Chef Alejandro Castillo Saez

Chef At Home in Portimão

I’m a qualified chef with a deep passion for global cuisine and a strong foundation in International Gastronomy. Over the past several years, I’ve worked across South America and Europe in diverse kitchen environments—from boutique hotels and beach lodges to private dining experiences and 5-star cooking classes. My culinary style is influenced by South American roots, infused with flavours from Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. I specialise in BBQ and smoked meats, plant-based dishes, and traditional Latin American cuisine. I speak Spanish, English and Portuguese, and I love sharing culture through food and delivering memorable dining experiences tailored to each client.

For me, cooking is...

For me, cooking is a way to connect cultures, tell stories through flavor, and create unforgettable moments around the table.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook at the Institute of Gastronomic Studies in Venezuela, where I developed a passion for global flavours and culinary techniques.

A cooking secret...

Cooking with love and always adding a piece of my roots to every dish, bringing warmth and tradition to every plate I prepare.

My menus

Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

STARTER

All inclusive

Crispy Cranberry Brie Bites

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Roast Turkey

Cranberry Sauce

Roasted or Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Homemade Gravy

Traditional Stuffing

DESSERT

All inclusive

Pumpkin Pie served with Vanilla Ice Creams

Portugués

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Bruschetta de biquerao 3 und

Sea food soup

Bread toast with garlic and butter

Melao y presunto ibérico

Calamari rings fries and tartara dip

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sea food Rice typical portugues

Alentejo beef typical portugues

Fish fillet, with abocado dip and potatoes, salad

Rib eye with peper souce, potatoes rustic and salad

Duck Rice typical portugues

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Pastel de nata typical português

Rice pudin

Chocolate ganache cake

Lemon tartaleta

Sea food and beef

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Shrimp ceviche with sweet potatoes chips

Sea food ceviche mix, with bread garlic tost

Tuna ceviche with crisp tapioca

Ceviche Peruvian

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fish soup

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Rib eye with chimichurri, rustic potatoes, salad

Fish stuffed baked, sweet potatoes fries, salad

Octupus grill with paprika smoked, mashed sweet potatoes, salad

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate cake

Pastel de nata typical português

Milks cake

Noche Venezolana

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tequeños (palitos de queso envueltos en masa) fritos con salsa tartara

Arepitas dulces con nata

Mini pinchos de carne y pollo

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pepitonas picantes en salsa roja con chips de soda

Mini brusqueta de pimenton dulce con queso crema

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pabellon Criollo Con carne mechada, arroz, tajadas, aguacate, huevo frito, caraotas negras

Arepas Rellenas de 3 sabores Reina Pepiada, Domino, Pelua

Lomo negro servido con arroz, ensalada y pan

Pasticho, version venezolana del pasticcio italiano muy similar a la lasagna

Frutos del mar acevichados, con chips de platano verde

DESSERT

All inclusive

Quesillo de ron

Torta Tres leches

Dulce de papaya verde

Grill experience

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chorizos asados with onions and pepers

Mandioca fries with guacamole

Plantain green fried with chesse and golf souce

FIRST COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Red Pepers stufes with chesse

Corn grill with butter

Smoky yellow plantain with chesse and butter

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grill beef Tomahawk, Ribeye, Entrecote

Rack Pork In bbq sauce

Stirlion beef steaks grill

Mix Chicken, beef skewer

Pork belly Chicharron, crackling

Mix, skewers, beef, pork, chorizos

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Fuit salad

Lemon pie

Noche latina

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Chips de plátano verde, con dip de aguacate y hogao

Tequeños (palitos de queso envueltos en masa) fritos

Empanadas de pabellón criollo Venezolano (carne desmechada, arroz, frijoles negros, plátano maduro frito)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chorizo cervecero con limón

Mango biche bite

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bandeja paisa gourmet

Ceviche mixto frutos del mar con leche de tigra

Pabellón Venezolano

Sancocho Cruzado (sopa típica a base de verduras y carne de res y pollo)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Quesillo de ron

Arroz con leche

Torta de piña

Sorpresa

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Arepa de Remolacha con queso de cabra con espuma de aguacate

Aborrajado en deconstrucción

Fetabolls con tortillas de mote

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pastelito relleno de pescado con dip de aji dulce

Canastilla de patacon con hogao y chorizo antioqueño crocante

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Entrecote a la plancha con chimichurri, con platano maduro en tentacion y especias con queso fresco y dip de frijoles negros

Morcillas en pure de yuca con chicharron y polve de chipotle con cebolla

Estofado de chivo en coco ahumado, con arroz de palito

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Torta del diablo

Leche asada

Mediterraneo

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Canapes de Salmon Ahumado con Queso Crema

Babaganush con pan de pita hecho a mano

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Feta ball con salsa tzatziki

Ensalada de sandía con queso feta

Falafel

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Kebab de pollo en salsa de yogurt, y col morada

Cordero en crema de curry y arroz con almendras

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Brownie de cacao puro, frutos secos

Cheesecake con frutos rojos

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Chef Alejandro's reviews

4.8

•

18 services

Alejandro did a fantastic job for our Yoga Retreat of 7 women, located at an Airbnb in Cavoeiro. A "Seafood and Steak" lunch menu the day of our arrival from the US. He was acomadating when we weren't able to check in at the original time. It worked out even though he had to leave right after preparing the desserts. We are still raving about the experience. Thank you!

Excelente servicio !!!

This chef was amazing! He gave a backstory for each plate and we also had a very down to earth conversation. I gave him an idea for each plate and he put the perfect Colombian twist to it! Thank you so much!

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a Latin feast cooked by chef Alejandro and it was an unforgettable experience. The food was simply delicious, bursting with bold and complex flavors that transported me straight to the heart of Latin America. It was clear that the chef had put a lot of care and attention into each and every dish, using only the freshest and highest-quality ingredients. What really set this experience apart, however, was the chef's personable and warm demeanor. Not only did they take the time to explain each dish and its cultural significance, but they also went out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable in their presence. All in all, it was an incredible evening of good food, good company, and unforgettable memories.

Alejandro is a highly skilled, excellent chef. He catered directly to me and my boyfriend's needs as we navigated the menu and I can't recommend him highly enough. We hit some bad traffic coming back from Guatape and Alejandro patiently waited for us while we got through the traffic. Once we arrived, Alejandro was quick to set up and get us on our meal. Overall, the menu was well selected and the printed version will be a nice memory for both of us. Each dish was well presented and beautifully executed. There was quite a bit of fun surprises from the menu and Alejandro even homemade some elements of the dishes for us to take home. Again, if you're considering bringing in Alejandro as your chef, I cannot recommend him highly enough.