View All PostsRichard Blais
A Week in the Life of Richard
Early flights, cooking demos, and restaurant check-ins -- oh my!
Oct 25, 2012TUESDAY
I'm off to Cincy before the house wakes up. I spent the transit twittering. I brought the DVD of this week's episode of Life After, but my IPad doesn't do the DVDs. I read Magnus Nilsson's book from Faviken, which inspires me to grow a beard. I checked into Cincinnati and go on a glorious 13-mile run into Kentucky and back into Riverfront Park. Aha! I booked the flight in early because I thought the Reds might still be in the playoffs. Last year, I threw out a first pitch at Great American. But they aren't in it anymore, so my run past their stadium is sad. I get back to the hotel and jam out emails and play MLB12: The Show on my Playstation, that I travel with. Yes -- I'm a dork. I bail on a corporate dinner with clients because honestly, I hate those. They are too long and I go mad waiting for the dessert course as my mind starts to go to all the deliverables I have to complete, like this blog. Instead, I eat Chipotle alone, like Fabio did with In-N-Out, Except, not in a parking lot, or anything as sad as that. I try to fall asleep, as the next day, I have an ideation session with a large snack company. I toggle between the politicos talking election stuff and The Yankees' non-productive bats. I text beautiful things to Jazmin, and fall asleep.
WEDNESDAY
I can't disclose much, except that I shipped an ultrasonic homogenizer to my session. it's a 10,000$ blender. Check it out at Polyscience and ask for it for the holidays. We worked out of a kitchen at Jungle Jim's, which is a fascinating place. I demonstrated alongside food science guru Shirley Corriher, who made her famous biscuits. As a chef, these biscuits make the week. They are amazing. Maybe I'll share the recipe soon.... The next eight hours are all brainstorming and cooking. This side of my work is always educational and fun. I leave after eating seven biscuits and hopefully providing the client some food for thought. On the way back to the airport, I meet a superfan who's a barista at Starbucks. We take pictures. I love meeting fans on the road! Kind of hard for that not to feel good. So take this as permission to say hello, unless I'm pushing two strollers or carrying a screaming child or something. Flight gets in just in time to watch Life After with Jazmin at home. In full disclosure, the birthday cake scene was the lowest energy footage we ever shot. I don't remember why exactly, but knew it was awkward and weird. And it was. To clarify, it was a handbag that could also be a backpack. Yes, I know my wife isn't Dora The Explorer, but she is Latina, ha... And, yes, she returned the bagsack...
The gun range was thrilling. I'm all about life experience, and this was a great one. Jazmin really took to it and was, as documented, quite the shot. She was so happy, and it showed on-screen. All I want to do is make her happy. We watched a few moments of WWHL and went to bed while reading tweets and recaps of the show. Jazmin can't stand that!
I also wish the show was just u and Fabio.
I worry about You and Fabio on the fast track. How do u really get to enjoy anything. Love u both!
Richard, Watching four chefs is a bit too much. I wish that Bravo would focus their attention on you and Fabio, the other two are just plain and boring. Wish you lots of luck!!!
I was planning to jokingly write you about choosing a gift for your wife, being a wife and mother myself, but after reading your blog I just want to say "slow down".
Richard, what in the hell has happened to you? If this is what fame does to a person, I say it's not worth it. Here's an observation from someone who doesn't know you and only sees you through the eyes of a reality tv show (so maybe I'm way off base, but) you seem miserable! Season 4 Richard Blais seemed happy and fun and playful and professional. TCAS Richard Blais was insufferable and I'm afraid I feel the same about LATC. Despite winning All Stars and achieving this so called fame, you seem anxious, jealous and unhappy. What good is all the money and notoriety if it makes you and your family unhappy? There are more important things in life than traveling to a billion places each week and rubbing elbows with Sean Penn. It's sad to see such a decent guy turn in to a needy, bottomless pit. Get off the fame train my friend. It's a train to nowhere. Wishing you the best.
Don't try to play Superman. I get that you're excited and are doing what you feel is best for you and your family. Don't fear that you will lose momentum by taking a time out. It will only make you stronger! Don't miss out on the best of times with your family...they grow too damn fast.
Sounds like you're gone as much as a military man. It takes a very special woman to tend to the home fires while you are away., and it seems like you appreciate everything your wife does. Good for you, enjoy building your future together, just make sure you keep taking those time out moments with the fam.
you need to make time for your wife and daughters or all your hard work will be for nothing. Your a smart guy, figure it out.
I don't know how you do it, Chef. I'm exhausted just from reading about your week. Thank you for fitting this show in, as I love watching it. You and Fabio have always been my favorites and getting to watch more of you both is a joy!
Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan as in I cried when you won Top Chef: All Stars (a bit ridiculous yes but I really wanted you to win). Its not really my style to comment on the personal life of someone I don't even know but I digress. Reading this made me exhausted. The thought of doing all that you do in the course of one week is insane. But your post also made me really sad. Of course it's great that you've achieved the success you've dreamed of and you're able to provide more than enough for your family, but it sounds like you need to learn to say no every so often. You don't want to wake up one day seeing you've accomplished so many things and yet you didn't devote enough time to the simple things that you hold so dear: your family. They're invaluable (as you know) and the time you spend with them is precious as is the time you devote to your passion of cooking. But the balance between the two is key. I think the public will always be here to eat your food and support you as fans regardless of how many events you participate in. So maybe it wouldn't hurt to slow down. You'll thank yourself for it later.
Best of luck!
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