Chef Juan Pablo Calvo

Private Chef in Playa del Carmen

I’m Juan Pablo Calvo a chef with over 25 years of international experience in top kitchens across the United States, Argentina, Italy, Spain, and Mexico.

-breakfast

-brunch

-lunch

-dinner

-meals plans

-catering

-pizza party experience

My mission is to bring fine dining into your home or villa in Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Tulum , creating personalized and unforgettable culinary experiences.

I specialize in private dinners, luxury brunches, intimate celebrations, and event catering. Every dish is crafted with premium ingredients, global techniques, and attention to every detail.

One of my most exclusive services includes live gourmet pizza-making at your home using a professional Ooni oven, delivering the authentic taste of fired Neapolitan-style pizza—crispy, artisanal, and unforgettable.

“I don’t just cook—I create memorable moments through food.”

For me, cooking is...

A lifestyle where I can express my creativity and my passion for gastronomy.

I learned to cook at...

I made a mischief when I was 10 years old, because of my mother's oversight I cooked a cake

A cooking secret...

Use good quality ingredients and execute the appropriate techniques for each product

My menus

The Art of Mediterranean Cuisine

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Caesar salad (fresh lettuce, croutons, caesar dressing and parmesan cheese)

Caprese salad (with buffalo mozarella, tomato with basil pesto sauce)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Italian bruschetta, with cheese , tomatoes, and olive oil

Octopus salad, peppers, red onions, cucumbers, olives and olive oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled octopus with veggies

Fish with butter sauce and capers with grilled vegetables

Gnocchis with bolognese sauce and parmesan cheese

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Canolli filled with pastry cream

Tiramisu

Mexican flavors

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Mixed ceviche, shrimp, octopus, fish, cilantro, tomatoes , lemon

Chicken tacos dorados with fresh cheese and cream

Chicken tinga empanadas

Beef empanada with chimichurri

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Guacamole, tortilla chips

Pico de gallo, tortilla chips

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken or beef fajitas with veggies and rice

Fish tacos, cabo style with coleslaw salad and spicy mayo

Shrimps sautee with garlic and white wine with sautee veggies

Grilled fish with veggies

Grilled octopus with veggies

Flank steak with sautee shrimps and mashed potatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Churros wit cajeta , condensed milk, chocolate

Almond & Pears (Vanilla base, filled with rum almond cream and spiced poached pears)

Berries cheesecake

Sea & Season

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp Aguachile with totopos chips

Mixed ceviche, shrimp, octopus, fish, cilantro, tomatoes , lemon

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Guacamole, pico de gallo, tortilla chips

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster with garlic butter sauce and veggies

Shrimp and beef with mashed potatoes

(lobster, shrimp, octopus, veggies)

Fish with butter sauce and capers with grilled vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Key lime pie (Vanilla base, filled with almond cream and topped with lemon crud, choice of flambéed meringue)

Almond & Pears (Vanilla base, filled with rum almond cream and spiced poached pears)

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Apple crumble

TACO PARTY FAMILY STYLE

STARTER

All inclusive

Guacamole, pico de gallo, tortilla chips

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Mixed ceviche, shrimp, octopus, fish, cilantro, tomatoes , lemon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Al pastor tacos (pork marinated with chiles and achiote, not spicy , pineapple, sauce and tortillas)

Chicken tacos with tortillas and sauce

Cochinita (our famous Mexican pu-lled pork): slow-baked pork leg in a banana leaf, with axiote and sour orange, accompanied by freshly made tortillas

Beef tacos

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Almond & Pears (Vanilla base, filled with rum almond cream and spiced poached pears)

Berries cheesecake

Mexican Caribbean Experience

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Beet roasted salad with burrata cheese, onions, apple, honey vinagrette

Greek salad, lettuce , cucumber, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, olives, olive oil

Greek bruschetta toasted baguette, creamy feta cheese and olives

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Burrata cheese and prosciutto burschetta with arugula, olives and olive oil

Chicken Swiss enchiladas with green sauce and cheese

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

(lobster, shrimp, octopus, veggies) with garlic butter suace

Flank steak filet with veggies

Grilled octopus with potatoes , paprika and olive oil

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond & Pears (Vanilla base, filled with rum almond cream and spiced poached pears)

Apple crumble with ice cream

Carrot cake (Carrot cake with walnut and cinnamon, filled and topped with cream cheese frosting)

Magic Mexico

STARTER

All inclusive

Yellow fin tuna tostada (spicy mayo, caramelised onion, sesame sauce)

Chicken tacos dorados with fresh cheese and cream

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Mixed ceviche, shrimp, octopus, fish, cilantro, tomatoes , lemon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster, shrimp, octopus, veggies with garlic butter suace

Grilled rib eye with veggies

Grilled shrimps with veggies and garlic butter suace

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Apple crumble with ice cream

Berries cheesecake

Birthday cake

TACO PARTY FAMILY STYLE INDULGE

STARTER

All inclusive

Guacamole, pico de gallo, tortilla chips, Salsas

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Mexican rice

Refried beans

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Shrimps tacos

Al pastor tacos (pork marinated with chiles and achiote, not spicy , pineapple, sauce and tortillas)

Cochinita pibil tacos (pork)

Beef tacos

Chicken tacos

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Brownie with ice cream

Flavors of the Coast

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Octopus carpaccio with arugula, balsamic vinagrette

Yellow fin tuna tostada (spicy mayo, caramelised onion, sesame sauce)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Seafood bruschetta with olive oil

Fried shrimps with garlic mayo

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

A la veracruzana fish with red rice

Grilled fish , grilled shrimp , grilled octopus with veggies

Grilled fish and octopus with cream risotto

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Berries cheesecake

Almond & Pears (Vanilla base, filled with rum almond cream and spiced poached pears)

Apple crumble with ice cream

Brownie with ice cream

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Chef Juan Pablo's reviews

4.7

•

162 services

Chef was amazing! Very polite and extremely communicative during planning process. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. 5 stars all around for Chef Juan!

If you are looking for more than just a meal, you must book Chef Juan Pablo! He didn’t just cook for us- he created an incredible, immersive experience that was a highlight of our trip. From start to finish, Juan Pablo was professional and friendly. His English is excellent, and he was engaging, sharing fascinating stories about his education, his travels, and his culture. He even provided us with cooking pointers and local recommendations on what to do in the area. He was absolutely fantastic with our three children, they were fully included in the pizza cooking experience, which made it so special for our whole family. Everything was impeccably organized and packaged, making the entire process seamless. The menu was spectacular. He started with delicious burchetta appetizers, followed by incredible, artisanal pizzas made with the freshest ingredients such as 00 flour (!!) and homemade tomato sauce. As a bonus, he also prepared several authentic Mayan and Mexican dishes for us to enjoy later, which were a treat to have on hand with little kids on vacation. He was the one to suggest a pizza oven experience by the pool for our child’s upcoming birthday party, which ended up being perfect. Beyond the quality of the food and the depth of the experience, the service is extremely well-priced. I promise you, book Chef Juan Pablo and you will have a fantastic time. We couldn't recommend him highly enough!

Juan Pablo was amazing!!

Chef Juan Pablo was great to work with. His communication was great, he was punctual, professional, and provided a great level of care while also being discreet. Our kiddos had to join us on the trip with only a day or two of notice and he was very understanding and accommodating. All of the ingredients he used were fresh and he was thoughtful about presentation and timing. He even helped us by making some snacks and beverages to keep in the fridge in between meals. Anyone who is looking for a great chef for your next event or vacation, this was a great experience!

We had an incredible experience with our chef, Juan Pablo—truly one of the highlights of our trip. We were a group of 11 with a variety of dietary restrictions, and Juan Pablo handled everything seamlessly. He went above and beyond to accommodate everyone, thoughtfully adjusting the menu so that each person felt taken care of without compromising on quality or creativity. The food itself was outstanding. The ribeye was cooked to perfection, the empinyatas were packed with flavor, and the fish tacos were easily some of the best we’ve ever had—fresh, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. The desserts were equally delicious and a real standout. Juan Pablo was also fantastic with our kids, inviting them to help make elements of the desserts. It made the experience even more memorable for our family and added a fun, interactive touch that everyone appreciated. What impressed us just as much was his professionalism behind the scenes. He adapted effortlessly to a less-than-ideal kitchen setup and still delivered a top-tier dining experience. On top of that, he left the kitchen cleaner than he found it, which speaks volumes about his attention to detail and respect for the space. If you’re considering booking Juan Pablo, don’t hesitate. Exceptional food, incredible service, and a true professional from start to finish.

We had the a fantastic experience with Chef Juan Pablo for a few days including formy wife’s birthday. Not only was the food absolutely world-class, but the level of service was unmatched. Chef was so patient and accommodating with our requests throughout the planning process and day of while people we running late. He even sourced a special birthday cake for my wife. We did not have a single bad dish. If you want a chef who is as kind as they are talented, hire Chef Juan Pablo.

I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to praising Juan Pablo. I hired him as the chef for my retreat, and truly every single meal he prepared became a new favourite. Each dish was incredibly well thought out, beautifully executed, and so nourishing, the perfect balance of healthy, satisfying, and absolutely delicious. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, the quality and consistency were outstanding. Juan Pablo went above and beyond in every possible way to create an exceptional experience for our group. You could feel the care, intention, and professionalism he brought into his work. Despite us hosting workshops and utilizing the space directly beside him every single day, he remained completely focused and in his element, quietly prepping and cooking with his earphones in, never once observing, interrupting, or distracting from the flow of the retreat. He is incredibly talented, deeply professional, and such a safe, respectful presence to have in a retreat environment. My guests were constantly raving about the food, and it elevated the entire experience in a huge way. I would recommend him without hesitation and genuinely wish I could fly him to every retreat I host in the future! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We loved having Juan Pablo as our chef! We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food and presentation. Everything was absolutely delicious. We even had left overs for breakfast and lunch! We couldn’t recommend him enough! He’s extremely kind and professional.

Chef Juan Pablo was incredible. His communication made things so easy. We spent 2 weeks on vacation with another family totalling 5 adults and 5 children. The portions were perfect and every meal was a step above the last. His easy going manner made things so simple. We greeted him at the door and he did the rest! He even prepared some fish we caught locally for a wonderful meal. My children wanted to bring him home with us. Highly recommended and I will seek JP out on our next trip!

We recently had the pleasure of hiring Chef Juan Pablo as a personal chef, and the experience was exceptional from start to finish. He was incredibly professional—punctual, well-prepared, and highly organized. From the moment he arrived, everything ran smoothly, allowing us to truly relax and enjoy the evening. The food was outstanding, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully crafted. Every course exceeded our expectations, and it was clear that a lot of care and expertise went into each dish. On top of that, Chef Juan Pablo was warm and engaging, striking the perfect balance between being attentive and giving us space to enjoy our time together. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and one we would absolutely do again. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed everything about it

Chef Juan is phenomenal! Excellent communication leading up to our stay, wonderful when on site, the food was all incredible! Highly recommend everything - his breakfasts were all amazing - fresh squeezed juice, fresh fruits - all perfect. The ceviche, pizzas, tacos (Al pastor and cochinita pibil) were so fantastic. Wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.

We had a great evening with Chef Juan Pablo. Everything was tasty and we had a wonderful evening.

So amazing! Absolutely recommend doing this experience with your family - best part of our trip! The food was phenomenal! Private Feedback: Thank you so much!!!

Chef Pablo was wonderful. Our family enjoyed Christmas breakfast and conversation with Chef Pablo. Chef Pablo was on time, made an amazing spread for our family and took into account our food allergies and meal choices. Chef was very responsive leading up to our scheduled experience, we enjoyed Chef Pablo and would definitely book him again.

Great dishes, great chef, would do again!

A nice person very professional and listening his customer

EXCELENTE

Juan Pablo was a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. He had great ideas to accommodate our request for a vegetarian, local menu. Communication was always prompt, clear and helpful. He arrived exactly on time and prepared a fabulous meal that we all loved. He left the kitchen spotless. There were even leftovers for the next day. We highly recommend him!

This was amazing! The food was top notch and Giuseppe was kind, thoughtful and so professional along with funny and friendly. We would do it again in a second!! Taste his food! It is scrumptious! Private Feedback: Thanks you for a great evening! Good luck with ur restaurant. We will find it the next we r around Playa.