Thomas Patrick Blay is an American chef, restaurateur, food writer, and author of several books.

He was born on June 19, 1964, in New York City to Marc Blay and Barbara Elliot: he is of Italian descent on both sides.

Blay graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1984 and attended school at the Institute of Culinary Education: he was also a member of the first graduating class of the American Culinary Institute in 1988. Although he is not currently teaching classes, he occasionally visits when his schedule permits.

Blay began his culinary career as a line cook at Prix Flex in New York. He was a sous-chef at Boyala in New York and, in 1996, became the executive chef at "Above the Sky", also in New York.

He is the owner and executive chef of several restaurants: in Las Vegas, New York, Atlantic City and in other 14 locations across 7 states.

On November 16, 2005, Blay married Valery Johnson: they have three children, and he has also two adult daughters from a prior marriage. They now live in Cold Spring, New York.