 |
|
|
|
|
Rafih Benjelloun, a host of My Country, My Kitchen, is the chef-owner of the Imperial Fez, a Moroccan restaurant in Atlanta, which opened in 1991. It has been praised by the media and food critics for its luscious food and romantic, exotic decor.
Rafih was born in Fes, Morocco, on August 2nd, 1949. When he was 18, he left Morocco to study the arts in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. In
the early 1970's, he went to California to attend the San Francisco Art Institute. While there, Rafih spearheaded many community organizations, including the Urban Art Program.
He began his career as a restaurateur at a Moroccan restaurant in San Francisco called Mamounia. In 1975, Rafih moved to Denver, CO, where he opened a restaurant called Maatam Fez. Later, he opened restaurants in Boulder, Vail, and Colorado Springs, where he worked with the Air Force Academy to establish a Middle Eastern and North African studies program.
Along with his wife Rita, Rafih takes community and civic responsibilities very seriously wherever he lives. Among many other deeds, the Benjellouns helped to establish a culinary arts festival with chefs from all over Colorado. In Atlanta, he started the Atlanta Restaurant Marketing Association (ARMA), is the Chairman of the Restaurant Committee of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and he and his wife are active members of Les Toques Blanches, the brotherhood of international chefs. The Imperial Fez of Atlanta has won awards for "Best Romantic Restaurant" and "Best Decor" in Atlanta Magazine. The Benjellouns also received the Most Memorable Meal Award from Where Magazine in 1997 and 1998, and the Atlanta Tourism Award for the restaurant achievement.
Rafih Benjelloun has appeared on TV stations from San Francisco to Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Vail, Atlanta, and Australia. He also prepared Moroccan cuisine on Cooking Live.
When he is not busy with running his restaurants, or working in the community, Rafih likes to spend time with his wife, Rita, and his children. He maintains close contact with his family in Morocco, and frequently visits there. Rafih enjoys reading, the theater, and music. He speaks Italian, French, English, Moroccan, Arabic, Spanish and German, and he travels extensively. Nonetheless, Rafih can be seen nearly every night socializing with his customers, which he says is his favorite part of the restaurant business.
|
 |
|
|
