Richard Blais is an American chef, television personality, restaurateur, and author. He appeared on the reality show cooking show Top Chef,[1] and is known for his take on classic American cuisine. Blais was the runner-up for the fourth season of Top Chef and returned several seasons later to win Top Chef: All-Stars.
Blais was born in Uniondale, New York.[2] He was adopted by his stepfather in the second grade.[3] Blais' first cooking job was in a McDonald's on Long Island, where he learned the basics of working in a kitchen.[3]
Blais relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2000 to run his own restaurant called Fishbone.[5] Initially, he was unimpressed with traditionally Southern ingredients but found ways to use them in his own style.[5] He has founded Trail Blais, a culinary company that seeks to perform consulting, design, and operational services in Atlanta eateries.
In July 2011, Blais signed a cookbook deal with Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House. On February 26, he released his debut cookbook, Try This at Home: Recipes From My Head to Your Plate, a cookbook for home cooks to reinvent classic dishes.[5]Try This at Home was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award 2014 in the category of Cookbook: General Cooking. Blais later opened Juniper & Ivy with Michael Rosen in San Diego, California, his first West Coast venture. He and Rosen most recently opened Crack Shack, a fine-casual fried chicken concept with multiple locations in Southern California and Las Vegas.[1]
On May 16, 2017, Blais released his second cookbook, So Good: 100 Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours, which features 100 elevated traditional recipes designed for the home cook.[6]
Also in 2017, Blais began hosting a weekly podcast about the culinary industry called Starving For Attention.[7]
In 2020, Blais and iHeartRadio launched the game-show-style podcast "Food Court with Richard Blais", which features guests including celebrity chefs, actors, writers, comedians, and other podcasters debating classic food arguments.
In 2023, Blais authored Plant Forward: 100 Bold Recipes for a Mostly Healthy Lifestyle, a plant-based diet cookbook in which dairy and meat are not abandoned entirely but the main focus is on plant dishes.[8]
In 2024, Blais has partnered with the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, AZ. He will debut multiple new dining experiences as part of the Scottsdale resorts $110 million dollar renovation.[9]
Top Chef
Richard Blais
Blais appeared as a contestant on the 4th season of Bravo's Top Chef. He was the runner up, losing to Stephanie Izard.[10] In 2010, he competed in Top Chef: All-Stars and won the competition, earning the title of "Top Chef" by defeating Mike Isabella in the season finale, which aired on March 30, 2011. He was a recurring judge in seasons 12 and 13 and on Season 18, Top Chef: Portland.
Blais is currently or has been involved with the following:
Juniper & Ivy – An American restaurant that opened in San Diego on March 3, 2014.[12] At Juniper & Ivy, Blais offers refined, American cuisine with a "left coast edge." The restaurant was designed by The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry.[13]
The Crack Shack – Blais partnered with chef Jon Sloan and Michael Rosen on this second San Diego–based restaurant, which opened in late 2015. The restaurant "serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner via an all-day menu that revolves around chicken and eggs, from fried to grilled and everything in between."[14]
FLIP Burger Boutique – Blais was formerly involved with and co-founder of burger-focused restaurant FLIP Burger Boutique, with three locations in Atlanta, one in Birmingham (closed), and a location in Nashville, Tennessee (closed).[15] Blais is no longer involved with the FLIP chain.
Ember & Rye – Blais has been named as the chef for a restaurant scheduled to open at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, CA. The restaurant is part of the property's $50 million renovation project.[16][17]
Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen – Blais’ newest restaurant project, which opened in December 2021 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.[18][19]
Kestrel, A Richard Blais Kitchen + Lounge opened in 2024 at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in California
Other activities
In November 2011, Blais ran the ING New York City marathon for Alliance for a Healthier Generation.[20] It was his first marathon, and he completed it in 4:31:54.[21] He has since run four other New York City marathons. In November 2017, Blais ran the TCS New York City Marathon for Room to Read.[22]
Personal life
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Blais is married, and he and his wife have two daughters, Riley and Embry.[23]
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