Michael van de Elzen

Michael van de Elzen is a renowned chef and passionate foodie who New Zealanders have invited into their living rooms and kitchens through his many roles on television, most recently on TVNZ’s Eat Well for Less. Since the age of 14, Mike has worked in acclaimed restaurants in New Zealand and around the world. Mike and his wife Belinda (Bee) have owned several restaurants in Auckland but are now focused on their Good From Scratch cookery school where they live near Muriwai.

Having two young daughters has made Michael and Bee very conscious about what Kiwi kids are eating. He has a real passion for ensuring New Zealand children are eating healthier food. His cookbook, Good From Scratch Kids Cookbook, is all about getting kids into the kitchen and cooking healthy food. In 2023, Michael released his most recent cookbook, Good From Scratch, sharing delicious, seasonal recipes and gardening tips. Mike has written for New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, MiNDFOOD, and House and Garden and you can hear him each week on Newstalk ZB’s Sunday morning show.

Services Offered

• Guest speaking engagements
• Catering for private or corporate functions
• Cooking demonstrations
• Guest appearances
• Endorsements (where appropriate)
• Voiceovers
• Television presenting

About Michael

“Opening my own restaurant as a chef working alongside Bee and being able to look out the kitchen window at a packed, buzzing room of happy punters makes all that hard work worthwhile. I think the true passion for food came whilst working in Ireland. I had come from monster kitchens in London to a small 22-room hotel in the middle of nowhere. So, for the first time we had that essential ingredient… time. Time coupled with great produce is a winning combination for a chef.”

“Get them to try everything, even if they don’t like it at least they have experienced it. Cook in front of them and involve them when you can—this gets them interested in just where their food comes from. Change things out, don’t just do the same old dishes every day as they will get bored and make bad food choices. Be a hard ass sometimes: if they don’t eat it for dinner they can eat it for breakfast!”

“I tended to push myself the most so no one really influenced me a great deal. But if I was to name one person that would be a chef called John Torode. He was my head chef at Bluebird and still to this day is the most energising chef I have ever worked with.”

Partnerships

FMG has been partnering with Mike for the last five years. Like FMG, Mike is passionate about promoting, coordinating, and achieving life goals. His core values align with FMG’s, including belief in community, strong relationships, being real and honest, professionalism, and having a positive view of the future.

“Partnerships are important to us at FMG and we are proud to have Mike alongside us and our lifestyle clients.” — Richard Aitken, FMG Marketing Manager