Jean-Christophe Novelli
Jean-Christophe Novelli | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 22, 1961 Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur, television personality |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | Michelin starred chef, television appearances, founder of Novelli Academy |
Jean-Christophe Novelli MBE (; born 22 February 1961) is a renowned French chef, restaurateur, and television figure.
Early life
Novelli was born in Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France. Leaving formal education at the age of 14, he initially worked in a bakery before becoming the personal chef to the Rothschild family at 20. His father's heritage is Italian.
Career
In 1983, Novelli relocated to the United Kingdom, taking roles at venues such as the Chewton Glen Hotel in Hampshire and managing Keith Floyd's Maltster's Arms in Devon. As Chef Patron at Gordleton Mill, Hampshire, he achieved four Michelin stars and was honored with Best Outstanding Dessert by Egon Ronay. Subsequently, he served as head chef at London's Four Seasons Hotel on Hyde Park Corner. In 1996, he established 'Maison Novelli' in Clerkenwell, London.
He broadened his restaurant ventures throughout London, France, and South Africa and ventured into the gastro-pub sector with The White Horse in Harpenden. In 2005, he inaugurated the Novelli Academy Cookery School in Hertfordshire. He introduced a brasserie concept at the Double Tree Hilton Liverpool but withdrew from this brand by mutual consent in January 2016. In 2018, he launched 'Novelli at City Quays' located within the AC Marriott hotel in Belfast.
Novelli released Simply Novelli in 2013 to challenge misconceptions about French cooking being overly complex or time-intensive.
Novelli Restaurants Limited
Founded in 2016, The Novelli Restaurant Limited created three distinct dining concepts aimed at quality hotels: Terrané by Jean-Christophe Novelli (brasserie style), Bistro '61 by Jean-Christophe Novelli (bistro dining), and Rapido by JCN (focused on concise menus). In 2018, Novelli opened a restaurant within Northern Ireland’s inaugural Marriott hotel.
Accolades
Jean-Christophe Novelli holds a 5/5 AA Rosette rating and multiple Michelin Star distinctions. Known as "The Nation’s Favourite French Chef," he was also a finalist for European Chef of the Year representing Great Britain. His accolades include Egon Ronay Dessert of the Year and being voted AA's Chef's Chef of the Year by fellow professionals. The Novelli Academy ranks among the Top 25 Cooking Academies worldwide and remains under his proprietorship where he conducts classes and demonstrations.
On 5 September 2007, Novelli was bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Bedfordshire. In March 2021, Her Majesty the Queen awarded him an honorary MBE in recognition of his extensive voluntary and charitable contributions.
TV appearances
Novelli first appeared on television in 2003 on The Games. In 2005, he served as one of two Head Chefs on the second series of Hell's Kitchen alongside Gary Rhodes. The following year, he featured on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars with fellow chefs Aldo Zilli, Paul Rankin, and Ross Burden.
He competed on Family Fortunes with then-fiancée Michelle Kennedy and appeared on The Apprentice: You're Fired! in 2007. In 2009, Novelli hosted Bravo TV’s US series Chef Academy, mentoring aspiring chefs across ten episodes.
In October 2010, he collaborated with the Potato Council for Master Spud, a nationwide contest offering a role in a television advertisement. He judged Britain's Best Chef (ITV) in 2012.
Novelli has appeared on ITV’s This Morning, Loose Women, and took part in the final episode of the Alan Titchmarsh Show in 2014; he also featured on Britain's Got More Talent (ITV2) in 2015. He frequently demonstrates culinary techniques throughout Europe, Russia, Dubai, and South Africa, advocating for healthier cooking methods that reduce saturated fats, sugars, and salt.
In late 2015, he appeared on BBC One's A Question of Sport, followed by a January 2016 BBC1 segment promoting rapeseed oil benefits on Countryfile. He also participated as a celebrity audience member during Derren Brown's The Gathering.
Novelli judged week four of ITV’s Culinary Genius in 2017. Alongside chef Aldo Zilli, he won Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted Season 3 in 2019.
In February 2021, he cooked live on Channel 4’s Steph's Packed Lunch and made pancakes with his sons on Jeremy Vine on 5. Additionally, he prepared classic dishes for Raymond Blanc on ITV’s Simply Raymond Blanc.
In October 2023, it was announced that Novelli would join as a judge for the Australian Network 10 competitive cooking program MasterChef Australia in 2024 alongside new judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and returning judge Andy Allen.
The Novelli Academy
Jean-Christophe Novelli founded the Novelli Academy in 2005, situating it within his historic 14th-century residence in Hertfordshire. The Academy provides a range of offerings including public and private masterclasses, online sessions, as well as corporate team-building workshops. Novelli advocates for nutritious cooking by replacing salt and sugar with distinctive flavor alternatives and minimizing the use of saturated fats.
Personal life
Novelli has experienced two divorces. His first marriage was to Tina, an Englishwoman, with whom he has a daughter, Christina Novelli (born 1986), who pursues a career as a musician and songwriter. In 1999, he wed Anzelle Visser from South Africa, who had roles at Maison Novelli and also worked as a model; their marriage ended in divorce in 2005. In November 2007, Novelli became engaged to Michelle Kennedy. Together, they have three sons: the eldest born in Los Angeles in 2008; Jacques, born in Austria in 2012; and Valentino (born 2016), who is diagnosed with 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition.