Meet
Viviana (Personal Chef)
With 23 years in the culinary industry, Chef Viviana brings extensive experience from working in restaurants and as a private chef abroad. She has also contributed as a recipe tester, developer, and food writer for magazines and cookbooks. Today, she is excited to offer her personal chef services to guests in San Juan and share her passion for Puerto Rican cuisine.
When we asked Viviana why she wanted to be a Traveling Spoon host, she shared: “I believe that it is through tradition, food, and the gathering at the table that you can really get to know a country and its people. Knowing its food and its table antics makes it easier for the traveler to navigate through the country they are visiting.” Her philosophy perfectly captures the spirit of her classes: more than just cooking, guests experience Puerto Rican culture, tradition, and the joy of gathering around the table, creating lasting memories of their visit to San Juan.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(7-15 guests)
Chef Viviana offers an intimate private chef experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico, blending professional culinary training with the soulful flavors of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. Trained in French and international cooking, Chef Viviana’s true passion is preserving and sharing the gastronomy of Puerto Rico through family recipes passed down for generations.
Ideal for travelers, couples, families, or small groups seeking a personal chef in San Juan, this in-home dining experience is both cultural and delicious. Chef Viviana prepares an authentic Puerto Rican menu featuring classic dishes such as tostones (crispy fried plantains), arroz con habichuelas (rice and stewed beans with Caribbean pumpkin), and piñón de amarillo y picadillo (sweet plantain lasagna layered with seasoned ground beef). Each dish reflects the island’s rich culinary heritage and local ingredients.
Your private dining experience concludes with a homemade panetela de guayaba (guava shortbread), served with freshly brewed coffee. More than just a meal, this private chef service in San Juan offers meaningful conversation, cultural storytelling, and a true taste of Puerto Rico in the comfort of your home.
This is a BYOB experience. Chef Viviana is happy to offer a small welcome toast of traditional coquito (Puerto Rican rum drink) upon arrival, as well as a traditional anise digestif served after your meal.
Cooking experience:
(5-15 guests)
Enjoy a private, hands-on Puerto Rican cooking class in your own home or vacation rental in San Juan, led by local chef Viviana. This personalized in-home cooking class with a private chef is perfect for travelers, couples, families, or small groups looking to learn traditional Puerto Rican recipes in a relaxed, intimate setting.
During this 90-minute cooking class, you’ll prepare classic Puerto Rican dishes from scratch, including sofrito, the fragrant herb and vegetable base of many island recipes, arroz con habichuelas (rice and stewed beans with Caribbean pumpkin), and tostones (crispy smashed fried plantains). Chef Viviana shares authentic techniques and family recipes passed down through generations, making this experience engaging and accessible for all skill levels.
After cooking, sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, creating a meaningful cultural and culinary experience in San Juan. This is a BYOB experience. Chef Viviana offers a small welcome toast of traditional coquito (Puerto Rican rum drink) upon arrival, as well as a traditional anise digestif after dinner. She takes care of the cleanup, so you can relax and enjoy your meal.
Notes:
Dietary Accommodations:
Chef Viviana is happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free requests. Please let her know at the time of booking so she can customize the menu and prepare accordingly.
Cancellation Policy:
A 7-day cancellation policy applies instead of the standard 48-hour policy. To receive a full refund (minus a payment processing fee), please cancel at least 7 days prior to your experience. This policy allows your host adequate time to prepare, especially for larger groups.
Location:
Viviana can host you in your San Juan home. If you are staying outside San Juan, she charges an extra fee.
Group Size:
Viviana does host smaller groups. If you are a group that has fewer than 7 guests, please email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com for a custom quote.
Languages spoken:
English, Spanish
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
My sister-in-law's parents were from PR but she had only been there a few times as a child. I brought her back, hoping to help her reconnect with her roots. Viviana, a professional chef, spoke not just about PR food but the history and the cultural significance behind it. I could see the impact this had on my sister-in-law as they shared stories of how recipes got passed down through generations. I enjoyed learning about the PR culture and discussing the politics in PR with a local! We both had a wonderful time, learned how to cook some new dishes (which Viviana was gracious to do at our request) and ate great food. Now we can both peel plantains quickly thanks to Viviana!
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tom
May 26, 2026
Thank you, Viviana, for your warmth, hospitality, and passion for Puerto Rican cooking! It was our first at-home cooking experience while traveling and we are so thankful to Viviana for opening up her bright, cheerful home to us. The kitchen workshop had more than enough space and we enjoyed learning about the history, culture, and flavors of comida criolla. The process was so smooth-sailing, with a menu based on our preferences and room for a bit of improvisation as well. It was such a treat to share these dishes over the dining table and to have so much food that we were able to enjoy leftovers! It really felt like a bit of home away from home.
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malice
April 22, 2026
When on vacation to a new area, our family enjoys cooking experiences. This one was particularly unique and fun! Viviana has an amazing cooking studio detached from her home, where there was room for the 4 of us to food prep, learn, and cook. The smells and tastes were delicious. After cooking, it is time to enjoy the food in Viviana's charming home where we enjoyed great conversation and laughs. Having had mofongo several times over the week, this was the best BY FAR. One in our group is dairy-free, which we advised in advance, and Viviana had already made menu & ingredient adjustments. Our mistake -- we should have scheduled this earlier in our trip so that we could have enjoyed all the leftovers!
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jong
April 15, 2026
The private cooking class with Chef Viviana was one of our favorite experiences during our stay in Puerto Rico. We enjoyed learning the history and culinary evolution of the locally grown food. It was fun to prepare and blend together the ingredients of a delicious local meal, including sofrito, mofongo, tostones. Viviana also provided us with a list of recommended restaurants that fit to our liking during our stay. We highly recommend Viviana's private cooking class, it is an excellent way to start off your trip when staying in Puerto Rico.
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utah
April 06, 2026
Our experience with Viviana in San Juan was absolutely wonderful! She was incredibly warm, welcoming, and especially amazing with our 6-year-old and 4-year-old. Traveling with young kids can be unpredictable, but Viviana was so patient, flexible, and adaptable throughout the entire experience, which made everything feel relaxed and enjoyable.
She created such a comfortable and engaging environment for our family, and our kids genuinely had a great time. It didn’t feel like a “tour” at all—it felt like being welcomed into someone’s home and culture in the best way possible.
We are so grateful for the experience and would highly recommend Viviana to anyone traveling to San Juan, especially families with young children!
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roni
March 23, 2026
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