Interview with Ming Tsai | Enjoy Arts and Taste St Pete

I always tell everyone that we live in this little area of paradise. There is so much beauty in Tampa Bay and while we don’t get the recognition like Miami, we have so much to offer.  St. Petersburg and the Bay area have long been known for their world-class arts scene, cuisine and beaches—and now, from November 15-17, 2013, a new three-day festival will celebrate these offerings in a big way. The first of what is planned to be an annual event will attract both a regional and national audience.  I am just a little EXCITED to have this great event take place in Pinellas County.

With the panoramic beauty of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area as the backdrop, Enjoy Arts & Tastes is sure to excite the senses!

As a long time fan of Ming Tsai, I am thrilled that he is part of the Enjoy Arts and Taste St Pete line-up of Celebrity Chefs.  “Ming’s East-West Cocktail Party” will feature a culinary demonstration filled with Ming’s tips and tricks.  Ming not only cooks East-West but also lives East-West. Just as his food is all about finding balance and harmony, Ming strives to do that in his daily life.

I had the opportunity to interview Ming recently and really enjoyed chatting with him about his family and the time they spend around the family table.  Ming grew up in a house where both Mom and Dad were in the restaurant business and being Chinese, they were always talking about food and grades. Ming’s love of cooking and food was very obvious.  He told me —“I was, am and will always be HUNGRY and I can make people happy through food!”  At his parents home, it seemed that the question that constantly came up was– “what are we eating next?”  Ming confided that he remembers that every major decision in his home was always made around the kitchen table.  After getting a  mechanical engineering degree from Yale, Ming told his parents that he wanted to be a Chef.  His mother told him to go follow his dreams. 

Although, Ming is a Restaurant owner and Chef, he is a big believer in the family meal.  He typically drives home most nights and cooks dinner for his family.  It was music to my ears when Ming told me that he tries very hard to make Sunday dinner a family priority.  His favorite traditional meal that he shares with his wife and sons is Christmas Eve.  The restaurants are closed on Christmas and one of Ming’s favorite dishes to prepare is his leg of lamb.  I have never made a leg of lamb but after listening to Ming describe this tradition, I am determined to try it!

Celebrity Chefs joining the Enjoy Arts and Taste St Pete Festival:  Donatella Arpaia, Chuck Bandel, Scott Conant, Todd English, Lorena Garcia, Duff Goldman, Mark Heimann, Ingrid Hoffmann, Paul Liptak, Duncan McClellan, Masaharu Morimoto, Stewart O’Flaherty, Allen Salkin, Curtis Stone and Ming Tsai.  So many of my favorites!

Festival highlights:

–   Watch live Cooking Demonstrations and attend events hosted by nationally known celebrity chefs and TV personalities.
–   Stroll through the Grand Tasting, where the region’s top chefs will offer samples of their signature dishes.
–   Indulge in a Sense Immersion Dinner orchestrated by six pairs of chefs and artists.
–   Succumb to Nocturnal Cravings at a late-night dessert party.
–   Sip, Savor and Swing at a Latin-inspired celebration complete with music and dancing.
–   Enjoy the sizzle of the poolside Battle of the ‘Burg, where celebrity judges will crown the region’s best burger.

Check out Enjoy Arts and Taste St Pete Tickets and Event listing —> here.