Richard Blais may not have been the most humble of Top Chef contestants, but he was certainly among the most awesome. Do I need to remind you of smoked salmon with tapioca pearls and wasabi white chocolate sauce? Banana guacamole? Warehouse Kitchen? The headband? Season four ruled, and Blais almost ruled season four, except then Stephanie did.

And on Friday, October 8, Blais is coming to Seattle to cook alongside chef Brian Scheehser of Trellis, the restaurant inside the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland, and host chef James Hassell, the head guy at the Tower Club.

The dinner, a multicourse affair, benefits the James Beard Foundation and costs $150 per person. Call 206-622-2010 for tickets.