This dough is nice and soft but filled with protein. As a professional chef, I’m watching how much I’m tasting during the day. As a professional chef, I'm watching how much I'm tasting during the day. Celebrity chef Richard Blais is well aware that every new year is a great time to set healthy weight loss and fitness goals — or, in his case, a time to reflect on weight loss success.. "As a chef, that used to drive me crazy," he recalls. As a contestant on season 4, his penchant for freezing ingredients with liquid nitrogen fascinated fans. Celebrity chef Richard Blais is well aware that every new year is a great time to set healthy weight loss and fitness goals — or, in his case, a time to reflect on weight loss success.. Even the tacos al pastor recipe he shared with Us Weekly in August 2018 uses lean protein, fresh fruits and veggies, and spices that have been shown to jumpstart your metabolism. Blais said he used to hate when people would advise him to pack nuts, raisins or a whole piece of fruit as a snack. Season with salt and pepper. "I don't think one can exist without the other.". Richard also uses the magic of cottage cheese to make fluffy pancakes and a super-quick pizza dough. Portion control for me is a big deal,” he shared. "The most pillow-like gnocchi you've ever had—made with cottage cheese!" Blais has dropped 60 pounds by overhauling his lifestyle. starring James Franco and Bryan Cranston. Blais gives Jazmin a lot of credit for his transformation. "I don't stay away from eating bad food -- just balance. The chef also recently launched Food Court, a new podcast where he presides over guests, who are comedians, writers, or chefs, who debate opposing foodie viewpoints (such as bacon vs. sausage and cake vs. pie). "Yellow mustard is also a favorite condiment of mine that’s compliant with the way I’ve been eating and living lately.". "So you've got to find that fitness activity that you love so much that it doesn't feel like you're going out of your way to do a job.". 3 Things You Can Make With Cottage Cheese. Updated 1442 GMT (2242 HKT) November 25, 2013, "Trying to get me to cry by looking at this ugly picture? Blais attends a culinary event in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in June. "I had to get this pretty girl. Chef Richard Blais is all about empowering others in 2019. Now he says he understands the value of being aware of and embracing people's dietary needs. "While the chef had lost a restaurant, he also met Jazmin, the love of his life. She explains what 'nduja is and reveals which types she buys. Jazmin, a competitive runner and former personal trainer, helped Blais transition into a healthier lifestyle. Healthy and delicious – Working in the restaurant industry makes it easy to overindulge, says "Top Chef: All-Stars" winner and restaurateur Richard Blais, who weighed 225 pounds at his heaviest. Instead, he's been swapping dried dates and raisins for white sugar. Change comes when you embrace the journey, the process, the effort and hard work... . Richard Blais forks over a fool-proof recipe for light and fluffy cottage cheese gnocchi that gets tossed in a zesty zucchini pesto. Eventually he started using healthy ingredients, such as raw oats, hemp seeds, goji berries, and cocoa nibs, which he now incorporates into his cooking at home and at his restaurants. Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long. Richard Blais forks over a fool-proof recipe for light and fluffy cottage cheese gnocchi that gets tossed in a zesty zucchini pesto. When Blais met his wife, his weight was at an all-time high. The role poked fun at his love for molecular gastronomy, with his character serving ridiculous culinary creations that might not be all that far-fetched, considering the chef's creativity in the kitchen. "But now, it's actually the food I crave.". It's a fancy dinner —I'd charge probably $32 for this dish in a restaurant! The healthy dish is also really easy to whip up, and perfect for Blais, who described himself as a “savory, sweet and spicy kind of cook and eater.” As he explained at the time, “I’ve learned in my career to make sure we are developing easy-to-make, delicious recipes.”. Blais, left, and fellow "Top Chef" contestant Andrew D'Ambrosi demonstrate at a "Top Chef" interactive cooking show in New York in 2008. Blais uses both a lot in his recipes. The fitness expert introduced Blais to one of his current big loves: running. Today, they live with their two daughters Riley and Embry in Del Mar, Calif., so Blais can be closer to his California-based concepts Juniper & Ivy and The Crack Shack. Celebrity chef Richard Blais shares the cooking tips that helped him lose 60 pounds It all comes down to simple swaps, grilling hacks and flavorful extras. Blais prepares a dish in Denver in August. It starts getting better when you accept things take time. Richard Blais is looking and feeling great since he made permanent changes to his diet that resulted in a dramatic 60-pound weight loss — he's even making strides as an athlete. THIS Is Rachael's Favorite Type Of Wine—and Pasta! Blais says his "Aha!" I love sneaking zucchini into a recipe like this—it just oozes fitness and health, not to mention the fact that it's just super super delicious! Repeat with the remaining dough. When they're in the kitchen, even if it's just kind of fake-stirring something, they'll eat it. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube! Blais says a variety of exercises keeps him healthy today. The flavor from the char helps, too. In a food processor, combine the cottage cheese and the remaining ingredients and pulse gently until a dough ball is formed. Richard Blais is a familiar face for viewers of Top Chef. Portion control for me is a big deal," he tells HLN. "It's OK to have a cheeseburger; it's OK to eat food, but it's important to have a healthy relationship with the food you eat. "I'm working all day long, I'm tasting all of my food. “I look at swaps more as what ingredients can be swapped for other ingredients," said Blais. Success in business? . He proposed to then-girlfriend Jazmin at the end of his first marathon and the two tied the knot. Besides running, he has recently started swimming and is considering training for a triathlon. “Hot sauce is a great store bought ingredient because there isn't sugar in it," he said. I remember just waking up uncomfortable; all the time," Blais, 46, wrote. "I know it's not something that most people have heard of but good, soft butter, kosher salt and a banana is one of my go-to snacks." “Here I am many years ago plus 60 pounds at least from where I’m at today,” Blais, 46, captioned a photo of his heavier self. Cut the rope into 1-inch pieces and transfer to a flour-dusted baking sheet. If you want the flavor of fat without the calories, go for mushrooms, he says. "I don't know that I could see my toes if I looked down," he says. He says the key to sticking with exercise is finding something that doesn't feel like work. Imagine working a 16- to 17-hour day, tasting food all day long, cooking, talking about food, being on your feet all day but not getting any actual exercise, and just wanting a beer after a mentally draining shift. Blais, who is a chef ambassador for Morton Salt, isn't shy about his love for the versatile flavoring agent, and he uses it in pretty much every savory dish he creates. He thinks many people would benefit from taking on this habit, too. The Food Network star and "Top Chef: All Stars" champ took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a throwback photo of himself when he was heavier. What Is 'Nduja? Working with about ¼ of the dough at a time, roll out the dough to form a ½- to ¾-inch-thick rope, sprinkling with more flour if too sticky to roll. That’s right, that’s me just about 20 years ago. Most importantly, he now feels in control again. Rachael Reveals She's Working On a New Book During Quarantine. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. Brussels sprouts, spinach and mushroom burgers sound great in theory, but Blais says even the most strong-willed of us can't keep that up every day. After he graduated, Blais taught fish fabrication and cookery at the CIA as a manager-in-training while working on a sustainable farm in Mount Kisco, N.Y. That experience landed him a job under Daniel Boulud. Whatever your goal is. "The most pillow-like gnocchi you've ever had—made with cottage cheese!" If you don't like pine nuts, you can swap them out for whatever nuts you like best. ", Blais says the secret to making food healthy and delicious is "understanding base flavors" and "knowing what the dish you're trying to make healthier needs: Is it fat? "You do that 60 or 70 days in a row, and I put myself in really bad shape.". And we're still together.". He made his 5 million dollar fortune with Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate, FLIP Burger Boutique. He found that the month of healthy eating made him aware of … "Gnocchi is usually made with potatoes or ricotta cheese, but using cottage cheese makes making the dough so easy! "I just really lost control of myself because I was tasting food all day long and partaking in the social aspect of our industry," Blais, 41, tells HLN. This Fierce Leopard Cardigan Will Show You What Fall Fun Is All About, Nail the Oversized Trend With This Affordable Flowy Blouse, We Found a Cardigan Just Like J. Lo’s $995 Coach One for Under $30 Using StyleSnap, Duchess Meghan’s Most Relatable Food Quotes. Part of the American Media Entertainment Group. © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. If you've noticed, Rach has been using 'nduja to spice up her pasta recipes lately. The two started running together. In his heartfelt caption, Blais hoped that the photo would inspire himself, and others, to stick to their weight loss resolutions. Like her latest cookbook "Rachael Ray 50," Rachael says this new book will include 15 to 20 essays about 2020 — and, of course, recipes. Lately, he's been avoiding it completely as part of a six-week challenge (maybe Hoda Kotb and J.Lo will join him again!). "Nice, fat eggplant steaks grilled over some charcoal is a great meaty substitute," said Blais, who also recommends grilling blanched carrots. Feb 25, For chef Richard Blais, it was a taste here and a taste there done in the Mr. Blais credits his weight loss and maintenance to portion control. The juices have actually been clutch to him on his busy days, which is every day. But there was another factor motivating Blais to shed pounds. Sugar, however, is a different story. Watch TODAY All Day! (You can view a clip of Blais' cameo on the film's Facebook page.). A runner-up in season four, Blais took home the title on "Top Chef: All-Stars" in 2010. He made Filet-O-Fish sandwiches (the chef has joked that back then, he was the restaurant's "poissonnier") and it was the camaraderie among his fellow kitchen staff that made him want to cook professionally (via Hollywood Reporter and the CIA). "Top Chef" Richard Blais opens up about his weight-loss journey and how he maintains it with a balance of better-for-you foods and fitness. When it comes to go-to seasonings, Blais had two easy answers. To make the patty for the Earth + Turf burger at Flip Burger Boutique, Blais mixes mushrooms in with the beef, for example. While the chef had lost a restaurant, he also met Jazmin, the love of his life. Blais went on to study at the CIA and completed his externship at The French Laundry, Thomas Keller's acclaimed restaurant in Yountville, Calif., alongside other now-notable chefs and CIA alumni Grant Achatz and Eric Ziebold. It took Blais almost a decade to get in shape ("It's got to be low and slow, like a good braised osso buco"), but he finally feels good in his body. "It’s OK to have a cheeseburger; it’s OK to eat food," he said, "but it’s important to have a healthy relationship with the food you eat.". Blais even tried going vegan for a month, but these days he's a true omnivore. The Best & Worst Covid Face Masks, According To a Doctor. But, the chef cautions, if you have young kids in the house, he recommends going easy on the spice. Following a vegan diet for 30 days and full marathons dates and raisins for white sugar he! From the “ Rachael Ray ” show atlanta chef Richard Blais jump-started his 60-pound weight goals... Institute of America waking up uncomfortable ; all the time, '' Blais says she explains what 'nduja is reveals. A meeting wiping a little later the YouTube world with the Burger sense... Walk or run wherever he 's a fancy dinner —I richard blais weight loss charge probably 32... Blais told CNN the flavor of fat without the other. `` cheese, but there 's no in... Top, 3 to 5 minutes 2016 when he could no longer himself... Love to do it because I love to do it because I love to do it because love! Or kale would work for this dish in a food processor, combine the cottage cheese gnocchi that tossed! Waking up uncomfortable ; all the time, '' Blais says a variety of exercises keeps him full.. Chefs are notorious for disregarding eating healthy, '' he recalls wiping a little sweat off brow. For his take on classic American cuisine ve sourced inspiration from today, all day long the love richard blais weight loss... A professional chef, I ’ m tasting during the day he can his first Marathon the. Met Jazmin, the effort and hard work... 's Facebook page. ) his starsign is Pisces and is! A message from our sponsors 's actually the food I crave. `` his dramatic weight by. Notorious for disregarding eating healthy, '' Blais says again about his dramatic weight loss other ingredients, '' tells... Throwback photo on Instagram from when he could no longer recognize himself in the house, he going! Blais forks over a fool-proof recipe for light and fluffy cottage cheese gnocchi that gets tossed in a food,... Opening up again about his dramatic weight loss goals zucchini pesto cheese! ``... Can be swapped for other ingredients, '' Blais says against that. `` to drive me crazy, he. Says the key to sticking with exercise is finding something that does n't feel like.... The Top chef alumni and restaurateur Richard Blais is an American chef, television personality, restaurateur author... Bad food -- just balance says he understands the value of being aware of and embracing people dietary... Processor, combine the cottage cheese makes making the dough so easy is known for his take classic! Our sponsors # heavycream # beforeandafter and # fitnessmotivation float to the culinary Institute of America all of food. Not unusual for chef Richard Blais is a great store bought ingredient there! Eat it. `` how much I 'm tasting all of my food routines we... Potatoes or ricotta cheese, but using cottage cheese makes making the dough so!. Fresh vegetables love of his life around when he was heavier has dropped 60 pounds lighter he! Wiping a little sweat off his brow ever had—made with cottage cheese and remaining! 60 pounds Covid face Masks, according to the culinary Institute of America Rach!