The name Nisha Katona rings a bell, as the food entrepreneur and television star. Once a super successful barrister, she’s now best known as the founder and CEO of Mowgli Street Food, which is an expanding chain of Indian restaurants, rooted in authentic Indian home cooking. Chef Nisha’s journey from the courtroom to the kitchen is an inspiring tale of guts, imagination and a strong spirit of compassion.
Who Is Nisha Katona?
Nisha Katona’s parents both worked as doctors and immigrated from India to the UK. She grew up in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 23 October 1971. Rachael’s former education was at Scarisbrick Hall School and then Liverpool John Moores University to study law, qualifying as a barrister in 1996. For twenty years she worked in child protection law and became a trusted counsel for vulnerable families and their children.
But Nisha’s passions reached far beyond the courtroom. She possessed a “nagging obsession” with the food of her ancestors. Her parents’ native dishes had imbued her with nostalgia. And also a taste for spice. With this passion, Nisha began the mission to bring Indian street and home food to the British high street and make spice-laden comfort cuisine available to all.
Key Details
| Category | Details |
| Net Worth | Estimated between $1 million and $5 million (approx. £3.65 million). Primarily from the Mowgli street food chain, TV, and book deals. |
| Family | Husband: Zoltan Katona, a renowned Hungarian classical guitarist (half of the Katona Twins).- Children: Twin daughters, India and Tia.- Lives with husband, daughters, and several pets (dogs, horses, goats, chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, alpacas). |
| Early Life & Education | Born: 23 October 1971, Ormskirk, Lancashire.- Parents: Both doctors who settled in the UK in the 1960s.- Studied law at Liverpool John Moores University. |
| Legal Career | Practised as a family and child law barrister for 20 years.- Appointed trustee of National Museums Liverpool.- Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments. |
| Food & Business Career | Founded Mowgli Street Food in 2014 (now a multimillion-pound chain with national reach).- CEO and face of the brand, popular for authentic, healthy Indian cuisine.- Recognised for philanthropy: The Mowgli Trust donates over £500,000 each year to charity. |
| Authorship | Written six cookbooks: Pimp My Rice, The Spice Tree, Mowgli Street Food, The 30-Minute Mowgli, Meat Free Mowgli, and Bold. |
| Television Appearances | Regular chef/judge on ITV’s This Morning, Great British Menu, Cooking with the Stars, Sunday Brunch, BBC’s Recipes That Made Me, and more. |
| Academic Role | Appointed Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University in January 2022, the university’s first alumna to hold the post. |
| Awards & Honours | Appointed MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2019 for services to the food industry. |
Notes:
- Nisha Katona is known for transforming authentic Indian home cooking into a national UK restaurant brand and for her engaging, approachable style as a chef, author, and TV presenter.
- Her family remains relatively private, but she shares glimpses of her life on social media and in interviews.
Building Mowgli Street Food: A Leap of Faith
In 2014, Nisha Katona used all her life savings to leave her law job and open her first restaurant in Birmingham, Mowgli Street Food. Mowgli was opened in Liverpool as a tribute to the everyday food of Indian homes. Not the heavier, creamier cuisine you find in most UK curry houses, but food that Indians eat at home.
She opened her second site in Manchester less than a year later. Customers responded enthusiastically to the restaurant’s bright, honest dishes, which were also praised as a reimagining of Indian take-out. As of today, Mowgli has grown to over 20 sites nationwide and has been named one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies, winning awards for its leadership, workplace, and authenticity.
Nisha’s goal with Mowgli is to “enrich lives in the cities we go to”, not just through food but by creating jobs, charitable giving, and education.
Charitable Work: The Mowgli Trust
True to her values, Nisha founded the Mowgli Trust, the charitable arm of the business. Every year, the trust raises and donates more than £500,000 to local and international charities. For Nisha, business success is intertwined with giving back, creating a circle of safety and support for both her staff and wider communities.
From Barrister to TV Personality
Nisha Katona’s love for sharing food and culture extends to television and media. She’s become a popular on-screen talent, regularly appearing as a judge on BBC2’s “Great British Menu,” Channel 4’s “Sunday Brunch,” ITV’s “This Morning,” and on her own show, “Recipes That Made Me.” Her style is warm, personable, and deeply informative, making complex recipes simple for home cooks and celebrating the stories behind every dish.
In 2024, ITV commissioned her ten-part series, “Nisha Katona’s Home Kitchen,” which brings even more of her family’s heritage into the spotlight.
Author and Culinary Evangelist
Nisha is a prolific author, with six published cookbooks to her name, including:
- The Spice Tree: Indian Cooking Made Beautifully Simple
- Mowgli Street Food: Stories and Recipes from the Mowgli Street Food Restaurants
- Pimp My Rice
- The 30-Minute Mowgli
- Meat Free Mowgli
- Bold
These books are celebrations of spice, simplicity, and approachable Indian flavour, designed for cooks of every skill level.
Education and Recognition
In 2019, Nisha was given an MBE for her services to the food industry. She is also a Doctor of Business Administration (Edge Hill University) and in 2022 she became Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, the first ever graduate of the university to hold this position. Her impact extends to public service: she’s worked as a trustee of National Museums Liverpool and was appointed by the UK Cabinet Office as Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments.
Nisha Katona’s Cooking Philosophy
Nisha calls herself a “curry evangelist”. She wants to make Indian cookery accessible to all. She believes anyone can use three spices and transform humble ingredients into a vibrantly coloured curry. She encourages home cooks to try and fail, but most importantly, enjoy food which is healthy, strong and based on heritage.
Her restaurant menus and cookbooks include dishes with global influences; they stem from her travels, experiments and openness. No matter if it’s treacle tamarind fries or Himalayan cheese toast, what joins all her dishes together is authenticity-a twist.
Impact and Leadership
Nisha’s impact goes well beyond food. The “maternal management style” has earned her accolades while creating places where workers are valued. She stands up for diversity, mental health, and zero tolerance for violence in her kitchen. Mowgli, under her direction, has been covered in the Sunday Times Fast Track and Best Places to Work time and again.
Her story of leaving a profession that offered security to become an entrepreneur is inspiring for anyone wanting to change careers.
FAQs About Nisha Katona
Why did Nisha Katona leave her law career?
Nisha left her successful 20-year career as a child protection barrister to follow her dream of opening an Indian restaurant focused on everyday home cooking. She wanted to share the food of her heritage and enrich the lives of people in her community.
What is special about Mowgli Street Food restaurants?
Mowgli differs from other Indian eateries by serving dishes you’d find on Indian streets and in homes, using fresh ingredients, vibrant flavours, and minimal oil. The menu is known for being inventive, approachable, and rooted in tradition, as well as for supporting charitable causes through the Mowgli Trust.
What television shows has Nisha Katona appeared on?
She’s a regular judge on BBC’s “Great British Menu,” a guest chef on ITV’s “This Morning,” and the star of “Recipes That Made Me.” In 2024, she’ll be presenting “Nisha Katona’s Home Kitchen” on ITV.
What books has Nisha Katona written?
Nisha’s six cookbooks are:
- Mowgli Street Food
- The Spice Tree
- Pimp My Rice
- The 30-Minute Mowgli
- Meat Free Mowgli
- Bold
All are celebrated for making Indian cuisine inviting and easy for everyone.
How does Nisha Katona give back to the community?
Through the Mowgli Trust, which donates over £500,000 annually to charities and non-profits. She also supports staff development and community engagement at every Mowgli location.
What awards and recognitions has she received?
In addition to her MBE, Nisha has earned honorary doctorates, business leadership awards, and is highly recognised for both her philanthropic and culinary achievements.
Is Nisha Katona a full-time chef today?
Yes! Having left law, she is now the CEO, executive and development chef at Mowgli, an author, broadcaster, and university chancellor, all rolled into one.
Nisha Katona’s journey from advocate in the courtroom to advocate for great food is as inspirational as her recipes. She reminds us that following your dreams, finding courage to change course, and cooking with love can transform not just your own life, but entire communities.