'I guarantee you it is going to be great' says Taste North chef Novelli
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CELEBRITY chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will be turning up the heat in the kitchen when he takes centre stage at Taste North 2019.
"I guarantee you it is going to be great," the Frenchman said. "I am going to deliver to everybody the best show ever, I promise you that."
Jean-Christophe (58) likes to add a dash of humour into his live demonstrations and says he will be "kissing everybody".
Dubbed “the nation's favourite French chef” he was once classed by a popular magazine as the fifth most alluring man in the world.
The Michelin-starred chef says he is excited to be making the journey to Caithness for Taste North.
"I have been everywhere in Scotland, except where you are and I am very honoured to be invited this year," he said in an exclusive interview.
Jean-Christophe would not give anything away about what he plans to cook in his demos, although he did say he will be using produce from the area and speaking to local chefs.
"Whatever I am going to do will be great," he said. "I will be dealing with some fantastic produce and a great audience. It will be a celebration of Scotland."
Jean-Christophe was born in Arras, northern France, but has been in the UK for 38 years.
When asked about the influences in his cooking, he replied: "I am very original. I have some good techniques that I teach in my cookery school near Luton."
As well as the Novelli Academy – voted up among the top 25 cookery schools in the world within three months of opening – the chef has an internationally successful restaurant business including gastropubs and bistros which keeps him very busy, with last week alone seeing him travelling 2000 miles.
I will be dealing with some fantastic produce and a great audience. It will be a celebration of Scotland.
As yet he has no restaurants in Scotland, but says he would love to have something north of the border as it would be a "fantastic concept".
He added: "I love Scotland – it would be a shame not to have something there."
He is hoping to bring his wife Michelle and young son Valentino on his first trip to Caithness.
Now in its fifth year, Taste North 2019 – taking place on Sunday, October 6 – looks set to be even better than ever with more local producers taking part and a range of activities for the family as well as the annual baking contest, the Taste North Challenge.
Managed by Venture North with funding from the Nuclear Decommisioning Authority, the event will take place within the Together Travel venue at John O'Groats.
Jean-Christophe, who lives in Hertfordshire, began his career at the age of 14 as a baker in Arras before becoming the private head chef to Elie Rothschild at the age of 19.
Arriving in Britain in 1983, he spent a year helping his mentor and friend Keith Floyd as head chef of his pub.
In 1996, Jean-Christophe then opened four restaurants in London, and so began the foundations for his internationally based mini-empire.
His TV career has gone from strength to strength since cooking up a storm in Hell's Kitchen he has appeared in a number of shows including Family Fortunes, The Apprentice and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
