Chef Juan Pablo Calvo

Private Chef in Playa del Carmen

I’m Juan Pablo Calvo, a private chef with over 20 years of international experience in top kitchens across the United States, Argentina, Italy, Spain, and Mexico.

My mission is to bring fine dining into your home or villa in Playa del Carmen, 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 wood-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

Mexican flavors basic

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

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

Chicken tacos dorados with fresh cheese and cream

Chicken tinga empanadas

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Guacamole, tortilla chips

Pico de gallo, tortilla chips

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken with mole sauce and baby veggies

A la veracruzana fish with red rice

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

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

Fish tacos, cabo style with coleslaw salad and spicy mayo

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

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

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Key lime pie

Berries cheesecake

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

PIZZA CATERING OVEN AT YOUR HOME

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Caesar salad

Caprese salad

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

MARGHERITA PIZZA

PEPERONI PIZZA

HAWAIAN PIZZA

VEGETARIAN PIZZA

FOUR CHEESE PIZZA

AL PASTOR PORK PIZZA

MEXICAN PIZZA

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Berries panacotta

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

Apple crumble

Mexican exclusive

STARTER

All inclusive

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

Chicken tacos dorados with fresh cheese and cream

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

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

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

Berries cheesecake

Surprise indulge

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Brie cheese with roasted figs , grapes, honey, arugula and pistachios

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

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

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caprese bruschetta with pesto sauce

Greek bruschetta toasted baguette, creamy feta cheese and olives

Italian bruschetta, with cheese , tomatoes, and olive oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

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

Chicken Swiss enchiladas with green sauce and cheese

Fish tacos, cabo style with coleslaw salad and spicy mayo

Hand made ravioli filled with goat cheese and almonds with cream sauce

Grilled marinated octopus with potatoes

Beef napolitan milanese with spaguetti

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

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

Apple crumble with ice cream

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

Surprise exclusive

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)

Seafood /fish indulge

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

Fusion Exclusive

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Octopus carpaccio with arugula, balsamic vinagrette

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

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

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

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

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caprese bruschetta with pesto sauce

Greek bruschetta toasted baguette, creamy feta cheese and olives

Italian bruschetta, with cheese , tomatoes, and olive oil

Seafood bruschetta with olive oil

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lobster with garlic butter sauce and veggies

Beef barbacoa tacos

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

Fish with butter sauce and capers with grilled vegetables

Grilled fish , grilled shrimp , grilled octopus with veggies

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

3 leches cheesecake Mexican dessert

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

Apple crumble with ice cream

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

Berries cheesecake

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Chef Juan Pablo's reviews

4.73

•

134 services

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.

I recently had the pleasure of hiring a Juan Pablo, and I can honestly say it was an unforgettable experience! From start to finish, everything was absolutely flawless. The chef was incredibly professional, personable, and attentive, taking the time to understand our tastes and dietary preferences. The food itself was beyond amazing – each dish was beautifully plated, bursting with flavor, and clearly made with the freshest ingredients. Every bite felt like a little work of art! It was evident that the chef had not only technical skill but a real passion for the craft. What really stood out to me, though, was the level of customization and care. The chef seamlessly blended creativity with comfort, offering both innovative twists on classic dishes and perfectly executed favorites. The presentation was stunning, and the attention to detail made every course feel like a special occasion. If you're looking to elevate your dining experience, I can't recommend hiring a private chef enough. It’s a great way to enjoy gourmet meals in the comfort of your own home, with personalized service that truly makes the meal unforgettable. I’ll definitely be booking again!

We had a great meal & our chef was so kind!

This experience was so great! It felt so pampering and the food was incredible. We loved being able to get a taste of Mexico and enjoy it in our AirBnB (which was also incredible). Juan Pablo was so considerate and punctual. He made us feel very comfortable, shared stories and left us with extra food, which we were able to enjoy later that evening for dinner! Highly Recommend this service for its value and taste ???? we will definitely be booking Take A Chef for our future vacations. Private Feedback: Love this service!

Juan Pablo’s was prompt & professional ! Food was delicious! Private Feedback: Thank you for the hospitality

Chef Juan Pablo served a wonderful “surprise” birthday brunch for my hubby. I originally requested a Mexican brunch and not off his menu. I tried to change it a few days before the date but unfortunately, it did not happen. I realized that we could get “local” food anywhere in Playa del Carmen. Overall, it was a fun experience. Chef Juan Pablo was very professional and pleasant. Private Feedback: I should’ve went off Chef Juan Pablo’s menu, instead I went for the typical Mexican food which we could have gotten anywhere in PDC. I tried to ask if I could change to items off his list a few days before the date but he said the menu was already set. My adult children felt it was a bit expensive for the meal but it was a nice experience.

WONDERFUL food and Juan Pablo was very kind and pleasant and accommodating. A relaxing and enjoyable experience for my whole family.

Chef Juan Pablo did an incredible job and the food was excellent. He was easy to work with and we enjoyed his company as much as the food. Highly recommend!!