Michael Van de Elzen Biography: TV Shows, Age, Height, Movies, Net Worth, Parents, Wife, Kids, Books

Michael Van de Elzen is a New Zealand celebrity chef, television personality, restaurateur, author, and entrepreneur.

He is best known for hosting popular TV shows such as The Food Truck and Eat Well for Less New Zealand, where he demonstrates practical, affordable cooking and helps families eat healthier on a budget.

He gained fame through his approachable style, focusing on seasonal, from-scratch recipes using quality ingredients.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Michael Van de Elzen
• Stage Name: Michael Van de Elzen
• Born: 1973
• Age: 53 years old
• Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
• Nationality: New Zealander
• Ethnicity: Unknown
• Occupation: Celebrity Chef, Television Personality, Restaurateur, Author, Entrepreneur
• Height: Unknown
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Van de Elzen
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Belinda “Bee” Van de Elzen (m. 2006)
• Children: Hazel Van de Elzen, Ivy Van de Elzen
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million – $5 million

Early Life and Education

Michael Van de Elzen is a celebrity chef.

He was born in 1973 in Auckland, New Zealand, to parents referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Van de Elzen.

He grew up with siblings on the family’s 8-hectare poultry farm in West Auckland, which housed around 100,000 chickens, though details about them are not publicly known.

He began his culinary journey at age 14 as a dishwasher in a local restaurant, sparking his passion for professional kitchens.

He trained at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in culinary arts.

His ethnicity and religion are not publicly known.

Career

Michael Van de Elzen’s career started in his teens with kitchen work in New Zealand, progressing to high-pressure roles in London restaurants, including Bank, where he managed large-scale fine dining.

He and his wife Belinda ran a country house restaurant in Ireland before returning to New Zealand in the late 1990s.

In 2003, they opened the award-winning restaurant Molten in Mount Eden, Auckland.

He rose to national prominence hosting The Food Truck on TVNZ (2011 onward), a hit series that popularized street food and creative cooking.

Subsequent shows include Kiwi Living and Eat Well for Less New Zealand (multiple seasons), where he focuses on budget-friendly, nutritious meals.

He has judged and appeared as a guest on programs like The Great Kiwi Bake Off.

Van de Elzen has released bestselling cookbooks and expanded into education with Good From Scratch cooking school on his six-hectare Muriwai farm.

He also produces cast-iron cookware and runs catering/events.

Despite personal challenges like health issues and business impacts from events such as COVID and Cyclone Gabrielle, he continues as a prominent TV host, author, and food educator promoting sustainable, family-oriented cooking.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @mikevandeelzen

Personal Life

Michael Van de Elzen, 53, is a celebrity chef.

He has been married to Belinda “Bee” Van de Elzen since 2006; they are business partners in ventures like restaurants, the cooking school, and farm life.

They have two daughters, Hazel (born around 2011) and Ivy (born around 2013).

The family lives on a rural property in Muriwai, West Auckland, where they grow food and raise animals, echoing Van de Elzen’s own farm upbringing.

He has openly discussed overcoming personal hardships, including throat cancer, a serious quad bike accident, and family losses, as well as balancing a demanding career with family priorities and wellness.

Net Worth

Michael Van de Elzen is a celebrity chef.

His estimated net worth is in the range of $2 million to $5 million.

This figure is based on earnings from long-running television hosting, multiple cookbook publications, ownership and operation of a cooking school and farm-based business, past restaurant successes, product lines like cookware, and related food industry activities.