6 restaurants celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli loves

Back when chefs on TV were still the exception rather than the norm, Jean-Christophe Novelli was already a familiar face to British fans. The French maestro started working in a bakery aged just 14 but quickly became private head chef to the family of the Rothschild banking dynasty in Paris.

In the early 1980s, Novelli moved to the UK and worked at renowned restaurants as the country’s culinary revolution started to gather pace. He soon opened several Michelin-awarded restaurants and the Novelli Academy Cookery School, which has been a popular draw for budding chefs for over 15 years. 

The award-winning chef has been recognised with accolades such as AA Chefs’ Chef of the Year and 5 out 5 AA Rosettes. Novelli is now a judge on MasterChef Australia alongside Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Andy Allen, imparting his wisdom to contestants as they compete on challenges that test their food knowledge and cooking skills. “It was a rollercoaster. The level of the food was extraordinary, I had to be reminded they were not chefs, just amateur cooks,” he says of the 2024 season of MasterChef Australia.

Here he chews on six restaurants that have inspired his own culinary journey. 

1. Mrdeanes Bistro Bar and Social, Belfast  

Michael Deane is an icon and his cuisine is consistently fabulous. People underestimate what Northern Ireland has to offer in terms of ingredients, but it’s similar to Brittany. Its seafood is top-notch, as the water is so deep and it allows the shellfish to grow slowly and develop amazing textures and flavours. Taking over his former Deanes Love Fish and Michelin-starred Deanes Eipic spaces, the new MrDeanes serves à la carte bistro classics. I hear his signature turbot in a champagne velouté will be making a seasonal reappearance. 

2. Vea, Hong Kong   

I was recently in Hong Kong filming with MasterChef Australia and we went to Vea by chef Vicky Cheng. He’s exceptional, but very humble, and he always has something else under the bonnet. I absolutely loved the way he works with his team, his sense of aesthetics and his modern approach to Cantonese cooking. It was impressive to witness how the food was crafted and presented. The most memorable dish was the finely cut ratte potatoes served with caviar and fish maw. He totally deserves the Michelin star he currently holds.  

3. Les 2 Garçons, London  

This neighbourhood French restaurant in Crouch End is run by English chef Robert Reid and French sommelier and restaurant manager Jean-Christophe Slowik – two of the best hospitality professionals in the UK. The pair met in the 1990s while working at The Oak Room under Marco Pierre White. They have such an amazing pedigree but are under-recognised. Here, you’ll find all the bistro classics, from escargot to onion soup and steak frites. It’s like a little French island in London and I love it.  

4. Bardal, Ronda   

Located in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, Bardal is the perfect al fresco lunch or dinner spot. I met chefs Benito Gomez and Dani García years before they became established names in the culinary world. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant emphasises sustainable, locally grown produce, and the service is as impeccable as the cooking. The terroir is so good that the chefs could make you a great dish with simple ingredients like tomato, dried cheese and a touch of olive oil. What’s more, it’s great value for money and not fluffy or pompous – it really offers the full package.  

5. Daniel, New York   

There are so many great restaurants in New York, but the two-Michelin-starred Daniel gives you a true taste of what classic French cuisine is all about. Chef Daniel Boulud is super humble; he’s always there at the restaurant, and he represents what French dining was like back in the 1970s and ’80s. The Neoclassical architecture and elegant dining room give you the feeling of dining in an old church. Everything here is done so well, and the service is impeccable. I had the most extraordinary double-baked chocolate soufflé – don’t miss it. 

6. The Wheatbaker, Lagos   

I’ve just come back from Lagos, Nigeria. It was very beautiful, and I worked with some really lovely people there. I enjoyed a fantastic dinner at The Wheatbaker . There was a dish with sweet chilli prawn, sticky rice and some diced, glazed plantain – a delicious combination. Wherever you go in the world, there are always people who are great at expressing themselves through food, which is one of the reasons why I love to travel.