Ming Tsai

“I love being a chef! Not everyone does what they like to do.” These are the words of renowned chef and Family Reach Ambassador, Ming Tsai. Turning his back on a career in engineering after completing his degree at Yale University, Ming instead chose to follow his heart and pursue his passion, the culinary arts. Ming’s love of cooking was fostered as a child when he worked in his family’s restaurant, Mandarin Kitchen. Ming, a celebrity chef and successful restaurateur, has some amazing professional accomplishments. In 1998, he opened the award-winning Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA which immediately gained popularity with Boston area diners for its innovative East-West cuisine. In addition, Ming has become widely known through his television appearances on the Food Network and his public television cooking show, Simply Ming, now in its eighth season. For all of his talents, and by truly enjoying his life’s work, Ming has also won numerous awards and can point to many professional achievements. But his greatest fulfillment has come from using his gifts and talents for the joy and well-being of others.

In December 2010, Family Reach Development Director, Carla Tardif called Ming about a young woman named Darlene who was dying of osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Like so many families fighting cancer, Darlene’s family also struggled financially and was supported by Family Reach financial assistance grants. Carla explained that one of Darlene’s last wishes was to meet Ming and have him cook for her. Ming was touched by this young woman’s request and responded, “Absolutely!” A couple of weeks later, Darlene and her family were treated to a special night with Ming at Blue Ginger. Prior to the meeting, Darlene had the pleasure of receiving a wonderfully elegant make-over, (donated by a local beauty salon with help from Carla) and arrived to one of the area’s finest restaurants looking radiant. Then Ming worked his culinary magic right before Darlene’s eyes. To see the joy that he brought to Darlene and her family deeply touched Ming. “She (Darlene) looked so amazing! She was in a wheelchair but she was beaming like she had no worries or problems. That I could take her mind off everything for two hours – it was really special. I have been blessed by my job. It’s so humbling the things you can do,” said Ming. Seeing the love shared by the family also touched Ming. “It was incredible to see that family love. The love was just exuding from that table and just to be a part of that – I was a lucky man.”

This special night at Blue Ginger with Darlene and her family led Ming to embrace the mission of Family Reach. He continues to use his gifts and talents to help Family Reach Foundation promote its mission and support families like Darlene’s who are fighting cancer. On May 20, 2011 Ming will perform a cooking demonstration for families fighting cancer at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Very conscious of children with cancer’s needs for good nutrition but also aware of the constraints on the finances and time of their families, Ming desires to teach families how to cook simple, nutritious and affordable meals. “I want to help the families and teach them to cook simple meals that are healthy, easy to cook and also affordable. They can’t afford rent, clothes or going out to dinner but they need real food. They need sustenance.” Having grown up in a family where wholesome meals were always prepared and the family ate dinner together every night, Ming knows the importance of good nutrition and family togetherness. “Getting families to cook together, to eat together, I can’t think of anything more therapeutic.”

Following the cooking demonstration at Rady Children’s Hospital, Ming Tsai will co-host the 4th Annual Flavors of the Gaslamp fundraising event in San Diego. Funds raised for Family Reach will support its work with Rady Children’s Hospital to help families who are coping with the challenges of cancer. Ming is happy to give his time to promote the Family Reach mission. “Compared to what these families (fighting cancer) go through, it’s nothing to give my time for an event,” said Ming.

Having grown up in a family where he was loved, provided for and allowed to grow, Ming has a deep sense of gratitude as well as a sense of responsibility to give back. “I was so blessed as a kid. To be able to give back is always what I want to do. It’s all about giving back. I was put on this planet to leave a mark. I want to help change the world.” Ming has demonstrated his genuine desire to share his personal gifts and talents for the well-being of others in all facets of his life: his professional endeavors, his efforts for Family Reach and other charitable organizations and his family life. Energized by doing what he loves to do and motivated by a sense of blessing and stewardship, Ming aspires to live the words of Dr. Maya Angelou: “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”