Bonjour et bienvenue
Meet
Jean-Christophe
Novelli
Widely renowned as the nation's most passionate and beloved French chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli began his culinary journey at the young age of 14, working in a bakery. By the time he was 20, he had become the head chef at Elie de Rothschild’s private home. In the early 1980s, he moved to the UK, initially joining the team at the luxury Chewton Glen Hotel in Hampshire, before seizing the chance to work alongside the iconic Keith Floyd at his restaurant in Devon, earning the enviable title of Floyd’s right-hand man. During the 90’s and early 2000s Jean-Christophe established an international mini-empire of acclaimed, award-winning restaurants. Today, he remains deeply engaged with his unique Belfast restaurant and continues to inspire through his award-winning cookery school, launched in 2005, which thrives to this day.
Jean-Christophe is widely acclaimed in the culinary world, having received several prestigious awards throughout his career. His accolades include the AA Chefs' Chef of the Year award, 5 Rosettes, 4 individual Michelin stars, and the Egon Ronay Best Dessert of the Year in the UK with Golden Spoon Distinction. Additionally, he was a finalist representing the UK in the European Chef of the Year competition in Copenhagen. Recently, he has been honored with the QE Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Restaurant Awards, an MBE for his contributions, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, recognizing his exceptional 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.
