Biography of Keith Famie

Chef Keith Famie’s destiny began in the late 1970’s, during European sojourns (adventures, really). It was inside the historic kitchens of Monte Carlo and Brussels that his passion for culture mushroomed into a career. As a student of Old World cuisine, he returned to the States to complete his formal training at the elite Lark Restaurant in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Famie was nationally recognized in 1989 by Food & Wine Magazine as “Ten Best New Chefs of the Year” and Les Auteurs was also recognized in Esquire Magazine as Best New Restaurants of the Year (1989). In 1996, Famie was hired as the Chef de Cuisine for Forte restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan. The following year Forte was named one of the “Best New Restaurants of 1997” by Esquire Magazine. Two years later, Famie launched Famie’s Adventures in Cooking television shows in 1998 and was nominated for an Emmy. Another recent primetime documentaries, Famie’s Wild Aussie Adventure aired this past year .

In January 2001, Famie was introduced to the world as one of the participants on the highly rated television program, Survivor II: The Australian Outback. Although not the ultimate winner, Famie literally survived throughout the entire season and placed third in the quest for the million dollars. Also in 2001, Famie published his first cookbook, Famie’s Adventures in Cooking which chronicles his restaurant years as well as his adventurous culinary travels. Famie published his second cookbook based on part of his experience from Survivor, entitled You Really Haven’t Been there Until You’ve Eaten the Food.

Famie developed a relationship with Food Network and Keith Famie’s Adventures debuted in November of 2001. The 32 show series enabled Famie to travel the globe in search of new cuisines and cultures. In his own words, he puts it best by saying, “You really haven’t been there until you’ve eaten the food!”

Famie is a big supporter of children’s organizations and very often goes to schools to speak to children about foods from around the world.

Chef Famie has been an active board member of the Rainbow Connection, a Michigan based non-profit organization that raises money for children with life threatening illness since 1997 and has held the presidency and vice president position for almost six years.