Kelly Rangama is a French chef of Reunion heritage, holder of a Michelin star at her Paris restaurant Le Faham. A former Top Chef contestant, she became the first Reunion-born woman to earn a Michelin star, cooking a refined French cuisine coloured by the spices and flavours of the Indian Ocean.
From Sunday family meals on Reunion to a starred restaurant in Paris, Rangama has built a cuisine that bridges classic French technique and the ultramarine flavours of her island.
TL;DR
- French chef, born in 1987, of Reunion heritage
- Chef-owner of Le Faham in Paris (1 Michelin star)
- First Reunion-born woman to earn a Michelin star
- Competed on season 8 of Top Chef France
- Cuisine blends French technique with Indian Ocean flavours
Kelly Rangama key facts
| Born | 1987, Massy; raised on Reunion |
| Nationality | French |
| Restaurant | Le Faham, Paris (1 Michelin star) |
| Michelin star | January 2020 |
| Known for | French cuisine with Reunion and Indian Ocean accents |
Reunion beginnings
Kelly Rangama was born in 1987 near Paris but grew up on the island of Reunion, where her father introduced her to cooking during weekend family meals. After a literary baccalaureate she moved to mainland France, and after a change of direction trained at the Ferrandi culinary school in Paris.
A classic apprenticeship
Rangama began her career with Michel Portos at the two-star Saint-James in Bouliac, where she met her husband, the pastry chef Jerome Devreese. She then spent six years with Thomas Boullault at the one-star L’Arome in Paris, finishing as sous-chef and honing a rigorous classical French technique.
Top Chef and Le Faham
In 2017 Rangama competed on season 8 of Top Chef, coached by Helene Darroze. In 2019 she and her husband opened Le Faham in Paris, named after an orchid from the Mascarene Islands. In January 2020 it earned a Michelin star, making her the first Reunion-born woman to receive the distinction.
Signature style
Rangama’s style unites classic French cuisine with the flavours of her native Reunion and the wider Indian Ocean. She weaves spices, tropical produce and ultramarine accents into refined, technically precise dishes. It is a personal, warm cuisine that carries the taste of her island into a Paris fine-dining setting.
Kelly Rangama in context
Rangama is one of the distinctive Paris chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside Alessandra Montagne and pastry chef Claire Heitzler.
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Kelly Rangama FAQ
Who is Kelly Rangama?
A French chef of Reunion heritage with a Michelin star at Le Faham in Paris.
Why is she notable?
She is the first Reunion-born woman to earn a Michelin star.
When did Le Faham earn its star?
In January 2020.
Was she on television?
Yes – she competed on season 8 of Top Chef France.
What is her style?
French cuisine with Reunion and Indian Ocean flavours.
