Article: Ming Tsai inspires new chef graduates at the CIA

**texasmesquite** · 11-15-2009, 08:42 PM

Ming Tsai inspires new chef graduates at The Culinary Institute of America

dailynewstribune.com

The Culinary Institute of America
Chef Ming Tsai, a Natick resident and owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, speaks to graduates at commencement ceremonies at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., on November 6, 2009.

Chef Ming Tsai, a Natick resident and owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, gave the commencement address at The Culinary Institute of America's graduation in Hyde Park, N.Y., on Friday, Nov. 6.
Tsai shared with associate degree recipients that his celebrity chef friends "Emeril, Mario, and Bobby tell me I can have 10 restaurants." But, he advised graduates, "At the end of the day it is not about how much stuff you can collect. It's about enjoying the ride. We make people happy through food."

Tsai uses his celebrity to be a national spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. He helped write legislation to make Massachusetts restaurants comply with food allergy awareness guidelines, and he is active with groups such as Chefs for Humanity, the Harvard School of Public Health's Nutrition Roundtable, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Cam Neely Foundation, and the Denis Leary Firefighters Foundation.

"You have to make giving back part of your repertoire," Chef Tsai challenged the 62 newest CIA alumni set to launch their careers after earning degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts.
Tsai is also actively involved in community organizations, charities, and developing public policy.

An Esquire magazine Chef of the Year and James Beard Foundation Best Chef in the Northeast, Chef Tsai's restaurant earned an Ivy Award in 2007. He won an Emmy Award for "East Meets West with Ming Tsai" on the Food Network and has been nominated for two Emmys for his public television show "Simply Ming." He has also written three cookbooks and developed an eco-friendly line of bamboo kitchen products. In addition, People magazine listed Ming Tsai among its "Most Beautiful People" in 2000.