Chef Vaz Filipe

Chef At Home in Alvor

Greetings,

My name is Chef Filipe Vaz, proudly born in Portugal and deeply connected to my gastronomic heritage. At the age of 17, I moved to New York City to study at one of the world’s most prestigious culinary schools, driven by the ambition to always reach the very top of this extraordinary industry.

With over 20 years of international experience, I have had the privilege of working at the highest level across New York, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Malta, and Austria. Along this journey, I trained and collaborated with some of the most renowned names in gastronomy, including Chef Thomas Keller (Per Se), Chef Martín Berasategui, the Roca Brothers (El Celler de Can Roca), Chef Rui Paula (Casa de Chá da Boa Nova), and Chef Peter Goossens (Hof Van Cleve, La Rigue).

After the pandemic, I chose to dedicate myself more fully to the private dining experience, creating unique and intimate moments where every detail matters. This path has allowed me to connect more closely with guests, tailoring each dish to their taste and essence, while ensuring balance, sophistication, and unforgettable memories. I’ve had the honor of cooking for professional athletes, celebrated artists, and also consulting restaurants worldwide.

Today, I am based in the Algarve, combining family life with my passion for delivering exceptional culinary journeys. My commitment remains unchanged: to be the very best in everything I do.

I invite you to reach out for exclusive private chef services anywhere in Portugal.

Trust me—I promise to craft a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will cherish forever.

Sincerely,

Chef Filipe Vaz

For me, cooking is...

Cooking is not simply a profession, it is my language, my discipline, and my way of expressing respect for those I serve.

I learned to cook at...

Institute of Culinary Education (NYC) and Escuela Luis Irizar (Donostia, Spain).

A cooking secret...

My secret is simple: respect the product, honor its quality, and let it shine naturally.

My menus

Flavours of Portugal

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Seasoned Olives

Azores butter

Serra da estrela DOP cheese

Bellota charcuterie selection

Gratin sugar drop tomatoes with togarashi, local cheese and pistachio

Alvor Boa clams in white wine, butter and cilantro sauce

Croquetas and romesco

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Caramelized persimmons with local goat cheese and season berries

Catch of the day sashimi on coconut and citric

Wild mushrooms and iberian pig chorizo and Granny Smith apple

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Season vegetables, romesco and pistachio

Iberian pork tenderloin with bean rice, chestnuts, green asparagus and mushrooms

Premium beef, Fish couscous, lime, nuts and fresh herbs and beef tomato salad

Pan seared wild sea bass with season vegetables and yogurt sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Salted caramel mille feuilles

Salted caramel and chocolate mousse cake with madagascar vanilla ice cream

Portuguese rice pudding

Tradicional sheep fresh milk cheese with home made pumpkin and nuts jam

Autumn-Winter Ocean Flavours

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Olives with olive oil and fresh herbs

Azores butter with vulcanic salt

Jamon de bellota 24 months

Rock crab pate

Sundried tomato and almonds pesto

Serra da estrela DOP cheese

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Mozambique wild prawns in garlic sauce

Algarve white shrimp with salt petal

Alvor Boa clams in white wine, butter and cilantro sauce

Razor clams in white wine and Iberian pig chorizo

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Monk fish and prawns rice

Oven baked octopus with oven baked potatoes with shallots and season vegetables

Confit Cod loin with white bean pure and season vegetables

Seafood in rice

Bras style Cod fish ( One of the best Portuguese recipes, cod involved with the sweetness of caramelised onions, the creamieness of eggs and the crunch of crispy potato juliene)

Braised wild sea bream with season vegetables and young potato

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Salted caramel and chocolate mousse cake with madagascar vanilla ice cream

Portuguese rice pudding

Caramelized quince and vanilla ice cream

BBQ and friends

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Azores butter

Olives with olive oil and fresh herbs

Sundried tomato and nuts pate

Portuguese cheese selection

Iberian pork charcuterie selection

Beetroot and feta cheese tartare

Croquetas and romesco

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Garlic bread

Grilled tiger prawns with persimmon with citric butter and almonds

Grilled mushrooms with fleur de sel and extra virgin olive oil

Sugardrop tomato and basil salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ocean

Iberian Pork

Beef

Chicken selection

All the selections come with respective side dishes, depending on the selection, side dishes may vary allways considering the best pairing and freshness

It's possible to select a mix of different main proteins

DESSERT

All inclusive

Summer Mediterranean Fusions

STARTER

All inclusive

Mini Bruschettas

Seasoned olive selection

Fresh baked bread

Azores butter with vulcanic salt

Farmer olive oil tibornada

Grilled haloumi cheese with honey, pistachio and olive oil

FIRST COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

Watermelon and Fetta

Game meat croquetas with dijon alioli

Mozambique wild prawns with fleur de sel

Caramelized peaches with bellota jamon

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Piri piri chicken, wedges and salad

Pan seared catch of the day with fresh mint and lentils salad

Oven baked octopus with Portuguese potatos and shallots

Iberian Pork wagyu, avocado and mango puré and fresh chilli sauce

Pan seared premium beef, oven roasted potatos and vegetables

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Home made lemon ice cream with honey, fresh basil and pistachio

White chocolate and red berries

Fresh strawberries and Cream

Salted caramel and chocolate mousse cake with home made ice cream

Contemporary Roots

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Azores butter

Sundried tomato and almonds pate

Extra virgin Olive oil with Fleur de sel

Serra da estrela DOP cheese

Belota charcuterie selection

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caramelized persimmons with local goat cheese and season berries

Carabineiro Prawn with his own juices

Razor clams in white wine and Iberian pig chorizo

Rock crab and brioche

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Wild sea bream in papillote with braised season vegetables

Pan seared wild sea bass with season vegetables

Octopus in rice

Iberian pork cheeks braised in port wine with mashed potatoes and braised vegetables

Oven baked farm chicken with oven roasted potatoes and vegetables

Pan seared premium beef, garlic and olive oil, oven baked punched potatoes and season vegetables

DESSERT

All inclusive

Portuguese rice pudding

Salted caramel mille feuilles

Salted caramel and chocolate mousse cake with madagascar vanilla ice cream

Portuguese Tapas Experience

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Azores butter

Sundried and almonds pate

Extra virgin Olive oil with Fleur de sel

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Razor clams in white wine and Iberian pig chorizo

Eggs and farinheira sausage

Rock crab and brioche

Bellota charcuterie selection

Portuguese cheese selection

Croquetas selection

Shrimp in garlic sauce

Alvor Clams Bolhão de pato

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Pan seared premium beef

Bean rice

Green asparagus

Sugar drop tomato salad

DESSERT

All inclusive

Portuguese rice pudding

Salted caramel and chocolate mousse cake with madagascar vanilla ice cream

Salted caramel mille feuilles

A Taste of Italy

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread selection

Azores butter

Gratin sugar drop tomatoes with togarashi, cheese and pistachio

Italian antipasto

Beef carpaccio with S. Jorge cheese and pine nuts

Caprese

Italian cheese selection

Catch of the day crudo

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Caccio peppe pasta

Pasta alfredo

Miso glazed aubergine with honey, cheese and nuts

Italian sausage soup

Grilled tiger prawns with mango and chilli sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Osso buco, polenta and vegetables

Spaguetti a la Carbonara

Pasta al ragu

Fresh tuna lasagna

Spinach and ricotta gnocchi

Sundried tomato and green asparagus risotto

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Home made lemon ice cream with honey, fresh basil and pistachio

Tiramissu

Milk chocolate panacotta

Autumn-Winter BBQ 2025-2026

STARTER

All inclusive

Bread Selection

Azores butter

Olives with olive oil and fresh herbs

Sundried tomato and nuts pate

Portuguese cheese selection

Iberian pork charcuterie selection

Stuffed cornbread with Iberian pig charcuterie and local cheese

Beetroot and feta cheese

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Garlic bread

Grilled tiger prawns with persimmon with citric butter and almonds

Grilled mushrooms with fleur de sel and extra virgin olive oil

Sugardrop tomato and basil salad

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ocean

Iberian Pork

Beef

Chicken selection

All the selections come with respective side dishes, depending on the selection, side dishes may vary allways considering the best pairing and freshness

It's possible to select a mix of different main proteins

DESSERT

All inclusive

Show me more

Chef Vaz's reviews

4.87

•

250 services

I hired Chef Felipe for a hen do dinner and everybody was so impressed with the entire dinner from start to finish. He was on time, polite, said hi to everybody and got to work right away. Before he even started cooking, he cleaned all of the counter spaces that he was going to use. We started with an amazing spread of appetizers that I swear could have been our full meal. Then we had a first course, main course and dessert. Everything was so delicious and one of our group members was pregnant and he made sure to accommodate her, making sure to not use anything in the dishes that she couldn’t eat and also made sure to cook the steak appropriately for her. He was observant and made sure we got everything we needed. I would highly recommend this chef and now I want another private chef experience!

C’était génial nous avons passé une agréable soirée, tout était délicieux sans exception. Je recommande les yeux fermés

Chef Filipe Vaz created a full dining experience that was delightful from every aspect. From his attention, punctuality, amazing cooking expertise and detail oriented. The hole experience made our night! Here is some feedback from our friends as well: Jorge: Wonderfull! Carla: The starts were divine and the Salted caramel mille feuilles the best I've ever had! Francisco: I recently had the opportunity to take part in an exceptional dinner prepared at home by Chef Filipe Vaz, and the experience exceeded my expectations. Every detail and the dedication at each stage — from the selection of ingredients to the final presentation of the dishes — was evident. The menu was carefully designed, with a clear sense of balance, creativity, and technical skill. The starters offered a shared journey of flavors and regional experiences, passing through the Azores, Alentejo, and Algarve, with well-thought-out textures and an artistic approach to presentation. The chef’s attention to detail and his ability to explain the concept behind each creation made the experience even more enriching. The intimate atmosphere provided by the in-home dinner allowed for a more personal connection with the entire culinary process. We were able to observe the chef’s work up close, understand his inspirations, and feel the care placed into every preparation. It was undoubtedly a memorable gastronomic experience, especially in the company of our dear friends and family, and without question a recommendation that deserves to be shared. Thank you Chef Filipe for a memorable experience!

Mooie ervaring, met hoge kwaliteit op alle vlakken!!! Zeker een aanrader!!!

We had an incredible experience with Chef Vaz. The entire meal was outstanding—beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and made with a lot of care and skill. He was very friendly, and extremely professional from start to finish. His wine recommendations were spot-on and really elevated the meal. He was also very accommodating of different dietary needs in our group, which made the evening seamless for everyone. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and we would absolutely book him again. Highly recommend!

Chef Vaz was amazing! We hired his services as an anniversary gift for our parents and he made it the best experience for them. The service, setup, courses, cleanup everything was perfect and he made it a night they wont forget. Cannot recommend him enough! You wont regret placing your trust in his expertise

We had a great experience with Chef Vaz. His dishes were well thought out, exceptionally prepared and very tasty!

The food was amazing! And the chef ever so nice! We are totally satisfied.

Wow what an amazing dinner Chef Vaz made for us. We are 8 friends coming together for a special dinner and Chef Vaz did not disappoint. Every course was perfect and his explanation of each course was detailed. Everyone enjoyed their meal and we all commented on how the flavours worked well together and how everything was so well presented. He was also very polite and respectful. Would definitely recommend Chef Vaz.

Felipe war unglaublich! Von erster Nachricht bis zur Umsetzung war alles perfekt. Er war darüberhinaus auch der einzige Koch, der von Anfang an die genaue Beschreibung meiner Anfrage gelesen und ein wirklich individuelles Angebot hinterlassen hat. In der Kommunikation ist Felipe konkret, verbindlich, professionell, diskret und dabei aber immer noch fast freundschaftlich nah ohne Distanz zu überschreiten. Das alles schreibe ich, ohne hier zu dick auftragen zu wollen. Absolute Weiterempfehlung!!

We had the absolute pleasure of having Chef Felipe cook for our family while on vacation, and it was one of the highlights of our entire trip. From the moment he arrived, he brought warmth, professionalism, and a deep passion for food that was contagious. Chef Felipe prepared an incredible spread of local dishes, each one more delicious than the last. What made the experience even more special was how he shared the history and cultural significance behind each dish—it felt like a culinary tour of the region right from our own dining table. He was also amazing with our daughter, letting her “help” with the cooking and making her feel included in the experience. It was a small gesture that meant a lot and made the night even more memorable for our whole family. To top it all off, Felipe recommended perfect wine pairings to go with each course, elevating the meal to another level. By the end of the evening, we all said the same thing: we wish we could have him cook for us every night. Thank you, Chef Felipe, for an unforgettable evening of food, stories, and connection. We’ll be dreaming about your cooking for a long time!

It was a wonderful, uncomplicated experience. The food was amazing. Everything we could have hoped for.

It was a ln amazing evening, we loved it! The chef, food and service was incredible. Thank you very much!

Filipe made our holiday. We had an incredible meal. From the stories behind the food, his presentation and ultimately the flavours. We were given such a treat. Quality of ingredients shone through. Next time I’ll ask for a wine list to match the food! Thank you Filipe!

Chef Vaz and Angela were absolutely fantastic. Amazing food and service. Flavours and ingredients were great, the ceviche, prawns, game croquettes, salads - tbh all just incredible thank you for a great finish to a wonderful 40th birthday meal

We had wonderful experience with Chef Vaz! He is very professional and easy to work with. My family got to try fantastic dishes from the local area and everything tasted delicious. The Chef has very good attitude and it was pleasure having him around! Highly recommend Chef Vaz!

Chef Filipe Vaz was awesome - the food was on another level, fresh and great quality produce cooked and presented really well. Was a great experience for our family holiday and I’d thoroughly recommend.

Chef Filipe was amazing. One of the best meals I have had in my life. He also was very friendly and cleaned up everything.

I booked this for experience for my mums 60th and from start to finish it was exceptional. Firstly to get the menu right was so easy, Vaz helped us design the perfect menu my mum would like. The night itself was way better than I could have even imagined. Vaz was engaging, funny and made some of the most incredible food we have ever had. Every single item was amazing. Would highly recommend- would pay double what I did.

It was an amazing experience!!! Highly recommendable!!