Sophie Michell

Well-respected and highly regraded in the food industry, Sophie Michell has 21 years of cheffing experience behind her. Hailing from a lineage of avid foodies and professional cooks, her first encounters with cooking were with her grandmother aged four. Showing incredible potential so early on, by the age of just 15 she was running services in a Somerset gastropub and a career in the food industry was already decided upon.

Sophie went on to train at the respected Butler's Wharf Chef School in London, while working at reputable and glamorous restaurants La Gavroche, Michelin-starred Greenhouse, the Lanesborough and the Embassy. At the age of 19, Sophie had been nominated ‘Young Chef of the Year’ by the prestigious Craft Guild of Chefs.

Sophie’s gastronomic interests have always centred on eclectic cuisine, quality ingredients and nutritional virtue. Her taste for adventure and appreciation of both classic and avantgarde fare led her to become the private chef for international supermodel Claudia Schiffer for two years, and work for other starry clients such as Leonardo DiCaprio. She has also continued to cater for high profile events; for example last year she was appointed as executive chef for The Royal Polo, cooking for Prince William and Prince Harry at Lord Lloyd Webber’s estate, for the second year running. She currently runs her own event catering company, Sophie Michell Events, (www.catering-events-london.com).

As part of Heathrow Airport's growth of Terminal 2 as a destination for food, fashion and lifestyle, Michell is part of the team behind The Gorgeous Kitchen, an exciting new contemporary restaurant providing passengers with a delicious menu worthy of any of the capital's top restaurants. From 2013 to earlier this year, Sophie also headed up the restaurant at the chic Belgraves Hotel, becoming the UK’s youngest female Executive Chef, a title she is immensely proud of. She completely overhauled the food offering after Mark Hix’s departure from the luxury boutique hotel, which received a superb response, numerous good reviews and a growing fan base since the re-launch of it's restaurant, Pont St.

In addition to this, Sophie has a successful career out of the kitchen as a TV presenter and food writer. She was part of Channel 4's smash hit cooking show 'Cook Yourself Thin', and co-wrote the book of the same name, which went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies. Other TV highlights include Sky Taste, Market Kitchen, Comic Relief, Sunday Brunch, Iron Chef USA and Masterchef.

Sophie has worked with many big British and global brands as an ambassador and consultant, including Ocado, Total Yoghurt, Herbal Essences, HaagenDazs, Danone, Tefal and Lindemann. She is currently the face of Merchant Gourmet's new Eat Well Live Well campaign for 2016. In addition to this, Sophie has had columns in, and contributed to, magazines and newspapers including Grazia, Healthy Magazine, Eat Me, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Mirror, The Sun, The Times, The Guardian Weekend Magazine, Stella, YOU magazine, The Daily Mail and Observer Food Monthly.

As a published author, Sophie has released three further books: ‘Irresistible’, 'Fabulous Food', and 'Love Good Food'. In 2014 she released two new books, ‘The Gorgeous Kitchen’ and a book in collaboration with Total Greek Yoghurt. Chef On A Diet, released 2016, is her seventh cookbook.