TV chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will be cooking up some Valentine's Day love today when he launches an exclusive new menu at a Westcliff casino.

Novelli will be at Maxims Casino Club from 5.30pm demonstrating some of the highlights from his menu.

The casino, formerly the Westcliff Casino, on Western Esplanade, is run by Genting Stanley group, which has entered a partnership with the 46-year-old chef to provide a signature menu in its restaurants.

Novelli, who launched his first UK restaurant, Maison Novelli in 1996, will also run a special training programme for the firm's top chefs at his own academy in Hertfordshire.

The Frenchman said: "I am very excited to be working with Genting Stanley.

"My dishes will be totally exclusive to their restaurants."