Last updated at 17:00, Wednesday, 05 August 2009

WHITEHAVEN can feel privileged to play host to star chef Jean Christophe Novelli for a second time – because he doesn’t take up every offer that comes his way.

Before he first came here (for the 2007 Whitehaven Maritime Festival), the organisers of the hit show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here had been offering him six-figure sums to appear but he kept turning them down. “They keep offering me a lot of money, more than six figures to do that, it’s a joke. I would feel uncomfortable,” he said. “I don’t mind a challenge though – X-Factor was great fun.”

Jean Christophe is genuinely interested in Whitehaven and its festivals, having first appeared here in 2007.

“This is a wonderful festival and to be a part of it is fantastic,” he said.

Jean Christophe is no stranger to Cumbria. He has friends in Cartmel and Windermere and is a massive fan of the famous sticky toffee pudding. He has also done some work with Cumbria Tourist Board. “It is fantastic here, it reminds me of when I used to live in Devon and Cornwall.“There is so much going on here at the festival for children, as well as adults. And lots of educational stands, the Tour de France stand is great.“Life is about fun and this is fantastic, it’s all about making people happy,” he said.

The Hell’s Kitchen star is not only a celebrity chef but has become a sex symbol, something his girlfriend has got used to. Michelle said: “Well, he’s gorgeous isn’t he, and he can cook!”Jean Christophe is a great believer in local produce and his shows in the cookery marquee in St Nicholas’ Gardens in 2007 made use of lots of local ingredients.

His shows were full of humour and fun with things not always going to plan – pans not getting hot enough and food burning – well he’s only human.

But the crowds loved it and got a chance to ask questions. The Rev John Bannister asked if he had heard of tatie pot – which Jean Christophe had great fun trying to pronounce.

Jean Christophe, who wouldn’t let his age slip (saying he was 22!), said he doesn’t have a favourite dish, apart from sticky toffee pudding of course.“I eat according to my mood and don’t like to plan too far in advance because food is about surprise and discovery.”EAN-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 14 as a baker in his home town of Arras, Northern France, becoming private Head Chef to Elie de Rothschild in Paris before the age of 20.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 while 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, and was chef consultant on Sea France Ferries. Over his career Jean-Christophe has accumulated no fewer than four consecutive Michelin Stars. After putting these restaurants on the international map, Jean- Christophe decided to move on to new ventures. Jean-Christophe Novelli is also a well-known TV chef having appeared on a wide variety of the UK’s most popular cookery programmes including Saturday Cooks, Richard & Judy’s Tender Loving Cooking and also appeared on an impressive selection of prime time TV shows including Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Hell’s Kitchen, Celebrity X Factor, Loose Women and The Apprentice.

First published at 15:44, Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk