11 Things You Didn't Know About Richard Blais — Chopped All-Stars

Show: Chopped
Richard Blais

Chef Richard Blais and basket, as seen on Food Network’s Chopped All Stars, Season 14.

Photo by: Janet Rhodes ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Janet Rhodes, 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

FN Dish is counting down to the Season 3 premiere of Chopped All-Stars by introducing a competitor every day. Sixteen competitors including Food Network and Cooking Channel talent, renowned chefs, Chopped judges and celebrities are competing for a chance to win the title of All-Stars champion and a $50,000 donation to charity. Watch the premiere on Sunday, April 7, at 9pm/8c and keep coming back to FN Dish for exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes previews.

Richard Blais is best known for winning Top Chef All-Stars and his innovative take on cuisine. A native New Yorker, Richard relocated to Atlanta in 2000, where he founded Trail Blais, a creative culinary company that has consulted on, designed and operates some of Atlanta's most-popular eateries, including The Spence, Flip Burger Boutique and HD1. His first cookbook, Try This at Home: From My Head to Your Plate, was recently released. But there's more about Richard that you don’t know ‑ for example, he loves chicken wings for a late-night snack. Find out more about Richard in his Q&A below.

What's your Achilles' heel ingredient, one that you hate to work with or encounter in someone else's dish?

Richard Blais: I don't hate to work with anything!

What dish or ingredient will we never catch you eating?

RB: Bugs ... never.

What was your most memorable meal? What, where, who? Details, please.

RB: El Bulli restaurant in April 2006. I was on my honeymoon and somehow got a reservation. It was amazing and even more so since my wife and I were celebrating our marriage.

What's your guilty pleasure food?
RB: Big slice of chocolate cake.

Is there one dish that you always order out and never make at home?

RB: A big steak. My family doesn't eat red meat, so I rarely cook one up for myself at home.

What kitchen tool can't you live without?
RB: A spoon.

If you weren't in food, what career would you like to have tried?

RB: I would have loved to have been a professional baseball player.

What's your favorite "food city" to visit?
RB: New York City.
What's your favorite late-night snack?
RB: Chicken wings.
What's one must-have at your last supper?

RB: Spaghetti and meatballs. Chocolate milk. What! I slid three things in there! It's my LAST supper. :/

Who's your favorite person to cook with?
RB: My wife and kids.
Rapid fire: Think fast!
Ketchup or mustard? Ketchup
Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Burger or hot dog? Burger
Cream cheese or butter? Butter
Soda or water? Soda
Sprinkles or jimmies? Sprinkles

Richard is competing for Alliance for a Healthier Generation .

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