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Nisha Katona, MBE (born 23 October 1971) is a British chef and TV presenter. She is the founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants and the Mowgli Trust charity, a food writer, television presenter, she was a child protection barrister for 20 years.

Nisha Katona MBE
Nisha Katona
Born	(1971-10-23) 23 October 1971 (age 51) Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
Spouse	Zoltan Katona
Children	2
Culinary career
Cooking style	Indian
Current restaurant(s) Mowgli, Bold Street, Liverpool Mowgli, Corn Exchange, Manchester Mowgli, Water Street, Liverpool Mowgli, Grand Central, Birmingham Mowgli, Westgate, Oxford Mowgli, Stoney Street, Nottingham Mowgli, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield Mowgli, Church Street, Cardiff Mowgli, Saint Martins, Leicester Mowgli, Boar Lane, Leeds Mowgli, Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire Mowgli, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Mowgli, Charlotte Street, London Mowgli, St Vincent Street, Glasgow Mowgli, Church Street, Preston
6th Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 2022
Vice-Chancellor	Mark Power
Preceded by	Brian Leveson

Career

Katona worked full-time as a child protection barrister for 20 years on the Northern Circuit.[1] In 2008 the Department of Culture, Media and Sport appointed her trustee of National Museums Liverpool and in 2009 she was appointed by the Cabinet Office, Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments.[2] She then switched to teaching about Indian cuisine.[3] She founded Mowgli Street Food restaurants in the UK, and also founded and chairs the Mowgli Trust, which donates over £300,000 to local and world charities every year.[4][5][6]

Katona is the author of 4 cookbooks: Pimp My Rice, The Spice Tree, The Mowgli Street Food: Authentic Indian Street Food and The 30-Minute Mowgli. Her fifth book, Meat Free Mowgli is due for release on 8 November 2022. She regularly appears on television and radio including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Food Network, and Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet.

On 1 January 2022, Katona was appointed Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University. She is the first alumni of the University to become Chancellor and replaces Sir Brian Leveson who will become Emeritus Chancellor.[7]

In July 2021, Katona was selected to join the newly formed Hospitality Council, a team of leading industry experts assembled to deliver the government’s Hospitality Strategy.[8] The strategy aim's to help hospitality firms to re-open, recover and become more resilient following the pandemic.

Earlier life

Katona grew up in Ormskirk. She studied at Scarisbrick Hall School and then read law at Liverpool John Moores University,[9] where she also met her future husband Zoltán Katona.[10] Katona qualified as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law in 1996, and is a member of Lincoln's Inn.[9]

Katona worked full-time as a Barrister[11] in Liverpool's Chavasse Court Chambers. In 2008 the Department of Culture, Media and Sport appointed her as a trustee of National Museums Liverpool where she sat on the full board, along with Audit and Marketing. In 2009 the Cabinet Office appointed her Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments.

Television

Katona films regularly for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and The Food Network. Appearances have been on Lorraine, Sunday Brunch,[12] Secret Chef, My Kitchen Rules, My Spice Kitchen and her own Indian food travelogue for the BBC Recipes that made me.

She regularly appears as guest chef on This Morning - ITV,[13] guest panelist on The Kitchen Cabinet - BBC Radio 4, and on BBC and Sky News as a guest expert on matters relating to business and hospitality.

On 14 February 2021, a 10-part culinary travel series called A Taste of Italy premiered on Channel 4 and More 4, and presented by Katona.[14]

On 16 March 2021, she was a guest judge on the Interior Design Masters semi-final in which the designers made over a pair of restaurants in Hebden Bridge.[15]

On 13 July 2021, Katona was one of the professional chefs on ITV's Cooking with the Stars. The six part series saw her train her celebrity partner (Harry Judd) in preparing dishes which were then judged. In the final episode Harry Judd was named the winner.[16]

On 10 August 2021, Katona appeared as guest chef on BBC 1's Masterchef, challenging four celebrities to cook an Indian recipe from her menu.[17]

On 6 September 2021, it was announced that Katona will be one of the members of the new judging panel of Great British Menu joining former GBM champion Tom Kerridge, and comedian and food podcaster Ed Gamble.[18]

Books

• Mowgli Street Food: Stories and recipes from the Mowgli Street Food restaurants
• The Spice Tree: Indian Cooking Made Beautifully Simple
• Pimp My Rice: Delicious recipes from across the globe
• The 30-Minute Mowgli: Fast Easy Indian from the Mowgli Home
• Meat Free Mowgli: Simple & Delicious Plant Based Indian Meals

Restaurants

Mowgli Street Food restaurants

Location	Opened
Mowgli, Bold Street, Liverpool	2014
Mowgli, Corn Exchange, Manchester	2015
Mowgli, Water Street, Liverpool	2016
Mowgli, Grand Central, Birmingham	2017
Mowgli, Westgate, Oxford	2018
Mowgli, Stoney Street, Nottingham	2018
Mowgli, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield	2019
Mowgli, Church Street, Cardiff	2019
Mowgli, St Martins, Leicester	2019
Mowgli, Boar Lane, Leeds	2020
Mowgli, Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port	2021
Mowgli, The Brewery Quarter, Cheltenham	2021
Mowgli, Charlotte Street, London	2021
Mowgli, St Vincent Street, Glasgow	2022
Mowgli, Church Street, Preston	2022
Mowgli, Hanover Street, Edinburgh	(Opening soon)
Mowgli, Corn Street, Bristol	(Opening soon)
Mowgli, Duke Lane, Brighton	(Opening soon)

Awards and honours

• Best Companies Awards 2021 - The UK’s Top 100 Best Large Companies to work for - Rank #28.[19]
• Casual Dining Awards 2020 - The Trailblazer of the Year Award.[20]
• Honorary Doctor of Business Administration - Edge Hill University (2019).[21]
• Honorary Fellow - Liverpool John Moores University (2019).[22]
• MBE - (New Year Honours 2019) Honoured for services to the food industry.[23]
• The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders, 2019.[24]
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Best Emerging Brand Award.[25]
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Best Management Team Award.[26]
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Rank #45.[27]
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2018 - Rank #17.[28]
• Retailers’ Retailer Winner 2018 - Emerging Concept.[29]
• Wireless Social's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, 2018.[30]
• Business of the Year, City of Liverpool Business Awards - 2018.
• Best Medium Sized Business, North West Business Masters Awards - 2018.
• Maserati Top 100, People's choice [31]

References

External links

• Official Website
• Mowgli's Website
• Mowgli Trust

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