Chef Samuel
About Chef Sam
Samuel Rubio Ortega was born in Seville in 1975 and has spent his career cooking in it, leaving it, and always finding his way back. He is the chef behind the Let’s Eat Seville culinary holiday, leading guests through the cooking that defines his city: the techniques, the ingredients, and the kind of food that only makes real sense when you eat it where it comes from.
He graduated from the Escuela Superior de Hostelería in 1998 and has worked in professional kitchens across Spain and beyond ever since. Today he works as a freelance chef and home chef, on his own terms and on his own schedule.
Local Love
Seville’s restaurant scene shaped him early. His formative years in the city included time at the patisserie Flor de la Pasión, the restaurant ConTenedor, the grand Hotel Alfonso XIII, and Casa Robles, a local institution known for its traditional Sevillano cooking. These are not footnotes in his career. They are the places where he learned what Seville actually tastes like.
Behind the Scenes
Chef Sam has never been content to stay still. Outside Seville, he worked at the Avon Gorge Hotel in Bristol, took on private chef work across Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, and the United States, and cooked his way through Barcelona, Marbella, Islantilla, and Fuerteventura.
The experience that surprised him most was time spent studying at a cooking school in Patiala, Punjab. Indian cuisine made an impression. He has carried it with him since, and finds ways to bring elements of it into his menus when the moment is right.
Life Beyond the Kitchen
Away from the stove, Chef Sam has spent a lifetime in the water. Competitive swimming has been a constant since childhood, including representing Spain at an international level. From the age of sixteen, he has also taught: first as a qualified swimming instructor, then as a certified coach with several teams behind him. It is, he says, his other passion entirely.
Philosophy and Aspirations
Chef Sam cooks from where he comes from. His food is grounded in the flavours and traditions of Seville and Andalusia, informed by everything he has picked up along the way.
You can catch Chef Sam in his kitchen on our Let’s Eat Seville culinary holiday. And if you’d like a little preview, watch Yetunde’s Instagram Live with him here.
OUR CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Let’s Eat Modena & Emilia — A Culinary Holiday in Emilia-Romagna
Eight days in the heart of Italy’s most celebrated food region. Let’s Eat Modena & Emilia is a chef-curated, villa-based culinary holiday combining hands-on cooking with Chef Ilaria Bertinelli, visits to Parmigiano Reggiano dairies, traditional balsamic producers, and regional wineries — for a maximum of eight guests.
Let’s Eat Uzès: A Week-Long Cooking Vacation in France (Southern France)
8-day culinary holiday in southern France. Hands-on French cooking classes. Explore markets, visit producers, and be immersed in French cuisine. All skill levels are welcome. 7-nights lodging included.
Let’s Eat Peru Food Tour – Lima & Ica
Experience Peru’s vibrant food culture through market visits, hands-on cooking classes, and curated cultural excursions. This 10-day Peru food tour explores Lima, Chincha, Ica, and Paracas, with optional Nazca Lines overflight, blending culinary tradition, history, and place.
Let’s Eat Parma – Food & Wine Holiday in Parma, Italy
Embark on a 7-day culinary adventure in Parma, Italy. Experience 6 nights of authentic pasta crafting, exquisite prosciutto tastings, and explorations of Italian wines. Perfect for enthusiasts of food and wine.
Let’s Eat Seville – Cooking Holidays in Spain
8 days of cooking, tapas, wine, & flamenco in Andalusia. A culinary tour in Seville for food & wine lovers. Explore markets, taste with us & enjoy! All skill levels are welcome. 7-nights lodging included.
Let’s Eat Tanzania -Tanzania food & Culture Tour
Experience Tanzania’s rich food culture with cooking classes, market visits, and a wildlife safari. Taste traditional dishes and connect with the people, landscapes, and traditions that make this journey unforgettable.
Let’s Eat Colombia – Cartagena & Medellin: Colombia Food Tour
Experience Colombia’s vibrant food scene with cooking classes, market tours, and cultural excursions. Taste traditional dishes and immerse yourself in Colombia’s rich history and transformation in this unique, immersive food tour.
Let’s Eat Paris – French Cooking Tours in Paris
5.5 days of pure foodie love. A French culinary tour in Paris filled with food, wine, & cooking? Yes, please! Join our chefs & guides on a gastronomic journey through French cuisine à la Parisienne, Champagne & wine tasting, & more. Jump in!
Let’s Eat Georgia! Explore Georgia 🇬🇪
Join us for an 8-day, 9-night culinary holiday taking you from Tbilisi, Georgia to the Georgian countryside and back. This is a food & wine lover’s dream holiday where hospitable local guides will lead you on a cultural and gastronomical journey
Private Sessions – Private Online Cooking Classes
Take part in private online cooking classes with friends & family. We’re bringing great cooking experiences straight into your home kitchen through an interactive online cooking class. Cook along with your chef, ask questions, and enjoy!
Let’s Eat & Speak Seville: Culinary Spanish Immersion
A 6-day Spanish immersion experience in Seville where language learning meets culture and cuisine. Practice real-life Spanish while cooking, exploring, and connecting with locals — no classrooms, just conversation, croquetas, and confidence.
Let’s Eat Bread – 3-Day Bread Masterclass
This 3-day Bread master class is perfect for anyone who would like to learn how to make, maintain and use a starter. Learn to make better bread at home like a pro. We’ll teach you the techniques you need to beef up your bread-making skills. Open to bakers of all levels.
