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Chef James KellySOMA · Santa Teresa
Chef James Kelly holding up a whole red snapper, fresh from the boat

Chef James Kelly

Remarkable Food.
Thoughtfully Served.

Private chefs, destination events and culinary experiences shaped by more than 30 years in hospitality and more than two decades in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.

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Chef James Kelly laughing in a stainless-steel kitchen, wearing a SOMA chef’s jacket and pinstriped apron
Bundle of cilantro, basil and lemongrass on natural linen

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Deeply Local.
Entirely Personal.

For more than two decades, Chef James Kelly has cooked in Santa Teresa for families, travelers, artists, athletes and guests from around the world.

His approach begins with the people at the table. Every menu, event and experience is shaped around the client, the occasion and the best ingredients available that day.

James and the SOMA team work directly with trusted local fishermen, farmers, producers and hospitality professionals to bring together exceptional food and effortless service — whether that means dinner at a private villa, a destination wedding, a week of family meals or a culinary journey built around where and how you want to travel.

Meet James

Great dishes begin with great ingredients. We stay close to the people who grow, catch and raise our food because quality begins long before anything reaches the kitchen. I want the food to be fresh, nourishing and memorable — but above all, I want people to enjoy being together around the table.

Chef James Kelly

Local produce. Responsibly sourced seafood. Exceptional proteins. Seasonal menus. Thoughtful indulgence.

James’s food reflects both the active lifestyle of Santa Teresa and the simple belief that a great meal should bring people together.

Aerial view of jungle meeting the Pacific along the Nicoya Peninsula coastline

Service Areas

Where We Cook

A private chef in Santa Teresa, a wedding in Mal País, a villa dinner in Montezuma — SOMA travels to the property, the venue or the beach.

All service areas

  • Santa Teresa

    Home base since 2003 — villas, boutique hotels and beachfront venues along the main road.

  • Mal País

    The fishing village and the houses above it, five minutes south of Santa Teresa.

  • Nicoya Peninsula

    Cóbano, Manzanillo, Montezuma and Tambor — nearly two decades of events across the peninsula.

  • Puntarenas Province

    The wider province, for weddings and private work that sit outside the peninsula.

What We Do

Your Experience.
Our Obsession.

No two clients, celebrations or trips are identical. SOMA approaches each engagement individually, combining culinary creativity with the planning, staffing, sourcing and local coordination required to execute it properly.

Long banquet tables set on the sand beneath a stretch tent hung with string lights, the surf breaking behind
01

SOMA Luxury Catering

Gather Beautifully.

From intimate celebrations to destination weddings and large private events, SOMA creates dining experiences around the people, place and purpose of the occasion.

Led by Chef James Kelly and supported by an experienced team of culinary and hospitality professionals, SOMA has spent nearly two decades producing events in Santa Teresa and throughout the region. Every menu is developed specifically for the event, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, local produce, fresh seafood and trusted producers.

Exceptional catering involves far more than the plate. Our team can help coordinate the details that determine how an event actually feels: venue considerations, kitchen logistics, staffing, rentals, timing, service flow and collaboration with planners and other vendors.

  • Weddings
  • Private Celebrations
  • Villa Events
  • Corporate & Brand Events
  • Retreats
  • Destination Events
Explore Catering
Table laid for dinner above the ocean at sunset — tapered candles, tropical florals and cane-backed chairs
02

Private Chef

Your Table. Your Rhythm.

A private chef experience should fit naturally into your time in Costa Rica. SOMA creates personalized in-home and villa dining ranging from a single memorable dinner to complete culinary service throughout a stay.

Menus are designed around your preferences, schedule and dietary needs while drawing from the best ingredients available locally — seasonal produce, responsibly sourced seafood and thoughtful nutrition without sacrificing pleasure.

Chef James and the SOMA team have cooked privately for internationally recognized athletes, artists, musicians, actors, business leaders, public figures and families. The same principle guides every engagement: listen carefully, prepare meticulously and make the experience feel effortless.

  • Private Dinners
  • Full-Stay Chef Service
  • Family Dining
  • Wellness & Nutrition
  • Celebrations
  • Villa Dining
Explore Private Chef Experiences
Guests working side by side at a wooden counter during a private cooking class in Santa Teresa
03

Cooking Classes & Culinary Workshops

Cook. Learn. Eat. Enjoy.

Spend a few hours in the kitchen with Chef James and the SOMA team for a hands-on experience built around good ingredients, good stories and food worth sharing.

Guests learn about the dishes they are preparing, how ingredients are selected and the techniques that bring everything together — before sitting down to enjoy what they have created.

Private classes generally last approximately 2.5 to 3 hours and can be customized for couples, families, groups and private events. Optional wine pairings and beverage service can be incorporated.

Plan a Private Class
04

Recipe Development & Culinary Consulting

Experience Beyond the Kitchen.

More than three decades in professional kitchens gives Chef James a practical perspective on what makes food concepts succeed.

SOMA provides culinary consulting for restaurants, hospitality businesses, brands and food products requiring creative development grounded in real-world operations.

Explore Consulting
  1. 01

    Menu Development

    Original menu creation, seasonal updates, dietary alternatives and refinement of existing concepts.

  2. 02

    Recipe & Product Development

    Recipe creation, testing, refinement and preparation for new products and launches.

  3. 03

    Cost & Operational Consulting

    Evaluation of food costs, waste, workflow and culinary operations with an emphasis on quality and sustainable profitability.

  4. 04

    Culinary Team Development

    Practical guidance and training designed to improve consistency and execution.

  5. 05

    Ongoing Advisory

    Continued culinary guidance as concepts, menus and businesses evolve.

Featured Culinary Work

From Santa Teresa to the New York Times Bestseller List

Chef James collaborated with Tom Brady and TB12 co-founder Alex Guerrero on the second edition of The TB12 Method, developing approachable, health-focused recipes and preparing and styling dishes for photography. His work with TB12 later expanded into evaluation and development work involving the company’s nutrition products.

James subsequently worked on Gisele Bündchen’s cookbook Nourish, developing recipes, overseeing recipe testing and refinement, and managing food preparation and styling for the lifestyle photography.

Both projects reflect an aspect of James’s work that extends beyond private dining: translating an idea about food, health and lifestyle into recipes that actually work.

Cover of Gisele Bündchen’s cookbook Nourish — simple recipes to empower your body & feed your soul
Rooftop table in Mexico City at dusk during a private culinary journey
05

Culinary Travel

Travel Through Food.

The best way to understand a place is often through its kitchens, markets and tables.

Chef James creates intimate culinary journeys designed for travelers who want access to a destination beyond the usual itinerary. Current experiences include private 3–6 day journeys through Mexico City and Oaxaca, exploring one of the world’s great culinary cultures through a chef’s perspective.

Depending on the itinerary, experiences may include neighborhood and market exploration, extraordinary street food, destination restaurants, private culinary experiences, cooking classes, cultural activities and time with chefs and food professionals. Luxury accommodations and private transportation can be incorporated into the journey.

Groups are intentionally small, with a maximum of six guests per booking, allowing each itinerary to remain personal and flexible.

Explore Culinary Travel
Tortillas on a comal at an Oaxacan street food stall at night

Travel Advisors & Personal Assistants

Planning on behalf of someone else? We work directly with travel advisors, assistants and hospitality professionals to coordinate culinary experiences around existing itineraries, preferences and service expectations.

Plan for a Client
Walking a jungle road near Santa Teresa carrying a crate of produce

About Chef James Kelly

A Life Built Around Food.

James Kelly has been working in kitchens since he was 13.

More than 30 years later, his approach remains rooted in the lessons that matter most: start with exceptional ingredients, respect the people producing them, take care of your guests and never stop paying attention to the details.

James moved to Santa Teresa in 2003 and soon opened Soma Restaurant at the boutique Milarepa Hotel. From the beginning he built relationships directly with local fishermen, farmers and producers — relationships that became fundamental to his food and remain so today.

From 2008 through 2023, James served as the Bündchen/Brady family’s personal chef while they were in Costa Rica. Today he leads James Kelly Cuisine and SOMA Chefs.

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The painted bow of a fishing panga drawn up on a pebble beach beneath palapa shade

Local Sourcing

It Starts Here.

Santa Teresa isn’t simply where SOMA operates. It shapes the food.

After more than two decades here, James has built long-standing relationships with the farmers, fishermen, producers and hospitality professionals who make exceptional experiences possible.

We prioritize seasonal local produce, responsibly sourced seafood and carefully selected proteins whenever possible.

Knowing where an ingredient comes from matters. Knowing the person who produced it matters even more.

Crates of local Costa Rican produce at a coastal market in early morning light
Fish steamed in a banana leaf over coconut rice, with green beans and mango salsa
Open-air villa kitchen with teak counters and an ocean view, Santa Teresa
A whole red snapper held up by the gill, scales still wet

Execution

The Luxury of Knowing It’s Handled.

Beautiful food is only part of a successful experience.

SOMA’s work begins before the first ingredient reaches the kitchen. We communicate clearly, plan carefully and coordinate the people and details necessary to execute each engagement properly.

Depending on the event, our team can assist with culinary planning, venue considerations, local procurement, staffing, service, rentals, vendor coordination and on-site execution. Our events are supported by experienced culinary and hospitality professionals selected for both skill and service.

You should be able to enjoy your event rather than manage it.

  • Responsive Communication
  • Experienced Staff
  • Local Relationships
  • Venue & Vendor Coordination
  • Dietary Planning
  • Detailed Execution
  • Discretion & Privacy
A long table laid on the sand under a stretch tent — woven chargers, linen runners and low garden roses receding down the table
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Common Questions

Before You Inquire

The questions we are asked most often about private chef service and catering in Santa Teresa.

How do I hire a private chef in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?
Send your dates, the villa or area, the number of guests and anything we should know about the group. We reply with a proposed menu approach and a written quote, then adjust it until it is right. Most private chef bookings in Santa Teresa are confirmed a few weeks out, though high season fills earlier. See private chef service
Do you cater destination weddings in Santa Teresa and Mal País?
Yes. SOMA has produced destination weddings and large private events in Santa Teresa, Mal País and across the Nicoya Peninsula for nearly two decades, including menu development, staffing, rentals, vendor coordination and on-site execution. Wedding and event catering
What does a private chef in Costa Rica cost?
It depends on the number of guests, the number of services and the menu — a single plated dinner and a full-stay chef service are different engagements. Every quote is written out in advance, with sourcing and staffing itemized, so there are no surprises on the final invoice. Ask for a quote
Can you work around allergies and dietary requirements?
Yes, and it is easier when we know early. Allergies, intolerances, training and nutrition plans, religious requirements and children’s preferences are built into the menu from the start rather than worked around at the table.
Do you offer cooking classes for guests staying in Santa Teresa?
Private hands-on cooking classes run roughly two and a half to three hours in your villa kitchen, customized for couples, families and groups, with optional wine pairings and beverage service. Private cooking classes
Where is Chef James Kelly based?
Santa Teresa, on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica — since 2003. Service extends to Mal País, Cóbano, Montezuma, Manzanillo, Tambor and the wider province. All service areas

Inquire

Let’s Create Something Memorable.

Whether you’re planning a dinner at your villa, a destination wedding, a week of private chef service or a culinary journey, tell us what you’re imagining. We’ll take it from there.

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Santa Teresa beach at sunset with wet sand reflecting a coral sky

Come to the Table.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

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