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’.