Meet Richard Blais

Richard Blais is a successful chef, restaurateur, James Beard nominated cookbook author and television personality. Perhaps most recognizable as the first winner of Bravo’s Top Chef All-Stars, Blais went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America and trained at The French Laundry, Daniel, Chez Panisse, and el Bulli. He is a partner at San Diego’s acclaimed restaurant Juniper & Ivy and multiple locations of The Crack Shack, his rapidly expanding fried chicken and egg concept. He currently owns and operates Trail Blais, a forward-thinking culinary consulting company that has consulted on, designed, and operated popular eateries across the country. Trail Blais also advises national brands on menu creativity, ideation and employee training sessions. Trail Blais has opened concepts in San Diego, California; Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and St. Louis, Missouri and will be announcing new restaurant projects throughout 2020.

Blais is the James Beard Award-nominated author of Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate, as well as his second cookbook, So Good. He frequently makes appearances on such hit Food Network shows as Tournament of Champions and Guy’s Grocery Games. In addition, Blais hosts the hit hospitality industry podcast entitled “Starving for Attention” which provides an entertaining, behind-the-scenes look into the food industry, and has featured guests including Wylie Dufresne, Grant Achtaz, Andrew Zimmern, Gail Simmons and more. He recently launched his second podcast, “Food Court,” a high-energy, game-show-style podcast, which is climbing the charts in both comedy and culinary.

When not on set, in the kitchen or at home with his family, Blais may be found traveling cross country performing his live “stand up cooking” show to enthusiastic audiences nationwide.