Jean-Christophe Novelli

Biography

Jean-Christophe Novelli is one of the best-known chefs in the country, having led acclaimed restaurants across the UK as well as in France and South Africa. He’s also a familiar face on television, appearing on both food-related and light entertainment programmes.

Described as ‘the nation’s favourite French chef’, Jean-Christophe started his culinary journey in his home nation as a teenager with his first job in a bakery, before being appointed personal chef to the Rothschild family in Paris, aged just 20. Moving to the UK, he worked at the respected Chewton Glen country house hotel and from there he was introduced to British food enthusiast, broadcaster and restauranteur Keith Floyd. Jean-Christophe served as chef-manager at Floyd’s Maltster's Arms restaurant in Devon before then going on to win the first of his four Michelin stars as Chef Patron at Gordleton Mill. A few years later he struck out on his own, establishing his restaurant, Maison Novelli in London and going on to build a group of restaurant and associations that would make his name.

Jean-Christophe went on to expand internationally, creating a gasto-pub collection and a hotel brasserie concept, and launching the Novelli Academy Cookery School, which after over two decades remains one of the best culinary school in the world. There followed books, media appearances, and a series of restaurant brand collaborations. In addition to his Michelin stars he also gained the AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year, 5 out 5 AA Rosettes, and the Egon Ronay Best Dessert of the Year.

Away from the kitchen, Jean-Christophe has appeared on TV shows as diverse as Celebrity X Factor, Alive – Back to the Andes, both Comic and Sport Relief, Family Fortunes, Shooting Stars, Bargain Hunt, Children in Need and even Celebrity Hunted (where he finished first). Combining TV with food, he’s also appeared on Hell’s Kitchen, his own show Chef Academy in the US, and Cooking With The Stars.