LOCAL chef Felice Tocchini, owner of the Fusion Brasserie in Stoulton, has joined fellow chef Jean-Christophe Novelli’s elite team at his world renowned cookery school, The Novelli Academy, in Hertfordshire.

Felice was invited by Jean-Christophe after the pair worked together at the Taste of Birmingham Festival earlier this year, and he will head up the school’s Italian courses, including Tuscan cooking and pasta making.

Felice said: “It is a real honour to be invited to be part of Jean-Christophe’s cookery school, which has been voted one of the top 25 in the world.

“That said, it has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and is a fun place to work. I look forward to welcoming Jean-Christophe to Fusion and seeing what he thinks of our approach to food.”