Ming Tsai Tapped to Host James Beard Foundation Media Awards

Ming Tsai at his Boston restaurant, Blue Dragon. / Photo via Facebook

The James Beard Foundation is celebrating its 30th season this year, and a local culinary superstar will be at the helm of one of the gala events. Ming Tsai will host the Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards ceremony in New York City this spring, the Foundation announced today.

In addition to owning Blue Ginger in Wellesley and Blue Dragon in Fort Point, Tsai is a prominent force in culinary media. He has penned five cookbooks, including spin-offs of his Emmy Award-winning Food Network show East Meets West with Ming Tsai, and Simply Ming, currently in its 13th season. He also produces that public television show, and was the host of Ming’s Quest on Food Network.

Tsai was JBF’s Best Chef Northeast in 2002. Blue Ginger has earned a place on Boston magazine’s list of Best Restaurants and garnered Best of Boston awards, among other accolades. Tsai is also a noted philanthropist; he is president of the National Advisory Board of Family Reach, a member of the Harvard School of Public Health’s Nutrition Round Table, and more.

The media awards gala is on Tuesday, April 26, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. In Chicago on Monday, May 2, the ceremony honoring chefs and restaurateurs will be hosted by Carla Hall, a New York restauranteur and co-host of ABC’s The Chew.

With these two personalities, the James Beard Foundation is celebrating the role that television has played in the culinary world. James Beard himself hosted television’s first cooking show in 1946.

“We’re delighted that Carla Hall and Ming Tsai will bring both their culinary and media talents to shine a light on how television has informed and entertained our world of food,” said Susan Ungaro, president of The James Beard Foundation, in a press release. “We’re honored to have them act as hosts as we recognize the best of the best in our ever growing and changing food and media community.”