Meet
Jean-Christophe
Novelli
Once dubbed The nation’s most passionate, favourite French chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli started his food career early in life, working in a bakery from 14 and becoming head chef to Elie de Rothschild in their private home and travelling with Nathaniel and his family, Paris age just 20. He moved to the UK in the early 1980s, at first working at the Chewton Glen and then got offered the opportunity to work and live with the legendary Keith Floyd, dubbed as his right hand man, before branching out on his own to open a mini empire of multi-award-winning restaurants internationally, he is proudly involved with his unique restaurant in Belfast, plus an award winning cookery school in 2005 which is still going from strength to strength.
Jean-Christophe was also recognised within the trade with a number of accolades some of these being the AA Chefs Chefs of the year, 5 out 5 AA Rosettes, 4 individual Michelin stars, winner of the Egon Ronay Best Dessert of the Year in the UK with Golden Spoon Distinction and represented the UK as a finalist in the European Chef of the year held in Copenhagen. His most recent accolades were the QE Lifetime achievement at the British Restaurant awards and was honoured be receive an MBE. ​
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Jean-Christophe was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire in honour of his outstanding achievements in the culinary arts and broadcast industry.
Jean-Christophe has worked with Royalty, top corporate clients and even major sporting events including officially starting the 2008 Formula 1 at Silverstone and is available for bookings to cook, speak and inspire all over the world and both land and sea. Jean-Christophe has appeared on a number of TV programmes since the early 90s, including Hell’s Kitchen, his own show Chef Academy in the US, Celebrity X Factor, Alive – Back to the Andes, Jonathon Ross, Comic & Sport Relief, Celebrity Cribs, Family Fortunes, Shooting Stars, Bargain Hunt, Children in Need and even Celebrity Hunted where he finished 1st. He’s also back for the 2023 series of Cooking With The Stars any many other shows. Jean-Christophe is avid sportsman, a proud father of 4 and spends a lot of his spare time enjoying family life and keeping fit. Jean-Christophe and his wife Michelle are fully involved with supporting a variety of different charities.
