José Villalba grew up in Antequera. He has been passionate about cooking since he was a child, always experiment with the spices his mother bought. From the moment he started cooking school, he knew he wanted to make people happy through food. "The look on someone's face when they taste something they love is priceless" -quotes José.

Our chef brings a global perspective to your gastronomic experience , fluent in three languages and trained in kitchens across Europe. After graduating, he honed his skills in a range of environments, from intimate kitchens to prestigious Paradores de España.

Embracing new challenges, José became a head chef in the Netherlands, expanding his culinary repertoire and mastering English. Returning to Spain, he collaborated with a former colleague to open a cutting-edge gastronomic restaurant, where he experimented with avant-garde techniques for three years. Fate intervened when he met Tiphaine while working for Paradores, falling in love with her, leading him to Bordeaux. There, he embraced French cuisine and language, serving as head chef for four years.

Today, José finds joy in the intimacy of private dining.  He thrives on the direct feedback from clients, building relationships that would be impossible in a traditional restaurant setting. His passion lies in utilizing his extensive knowledge and unique style to surprise guests with unexpected flavor combinations, demonstrating that even home kitchens can be a place of culinary creativity.

 Tiphaine Cadou is a passionate and experienced professional with a deep love of food, drinks, and hospitality. 

Tiphaine  grew up grew up in L’île d’Yeu, an small French island with only a few restaurants. Her fascination with the hospitality world began at 13 when she babysat for a family who owned one of those restaurants.  She was drawn to both the kitchen's activity and the careful orchestration of the dining room. Though too young to assist, she keenly observed the organization and how customers were treated, so she quickly fell in love with the gastronomy world.

Tiphaine started studying economics at university in Bordeaux, but she soon realized that her true passion was in the restaurant industry. At that moment she knew that she wanted to pursue a career in hospitality.  She left university and enrolled in a hospitality school, where she excelled as sommelier & mixologist.

As part of her studies, Tiphaine completed a four-month internship in Spain. It was there that she met José, who would later become her partner. Although she was in love, Tiphaine had two years of studies left to complete, so she returned to Bordeaux. José then made the decision to move to Bordeaux so that they could be together. They worked together for two years at L’île d’Yeu, but she knew that she needed to explore new horizons. 

She craved new challenges, which led her and José to move to Spain. After a series of coincidences, they found themselves in Sotogrande, where they decided to put down roots.

Tiphaine believes that working in people's homes allows her to fully utilize her knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry. She is passionate about the role of the waiter, which she believes is often undervalued. In her opinion, a good waiter must be versatile, discreet, and able to anticipate the needs of their guests. Tiphaine sees herself as an encyclopedia of knowledge, capable of teaching guests about the food and drink they are served, from its origins to its preparation.

Tiphaine is passionate about food and drink, and she takes great pleasure in sharing her knowledge with others in a fun and engaging way.