Nisha Katona facts for kids

Nisha Katona, who has an MBE award, was born on October 23, 1971. She is a British restaurateur and TV personality. Her parents were both doctors.

Nisha is famous for starting the Mowgli Street Food restaurants. She also created the Mowgli Trust charity. This charity helps many people. She is also a food writer and a television presenter. Before all this, she worked for 20 years as a lawyer who protected children.

Nisha's Amazing Career Journey

Nisha Katona worked as a lawyer for 20 years. She focused on protecting children. This means she helped make sure children were safe.

In 2008, she became a trustee for National Museums Liverpool. This is like being on the board of directors. In 2009, she became an Ambassador for Diversity. This role helped make sure different people got important public jobs.

Later, Nisha decided to teach about Indian cuisine. She opened her own restaurants called Mowgli Street Food. These restaurants are all over the UK. She also started the Mowgli Trust charity. This charity gives over £500,000 every year. It helps local and global charities.

Nisha often appears on TV and radio shows. You might have seen her on BBC, ITV, or Channel 4. She also talks about food on Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet.

On January 1, 2022, Nisha became the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University. This is a very important leadership role. She is the first person who studied at the university to become its chancellor. She took over from Sir Brian Leveson.

In July 2021, Nisha joined the new Hospitality Council. This group of experts helps restaurants and hotels. Their goal is to help these businesses recover after the COVID pandemic. They also work to make them stronger for the future.

In 2019, Nisha received an MBE award. This award was given to her for her great work in the food industry.

Nisha's Early Life and Education

Nisha Katona grew up in a town called Ormskirk. She went to Scarisbrick Hall School. After that, she studied law at Liverpool John Moores University. This is where she met her husband, Zoltán Katona.

In 1996, she became a qualified lawyer. She studied at the Inns of Court School of Law. She is also a member of Lincoln's Inn. This is one of the professional associations for lawyers in England.

Nisha worked as a full-time lawyer in Liverpool. In 2008, she became a trustee for National Museums Liverpool. She helped with the museum's plans and marketing. In 2009, she became an Ambassador for Diversity. This role helped promote fairness in public jobs.

Nisha on Television

Nisha Katona is often on TV shows. She films for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and The Food Network.

She has appeared on many popular shows. These include Lorraine and Sunday Brunch. She was also on Secret Chef and My Kitchen Rules. She even had her own Indian food show for the BBC called Recipes that made me.

Nisha is a regular guest chef on This Morning. She is also a guest on The Kitchen Cabinet on BBC Radio 4. She shares her business and food knowledge on BBC News and Sky News.

In February 2021, Nisha presented a cooking travel series. It was called A Taste of Italy. This 10-part show was shown on Channel 4 and More 4.

In March 2021, she was a guest judge on Interior Design Masters. The designers had to decorate restaurants.

In July 2021, Nisha was a professional chef on Cooking with the Stars. She trained the celebrity Harry Judd. Harry Judd won the competition with her help!

In August 2021, Nisha was a guest chef on BBC 1's Masterchef. She challenged four celebrities to cook an Indian dish from her menu.

From 2021 to 2024, Nisha was a judge on Great British Menu. She judged alongside chef Tom Kerridge and comedian Ed Gamble.

In September 2024, ITV ordered a new cooking show. It will be called Nisha Katona’s Home Kitchen. Nisha will present this ten-part series.

Nisha's Books

Nisha Katona has written several cookbooks. They share her delicious recipes.

• Mowgli Street Food: Stories and recipes from the Mowgli Street Food restaurants
• The Spice Tree: Indian Cooking Made Beautifully Simple
• The 30-Minute Mowgli: Fast Easy Indian from the Mowgli Home
• Meat Free Mowgli: Simple & Delicious Plant Based Indian Meals
• BOLD: Big Flavour Twists to Classic Dishes

Awards and Special Honours

Nisha Katona has received many awards for her work.

• Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 – Listed as a best Best Big Company to work for
• Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 – TOP 10 Best Big Companies
• Best Companies’ 2023 – TOP 25 Best Large Companies
• Casual Dining Awards 2023 – Restaurant Brand of the Year (1-19 sites)
• British HR Awards 2023 – Hospitality and Leisure Company of the Year
• North West Finance Awards 2023 – Finance Team of the Year (5 or less)
• MIB – Restaurant of the Year and Business of the Year 2023
• British Curry Awards 2022 - Best Restaurant North West
• Best Companies Awards 2022 - The UK’s Top 100 Best Large Companies to work for - Rank #16.
• Best Companies Awards 2021 - The UK’s Top 100 Best Large Companies to work for - Rank #28.
• Casual Dining Awards 2020 - The Trailblazer of the Year Award.
• Honorary Doctor of Business Administration - Edge Hill University (2019).
• Honorary Fellow - Liverpool John Moores University (2019).
• MBE - (New Year Honours 2019) Honoured for services to the food industry.
• The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders, 2019.
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Best Emerging Brand Award.
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Best Management Team Award.
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2019 - Rank #45.
• The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 2018 - Rank #17.
• Retailers’ Retailer Winner 2018 - Emerging Concept.
• Wireless Social's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, 2018.
• 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