Jean-Christophe Novelli

Jean-Christophe Novelli is a 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award winning chef, who is also dubbed "the nation's favourite French Chef". He began his exciting career at the age of fourteen as a baker in his home town of Arras, Northern France, before becoming private Head Chef to Elie de Rothschild in Paris at the age of 19. Jean-Christophe's life changed completely when he arrived in Great Britain in 1983. He spent a year taking care of Keith Floyd's pub, ‘The Maltsters', as Head Chef whilst Keith was filming his famous TV Shows.

In 1996, Jean-Christophe opened his first restaurant, Maison Novelli in Clerkenwell, London, followed quickly by Novelli W8, Novelli EC1 and Les Saveurs in Mayfair. In addition to his mini empire, Jean-Christophe also launched Novelli at the Cellars; Cape Town's leading five-star Relais et Chateaux Hotel, Moulin de Jean in Normandy, France and was Chef Consultant on Sea France Ferries. Over his career Jean-Christophe has accumulated no less than four Michelin Stars. After putting these restaurants on the international map, Jean-Christophe decided to move on to new ventures.

Jean's passion passing on his wealth of culinary knowledge to others led to his desire to open his own cookery school; The Novelli Academy opened its doors on April 22nd 2005 and, within three months, was voted amongst the ‘Top 25 Cookery Schools in the World'. Jean-Christophe restored part of his 14th century Hertfordshire farmhouse so that the Novelli Academy could be accommodated in his own home. Jean Christophe is the owner and co-founder of the Academy.  In September 2007 Jean-Christophe was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Bedfordshire University for his 30 years of dedication to his craft and outstanding achievements in cooking. Jean-Christophe is only the 3rd Chef in history to achieve this.

Jean-Christophe is also a well-known TV chef having appeared on a wide variety of the UK's most popular cookery programmes including Daily Cooks, Richard & Judy's Tender Loving Cooking and Maa Osama Atyab in the UAE. In addition, he has also featured on an impressive selection of prime time TV shows including Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Hell's Kitchen, Celebrity X Factor, Loose Women, Through the Keyhole, The Apprentice, The Alan Titchmarsh show, BBC Breakfast and MTV Cribs.

More recently in the world of television, Jean-Christophe signed a deal in 2008 with Mentorn USA for an exclusive series for BRAVO TV, part of NBC. Chef Academy is a nine part series that chronicles his move to Los Angeles as he opens a cooking school, which first aired in November 2009. Ten chefs with varying levels of cooking ability were trained by Chef Novelli, all of whom wanting to improve their skills, some to a professional standard. A second season is expected to be filmed in 2010. Jean also makes regular appearances at regional, national and international events including the Festival of Dubai, Ideal Home Show, The France Show, BBC Good Food Shows, Grand Designs and Homes and Gardens and in April 2008 launched London Restaurant Week.

Jean-Christophe's passion for fantastic cuisine extends to publishing too. In 2008 Headline Publishing released his second cook book entitled ‘Everyday Novelli'. Everyday Novelli is a gorgeous collection of accessible and inspiring recipes which look and taste delicious and are easy to create. His first book, ‘Novelli: Your Place or Mine?', was published in May 1998 by Quadrille Publishing Limited. Jean-Christophe has also recently pioneered a new high street contemporary eating concept with celebrity entrepreneur Dean Dunham. The Dunham Novelli Urban Bar Kitchen opened in February 2009 in Northampton and prides itself on serving fantastic food, captivating cocktails, wonderful wines and a superior selection of champagnes. For further information visit http://www.dunhamnovelli.co.uk

2010 has been an exciting year so far. In January, Jean-Christophe was once again the ‘face' of the France Show at Earls Court in London where he hosted his own Cookery Theatre for three days. The demonstrations were watched by as many as 600 people per show. Possible business developments would appear to be very exciting indeed for Jean-Christophe. The Dunham Novelli concept is already proving so popular that discussions are already taking place with regard to a possible second venue in central London, the possible expansion of the academy is also being considered for 'North of the Border', and another first for Jean-Christophe is the launch of his new charcuterie range.

On a personal front, Jean is currently training for the London Triathlon which takes place in August 2010.