Chef Miguel Mendes E Paula Linhares

Personal Chef in Furnas

We are a culinary duo passionate about transforming the raw, wild essence of São Miguel into an unforgettable private dining experience. We don’t believe in shortcuts, and we don’t compromise on quality.

Our philosophy is simple: we only cook with what the island yields today. Every morning, we personally visit the local fish markets (lotas) to select the freshest catch from the Atlantic. Our beef comes exclusively from the finest, grass-fed Azorean cattle, renowned worldwide for its tenderness and flavor.

As a team of two, we provide a seamless, highly personalized service where every detail is taken care of—from menu design to the final cleanup. We are not the cheapest choice on the island, but we are the choice for those who value authenticity, master craftsmanship, and the true taste of the Azores. Our flawless guest reviews are the proof. Let us bring the ultimate Azorean restaurant experience to the comfort of your villa

For me, cooking is...

An art of storytelling. It’s about sharing our heritage, honoring wild Atlantic ingredients, and creating unforgettable moments around the table

I learned to cook at...

Through professional training and daily life. To us, every dish is a unique opportunity to innovate and connect through authentic Azorean flavors.

A cooking secret...

Sourcing ultra-fresh fish daily from local markets, premium Azorean grass-fed meats, and working seamlessly as a dedicated culinary duo.

My menus

Menu romântico

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Bruschettas

Ricotta Crostini with Lemon

Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Butter

Salmon Carpaccio

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Clear Vegetable Consommé with Herbs

Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Ginger

Green Kale Soup (Gourmet Style)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Grilled Salmon with Passion Fruit Sauce

Shrimp Risotto

Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce

Herb-Stuffed Chicken Breast

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Panna Cotta with Red Berry Sauce

Strawberries Covered in Chocolate

Brownie de chocolate

Menu do chef

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Barco de mariscos

Tábua de queijos e enchidos

Texturas de atum(ceviche,tártaro e carpacio)

Ananás e cogumelos dos Açores

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sopa de peixe

Sopa de pedra

Sopa cozido das furnas

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bacalhau com broa/bacalhau á chef

Polvo lagareiro

Naco de atum grelhada

Filetes de abrótea

Caldeirada de peixe

Torneio de lombo

Bife à portuguesa

Carnes nobres ( T-bone, picanha, ribeye, vazia)

Carne alentejana especial

Cozido das furnas

Arroz de cabidela

Acompanhamentos sobe consulta

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Brownie de chocolate

Tábua de frutas laminadas

Mousse de chocolate com amêndoa e rum

Tiramissu

Petit gâteau

Estaladiço de leite creme em sopa de frutos vermelhos

Sabores de São Miguel

STARTER

Choose 2 dishes

Lapas grelhadas com limão e alho

Tábua de enchidos e queijos regionais

Amêijoa são jorge

Favas guisadas

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sopa cozido das furnas

Sopa do espírito santo

Sopa de legumes

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicharro com molho de vilão e batata doce

Atum no forno regional com batatinha e

Polvo guisado à moda dia Açores

Costeletas de novilho à micaelense com purê deinhame

Torresmo com feijão assado

Bife à regional com batata e legumes da horta

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Delicia de ananas

Cheascake de inhame

Queijo de são Jorge com doce de figo

Fruta da época

Show me more

Chef Miguel's reviews

4.8

•

50 services

It was an incredible evening. The food was amazing and served in a relaxing pace. Everything was sourced locally and was fresh. It was a wonderful experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meals with Miguel & Paolo. We did 5 nights of meals with them at our Airbnb while in the Azores. The food was absolutely delicious, and they were a pleasure to deal with. We coordinated the 4 course menu ahead of time. There was always plenty of food, and extras. They left our kitchen cleaner than when they arrived everyday. They were prompt and communicated well. My daughter’s 1yr old birthday was one of the nights they cooked for us. They made a fantastic cake for her, and went above and beyond by decorating with balloons. They even got her a little gift. I highly recommend them to anyone.

Chef Miguel nous a offert une soirée mémorable! Par son menu traditionnel avec quelques touches personnalisées créatives, par son professionnalisme, son écoute et sa gentillesse! Tous les convives étaient ravis de la soirée! Merci Chef Miguel et chef Paula d’avoir rendu l’anniversaire de mon mari un événement si spécial! Bonne continuité!

Chef Miguel & Paula were incredible! The perfect way to start a family vacation to the Azores. The food was delicious and the wine went perfectly with each meal! The dessert at the end was amazing! Would recommend to anyone considering this service!

The highlight of our trip was our dinner!! The food was incredible, the kitchen was spotless after, and Miguel and Paula were friendly and kind! We absolutely recommend them!

We cannot recommend Chef Miguel enough! We booked him very last minute and he was incredibly responsive and accommodating. He prepared us 5 breakfast and 2 dinners while we were there. Chef Miguel was so nice and thoughtful about the whole family, helping with our baby and the cuisine and service were amazing! The soup de furnas, the grilled limpets, the clams....the kids were trying new things and we were eating incredibly well! He even brought gifts to the family on our last morning. We would recommend him to anyone without hesitation.

Wonderful meal!

Chef Miguel made us a delicious meal, our favorite of the trip by far. He and his partner were very friendly and professional. Overall fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone.

Miguel is an outstanding chef. The food he prepared was delicious, unique, and gave us the perfect Azorean culinary experience. I'm still thinking about the tuna ceviche, mackerel fish, and the elevated ice cream dessert prepared with local fruits that he served! He was also very accommodating and made extra dishes and special drinks for the young kids in our group. He was extremely communicative and prompt in replying on the Take A Chef app. Although he is not fluent in English, his nephew came with him to help and was able to translate for all of us. They both were very professional, warm, and kind. The experience that Miguel created was one of the major highlights of our trip in the Azores. I absolutely recommend booking a meal with Miguel!!

The meal Chef Miguel prepared for us far exceeded our expectations! Not only was the presentation incredible, but it was creative, represented the food of the Azores, and most importantly, delicious! The food was so fresh, and there was more than plenty for all 5 of us with many leftovers as well. Chef Miguel was easy to communicate with and very responsive. He accommodated our food requests and he and his nephew, Miguel, left the kitchen cleaner than when they arrived. They were super friendly, and you could tell that he loves his craft! We will certainly recommend him and hire him again when we return to the Azores!

Our evening with Chef Miguel was an absolute highlight of our vacation. We had rented a house for our group of six, and having a private chef come to the home felt like such a luxury—one that exceeded all expectations. From the moment Chef Miguel and his team arrived, everything was seamless and professional. They came fully prepared, brought all the necessary equipment, and transformed our dining space with a beautifully set table that made the whole experience feel special. The service was impeccable—attentive, warm, and never intrusive. We had worked with Chef Miguel in advance to design a menu that accommodated our group’s dietary needs, and while we knew what to expect on paper, every course still managed to surprise and impress us. The food was beautifully plated and absolutely delicious—so much so that we kept debating whether the presentation or the flavor was more impressive. This wasn’t just a meal; it was a culinary experience that brought our group together in the best possible way. We would not hesitate to book again and would consider it an honor to work with Chef Miguel in the future.

Miguel and Paula were amazing! Communication was excellent throughout the entire process of establishing a date, the menu and location. The food preparation and presentation was beyond what we imagined it would be. They prepared our meal on our day of arrival in The Azores which was exactly what was needed after a long day of travel. It was some of the best food we had on our entire trip to Sao Miguel! And they left the kitchen spotless. The only remnants left were the leftovers! I wish we could of had them back for another night. Thank you Miguel and Paula for making our arrival to Sao Miguel as special as it was!

We were vacationing in Portugal with a family of 9 at an Airbnb and chef Miguel and his nephew Miguel were absolutely amazing with preparing and serving with the limited essentials at the Airbnb. The meal was not only excellent but more than expected . We were extremely satisfied and would recommend him to all our family and guests who live and are visiting Portugal. Thank you for a memorable evening. Maria

Chef Miguel was absolutely incredible. He was so kind and gracious and made the most delicious four course meal for my group of friends at our villa. I could not recommend him enough for your dinner in the Azores. He was so prompt with responses to my questions and gave great options for each course for me to pick. This was a highlight of our Azores vacation. Book him immediately!

We were staying in Ponta Delgada and hired Miguel and Paula for a couple nights of our trip. They were amazing. Great communication, very flexible, and most importantly cooked amazing food! One of the true highlights of our trip was the meal they prepared for us using the fish we had just caught on the boat that day.

Miguel and Paula did a very good job with our meal. Miguel was very responsive in advance of our dinner answering our many questions and making adjustments to the menu to suit our entire party's preferences. The food was very good and the clean up was terrific. Thank you!