Chef Juan Velilla

Private Chef in Niceville

Chef Juan Velilla brings passion, creativity, and precision to every table he serves. From the Caribbean to Maui and now the Panhandle of Florida, he has cultivated a rich culinary journey, blending global flavors with seasonal ingredients. Each chef’s table he creates is more than a meal—it is light breaking forth, delighting the senses and nourishing the soul.

With meticulous attention to detail, natural plating artistry, and a warm, inviting presence, Juan transforms any home into a private dining sanctuary. Every gathering he hosts tells a story—of flavor, connection, and light—making each moment truly unforgettable.

For me, cooking is...

For me, cooking is passion and love made tangible. It is art that connects people, creates memories, and fills each moment with joy.

I learned to cook at...

Le Cordón Bleu and in Hawaii under some epic chefs

A cooking secret...

Music, love, joy and freshness

My menus

Brunch Time

STARTER

All inclusive

Fresh fruit Parfait

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Eggs Benedict

DESSERT

All inclusive

French Toast Casserole

Surprise

STARTER

All inclusive

Roasted Beets + citric yogurt + Herbs + Honey

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Scallop + Potato and Fennel Cream + Fennel Polen

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Short Ribs + Blood Orange + Gochujang + Bok Choy

DESSERT

All inclusive

Citrus Cheese Cake

Fiesta De Sabores

STARTER

All inclusive

Shrimp Ceviche + AguaChile + Avocado + Shallots + Serrano + Char Onion Crema

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Pork Belly Taco + Pipian Verde + Burnt Cabbage + Pickled Onions

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ribeye + Borracho Bean Puree + Braised Carrots + Herbs

DESSERT

All inclusive

Arroz con Leche + passion fruit + basil

Under The Sea

STARTER

All inclusive

Hawaiian Style Poke, Rice + Avocado + Furikake Aioli

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Braised and Grilled Octopus Salad + Arugula + Potatoes + Jalapeño + Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Seared Red Snapper + Bacon Dashi + Bok Choy

DESSERT

All inclusive

Chocolate Mousse, Fresh Berries and whip cream

Opa!!!!

STARTER

All inclusive

Herb and Lemon shrimp + Tzatziki + Roasted Yellow Beets + Honey

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Cous cous + Orange + Char Grapes + kalamata + Herbs

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Grilled Lamb Chops + Citrus + Herbs + Braised Carrots

DESSERT

All inclusive

Almond Orange cake + Macerated Berries + Cream

Sabroso!

STARTER

All inclusive

Shrimp Ceviche + AguaChile + Avocado + Cilantro

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Pork Belly Taco + Pipian Verde + Pickled Onions

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Ribeye + Braised Carrots + Herb Chimichurri

DESSERT

All inclusive

Arroz con Leche + Fruit + Basil

Oishi

STARTER

All inclusive

Tuna Tataki + Togarashi Rice Balls + Soy Ginger Glaze

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Somen Noodle Salad + Seasame Vinaigrette + Enoki Mushrooms

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Salmon + Lemon Miso Glaze + Wild Rice + Asparagus

DESSERT

All inclusive

Chocolate Mousse, Fresh Berries and whip cream

La bella Vita

STARTER

All inclusive

Baby Romain + Rustic Caesar Dressing + Sourdough Croutons + Shaved Parm

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Ricotta Gnudi + Char Tomato Pomodoro + Basil

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

New York + Broccolini + Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter

DESSERT

All inclusive

Butterscotch and GRANGALA Budino

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Chef Juan's reviews

4.98

•

30 services

Juan is amazing, he made everything wonderful! Food was great and we were so happy with the service he provided. Thank you!

My party and I are glad we booked Chef Juan! His personality, life story, and technique all added to what was already incredible tasting food. I’ve always been a huge proponent of this type of experience- when Chef Juan left, we all agreed we wouldn’t have had a better meal out on the town! Thank you, Chef Juan!

Chef Juan far surpassed our expectations for our joint birthday party for my husband and myself. He was not only super kind, warm and engaging but also an incredibly talented chef. All of my guests were delighted in what he served. ‘Never had such a great chef at one of our parties’ was one of the comments a guest shared with me. He’s incredible and top notch.

Hiring Chef Juan proved to be a fantastic choice for our birthday dinner party. His exceptional communication skills shone throughout the entire process, from collaborating on the menu weeks in advance to handling the grocery shopping on the day. Chef Juan consistently demonstrated professionalism, courtesy, and prompt responsiveness. On the day of the event, he arrived on time and well-prepared. His friendly demeanor endeared him to everyone, including our two little dogs. During dinner, his expertly crafted flavor combinations delighted our taste buds with their exquisite textures and tastes. Chef Juan's impeccable presentation and dish introductions elevated the entire evening. After impressing us and our guests, he left everything spotless, gaining a whole new set of fans in the process. We wholeheartedly endorse Chef Juan for all your personal chef requirements.

Every year at our family trip we hire a chef from Take a Chef and this year was the best. Chef Juan was great. He was engaging with the family and told us all about his background and family. The food was delicious and with each serving the Chef told us about the dish and how he made it. I would recommend Chef Juan to anyone. Thanks for a great experience.

Great!

Wonderful experience, made our anniversary very special. Each dish was crafted to hit multiple flavor profiles, delicious to the last bite. I even finished every bite of the salad, something I normally don't even touch at restaurants. Would highly recommend for a special dinner!

Enjoy the service!

Chef Juan was extremely polite and talented and gave us the exact experience we were looking for our in our home with delicious food.