Jean-Christophe Novelli

Jean-Christophe Novelli is a Michelin and 5AA Rosette award winning chef, whose attributes include AA Chef's Chef of the Year, European Chef of the Year finalist representing Great Britain and the prestigious Egon Ronay Dessert of the Year. He has won restaurant of the year several times and many other awards on numerous occasions.

He is described as making women swoon with the flick of his whisk, voted The worlds Sexiest Chef by New York Times and in the Sky viewers Top 50 beautiful Men poll.

Jean-Christophe Novelli began his exciting career at the age of fourteen as a baker in his home town of Arras, Northern France, becoming head private chef to Elie de Rothschild and his son Nathanial in Paris at the tender age of 19.

Relocating to the UK in 1983, he worked in several well known establishments including The Chewton Glen but it was in 1989 when Jean-Christophe’s life changed completely after he was invited by celebrity chef Keith Floyd to take charge of his pub, ‘The Maltsters’ as the chef patron.

Jean-Christophe spent a year working for Keith, his mentor and yet-to-become best friend, whilst Keith was busy filming his renown and hugely popular TV Shows.

He then moved on to become the chef patron at the Gordonton Mill in 1991 in Hampshire where he earned his first Michelin star after only one year. In 1994 Jean-Christophe was offered the position of head chef at the Four Seasons hotel on London’s Park Lane, where he earned another Michelin star immediately.

Then, in 1996, Jean-Christophe began laying the foundations for his self-financed internationally-based mini empire of seven establishments: four in London, one in the New Forest, one in Normandy, France and one in Capetown South Africa.

With only £500 in his pocket to start these even more successful ventures, soon after opening the first of these ventures Masion Novelli in Clarkenwell Green in 1996, Jean-Christophe was then awarded a Michelin Star. Soon after came the second venture in Mayfair in which Jean-Christophe was awarded another consecutive Michelin star after opening.

At the same time of running his mini empire Jean-Christophe also became the Chef-Consultant on Sea France ferries for 3 years looking after eight ferries from Dover to Calais.

He then became the Chef Director of Brockett Hall Estate from 2002 to 2005. Looking after all of the outlets at the Brocket Hall Estate including the position of Chef Patron at Auberge Du Lac which Jean-Christophe instantly raised the profile, increased popularity turned the restaurant into a VIP hotspot.

In 2003, he bought the 14th Century Crouchmoor Farm in Hertfordshire, and opened the Novelli cookery school with his wife Michelle in 2005. They immediately received many accolades such as being one of the top 25 cookery schools in the world attracting many food lovers from all over the world.

Jean-Christophe Novelli has featured on many TV shows and appeared in numerous newspapers and publications over many years, both nationally and worldwide. Over his illustrious career he has also written numerous exciting recipe books.

He has been privileged to have been gifted with a Honorary Doctor of Arts from Bedfordshire University At the time, Jean-Christophe was only the 3rd Chef in history to achieve such recognition.

As an after dinner speaker, Jean-Christophe Novelli enjoys giving anecdotal talks of his exploits from his many experiences around the world.

He is very popular as a celebrity chef appearing at corporate events as well as private parties. Each private or corporate day is different, but in general a typical day will start with tea/coffee on arrival then introductions. For corporate events guests can be split into two groups to create the healthy, fun competition or Jean-Christophe can leave you in a single group for a relaxed cookery lesson.

Jean-Christophe takes you through his sumptuous award-winning dishes and will match up wines with each course. And to cook with Jean-Christophe Novelli is all part of the entertainment!

He has been involved with many exclusive projects, private parties, high profile events and private cookery lessons, he has catered for Heads of State and Royalty plus renown personalities including Hollywood actors, rock stars and highly recognised sporting stars around the world, plus his mum!

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Jean-Christophe Novelli. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.