Monica Galetti Biography: Monica Galetti born August 26, 1975 is a Samoan-born New Zealand chef. She is a judge on the BBC competitive cooking show MasterChef: The Professionals and the chef proprietor of Mere in London. Previously, she served as the senior sous-chef at Le Gavroche in London. Galetti has been a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals from 2009 to 2021 and returned in 2023. Since 2017, she has co-presented Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby with Giles Coren and Rob Rinder.
Monica Galetti Biography 2025
Monica Galetti is a Samoan-born New Zealand Chef. She is a judge on the BBC competitive cooking programme MasterChef: The Professionals and chef proprietor of Mere in London. She was senior sous-chef at Le Gavroche in London.
Born in Samoa, a Polynesian island nation, Galetti was initially raised by her two aunts in Upolu while her mother moved to Auckland, New Zealand, for work. At the age of eight, she relocated to Wellington, New Zealand, where she lived with her parents and five siblings. She attended Naenae College and in the early 1990s pursued a diploma in hospitality at the Central Institute of Technology in Upper Hutt.
Monica Galetti is currently 48 years old, having been born on August 26, 1975, in Samoa to Michael and Gabrielle Galetti. She is the youngest of three siblings, with two older brothers, Michael and David. Her family relocated to New Zealand during her childhood, and she grew up in Auckland. Inspired by her mother’s cooking and the vibrant Samoan culture, Galetti developed a passion for cooking from an early age.
About
Chef who is known for her prolific career and appearances on British reality television. She has hosted the BBC2 reality series MasterChef: The Professionals, and served as the sous chef at the London restaurant Le Gavroche.
In 2012, she published her book Monica’s Kitchen. In 2014, she contributed to the book Smile or Get Out of the Kitchen with Adam Handling. In 2015, she left Le Gavroche to pursue other miscellaneous career interests.
She was born in Samoa, and raised in New Zealand. She married the head sommelier of Le Gavroche, David Galetti, with whom she has one daughter, Anais.
Personal Life
Monica Galetti enjoys a close relationship with her husband, David Galetti, who is also a chef and restaurateur. They met while working at the prestigious London restaurant Le Gavroche and were married in 2005. The couple has one daughter, Isabella, born in 2008.
Career
With over thirty years in the culinary field, Monica Galetti has held prominent positions in top London restaurants, including Le Gavroche and the Savoy Grill. She gained widespread recognition as a judge on the BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals and as a co-owner of the acclaimed London restaurant Mere.
Awards
Nominated for Best Chef at the British Restaurant Awards
What is her net worth? According to Wealthy Genius, Monica is estimated to be worth around £3 million. As well as amassing her fortune on Masterchef, she has also presented Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, which airs on the BBC, alongside Giles Coren.
