Tenderloin wrapped in bacon with hibiscus guava sauce
Pork Chops with tropical fruit sauce
Portabello Mushroom steak with tropical fruit sauce
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
Candied Papaya with Fresh Fruit and Queso fresco (vegan optional)
Homemade Flan
Chocolate Puding (vegan)
Homemade chesecake with artesanal mermalade
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