Nisha Katona


Nisha Katona MBE is a British chef. She is the founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants, a food writer, and a television presenter.

Career

Katona worked full-time as a child protection barrister for 20 years on the Northern Circuit. 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. She then switched to teaching about Indian cuisine.
Katona is the author of three cookbooks: Pimp My Rice, The Spice Tree, and The Mowgli Street Food: Authentic Indian Street Food. She founded Mowgli Street Food restaurants in the UK. She regularly appears on television and radio including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Food Network, and Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet.

Early life

Katona grew up in Ormskirk. She studied at Scarisbrick Hall School and, after a law degree from Liverpool John Moores University, qualified in 1996 as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law, and is a member of Lincoln's Inn.
She worked full-time as a Barrister in Liverpool's Chavasse Court Chambers. In 2008 the Department of Culture, Media and Sport appointed Nisha as a trustee of National Museums Liverpool where she sat on full board, along with Audit and Marketing. In 2009 the Cabinet Office appointed her Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments. She is Founder and CEO of Mowgli Restaurants, which has branches mainly in the North of England and the Midlands. She is a director of the Mowgli Trust, the charitable side of the restaurant that donates over £100,000 to local charities every year.

Television

Nisha films regularly for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and The Food Network. Appearances have been on Lorraine, Sunday Brunch, Secret Chef, My Kitchen Rules, and My Spice Kitchen.

Awards