Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous individual alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to award-winning Chef, author, and entrepreneur Keith Corbin.
Keith Corbin is the owner and executive chef at Alta Adams restaurant and now a best-selling author of his memoir “California Soul.“
While growing up in the Jordan Downs housing projects in Watts, Corbin was involved with gangs and drug dealing, which eventually led to his incarceration.
“The drug game and the gang culture just has always been a part of my life, my family,” Corbin said. “There was no network to plug me into besides gang culture.“
In prison, he first started cooking and working in kitchens, eventually leading to a job with the LocoL restaurant group run by celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson. From there, Corbin partnered with Patterson on Alta Adams, a “California Soul” food restaurant utilizing local produce and healthier ingredients to put Corbin’s own spin on the food he grew up cooking and eating with his grandmother. Alta was named one of the best restaurants in the country by Esquire, Thrillist, and the Los Angeles Times and called “Black Hollywood’s top restaurant” by The Hollywood Reporter.
Consistently giving back, Keith Corbin regularly mentors youth from underserved communities and speaks at colleges and educational programs nationwide. Corbin has been invited to share his story from coast to coast with readers and food fanatics alike on book tours, festivals, and other inspirational events, including the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Philly Chef’s Conference, Tucson Book Festival, San Diego Writer’s Festival, and The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Here is Keith Corbin in his own words about his love of food and cooking:
“I would love to take the food I grew up with and put it on a platform like every other culture, you know? Taking the dishes that my granny made and using farm to table.”
Keith Corbin’s story is inspiring and uplifting. We at the Evolving Man Project wish the Chef continued success and show that being a convict doesn’t define the man you are. Like Keith Corbin, we fight for a society where everyone can get a second chance. Today, we honor Keith Corbin as our Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Folks Project 