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On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are the best markets in Beijing?
There was this huge 20-level indoor market that everyone goes to. The U.S. basketball team went there and they had five suits made for $150 a piece. Great bargains. You can get everything from jade — I got a jade necklace there — to custom suits. Everything made in China because — guess what — everything is made in China. -
On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are Ming Tsai's favorite markets in Beijing?
There was this huge 20-level indoor market that everyone goes to. The U.S. basketball team went there and they had five suits made for $150 a piece. Great bargains. You can get everything from jade — I got a jade necklace there — to custom suits. Everything made in China because guess what — everything is made in China.
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On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are the best places to eat in Beijing?
Go to where there are only Chinese people; don't go to places where there are only tourists. I've heard people come back from China and say the food was no good and I’m like, "Well where did you eat?" and they say, "Oh we ate with the tour group here, here and here." You have to break out. I know people aren't all going to eat street food, but that's some of the best food. And as a side note: if you do travel the world, take probiotics.
A must-go restaurant in Beijing is Made in China in Grand Hyatt Beijing — really good Peking duck, good pot stickers and sizzling lamb. A second restaurant that has really known for Peking duck is Da Dong. They go through a couple hundred a day — they're known for their Peking duck. -
On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are Ming Tsai's favorite restaurants in Beijing?
Go to where there are only Chinese people; don't go to places where there are only tourists. I've heard people come back from China and say the food was no good and I’m like, "Well where did you eat?" and they say, "Oh we ate with the tour group here, here and here." You have to break out. I know people aren't all going to eat street food, but that's some of the best food. And as a side note: if you do travel the world, take probiotics.
A must-go restaurant in Beijing is Made in China in Grand Hyatt Beijing — really good Peking duck, good pot stickers and sizzling lamb. A second restaurant that has really known for Peking duck is Da Dong. They go through a couple hundred a day — they're known for their Peking duck.
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On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are the five best Cape Cod & The Islands food experiences?
1. For the classic Nantucket fine-dining, it's all about The Pearl.
2. For a burger and beer at lunch is The Boarding House.
3. The bar upstairs at Corazon del Mar, I think, is a great little jewel — great everything, great food.
4. If you happen to know someone who has a boat, go to The Wauwinet. If you want a nice casual, outdoor lunch, The Wauwinet is great. -
On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are the five best Cape Cod & The Islands food experiences?
1. For the classic Nantucket fine-dining, it's all about The Pearl.
2. For a burger and beer at lunch is The Boarding House.
3. The bar upstairs at Corazon del Mar, I think, is a great little jewel — great everything, great food.
4. If you happen to know someone who has a boat, go to The Wauwinet. If you want a nice casual, outdoor lunch, The Wauwinet is great. -
On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are Ming Tsai's favorite restaurants on Cape Cod & The Islands?
For the classic Nantucket fine-dining, it's all about The Pearl. For a burger and beer at lunch is The Boarding House. The bar upstairs at Corazon del Mar, I think, is a great little jewel — great everything, great food. If you happen to know someone who has a boat, go to The Wauwinet. If you want a nice casual, outdoor lunch, The Wauwinet is great.
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On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are the five best things to see and do in Boston?
1. Red Sox game. Go to La Verdad, sit outside, have fantastic soft tacos or tortas. Have a couple of margaritas, then go to the game. And of course, if the Red Sox win, you go back; if the Red Sox lose, you go home. And if you don’t want Mexican, go to Game On!, you’re right there. It’s literally part of Fenway and also good bar food and great drinks. By the way, if you can’t get into Fenway, you can go to Bleacher Bar, which kind of gives you a sense that you’re in Fenway. And you always have to stop by the sausage guy after the game. Extra onions and peppers, please.
2. A Celtics or Bruins game. You have to go to the Garden, which is what I still call it. You’ve got to go to the Pallotta sisters, right? Nebo is the same type of thing [as La Verdad] — before for a quick bite and afterward to celebrate. I go for the Celtics and the Bruins equally. But Nebo is fantastic; it’s so convenient because it’s right there. They have a decent gluten-free pizza and I think their pastas are fantastic. When we’re up at the Garden, we’re up on the top floor and the beers are cold and the dogs are hot. You can’t get anything better than that — especially watching the Bruins making it to the Stanley Cup.
3. Chinatown. I probably shouldn’t mention it because it’s getting so busy. But there are two places: China Pearl for dim sum. For me, the don’t-miss is the braised chicken feet, but that’s not going to be a don’t-miss for a lot of people. I love the translucent dumplings filled with pork, garlic, chive and shrimp. They have this dim sum cart with a griddle, so you they cook it tableside. Down the street on Beach Street is Gourmet Dumpling House, which has the best dumplings. One of the house dishes is this sliced fish Szechuan-style and it’s the spiciest thing you’ve ever eaten, but it’s delicious. Then a third place I love is Shabu-Zen — fun, communal place to go. You cook your own food in a hot broth. Get the Korean kimchi broth — it’s the best they have.
4. Canobie Lake Park. It’s fun. My kids love it for the waterpark. That one luge that gets you all wet. It’s the more casual Six Flags. Nothing’s wrong with Six Flags, but for more low key.
5. Museum of Science. We go to it at least four to six times a year, as we do the aquarium. Those are two must-go places if you have kids — or adults. They’re fun, but they’re educational. It’s certainly good to know more about how the world works and it’s certainly important to know how the sea works. I think that’s where the aquarium does an amazing job — they really do educate, in a non-boring way, how important it is to take care of our seas. -
On October 19Ming Tsai answered the question:
What are Ming Tsai's favorite things to do in Boston?
1. Red Sox game. Go to La Verdad, sit outside, have fantastic soft tacos or tortas. Have a couple of margaritas, then go to the game. And of course, if the Red Sox win, you go back; if the Red Sox lose, you go home. And if you don’t want Mexican, go to Game On!, you’re right there. It’s literally part of Fenway and also good bar food and great drinks. By the way, if you can’t get into Fenway, you can go to Bleacher Bar, which kind of gives you a sense that you’re in Fenway. And you always have to stop by the sausage guy after the game. Extra onions and peppers, please.
2. A Celtics or Bruins game. You have to go to the Garden, which is what I still call it. You’ve got to go to the Pallotta sisters, right? Nebo is the same type of thing [as La Verdad] — before for a quick bite and afterward to celebrate. I go for the Celtics and the Bruins equally. But Nebo is fantastic; it’s so convenient because it’s right there. They have a decent gluten-free pizza and I think their pastas are fantastic. When we’re up at the Garden, we’re up on the top floor and the beers are cold and the dogs are hot. You can’t get anything better than that — especially watching the Bruins making it to the Stanley Cup.
3. Chinatown. I probably shouldn’t mention it because it’s getting so busy. But there are two places: China Pearl for dim sum. For me, the don’t-miss is the braised chicken feet, but that’s not going to be a don’t-miss for a lot of people. I love the translucent dumplings filled with pork, garlic, chive and shrimp. They have this dim sum cart with a griddle, so you they cook it tableside. Down the street on Beach Street is Gourmet Dumpling House, which has the best dumplings. One of the house dishes is this sliced fish Szechuan-style and it’s the spiciest thing you’ve ever eaten, but it’s delicious. Then a third place I love is Shabu-Zen — fun, communal place to go. You cook your own food in a hot broth. Get the Korean kimchi broth — it’s the best they have.
4. Canobie Lake Park. It’s fun. My kids love it for the waterpark. That one luge that gets you all wet. It’s the more casual Six Flags. Nothing’s wrong with Six Flags, but for more low key.
5. Museum of Science. We go to it at least four to six times a year, as we do the aquarium. Those are two must-go places if you have kids — or adults. They’re fun, but they’re educational. It’s certainly good to know more about how the world works and it’s certainly important to know how the sea works. I think that’s where the aquarium does an amazing job — they really do educate, in a non-boring way, how important it is to take care of our seas.
HomeTastemakersMing Tsai
Ming Tsai
Tastemaker
Chef & TV Personality
Boston
Ming Tsai is the chef and owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Mass., and the host of the James Beard and Emmy-nominated public television series, Simply Ming. Tsai began cooking for TV audiences on the Food Network, where he was the 1998 Emmy Award-winning host of East Meets West with Ming Tsai and led the popular cooking adventure series Ming's Quest. In the summer of 2008, he traveled to the Beijing Olympics with NBC's Today Show to provide viewers with insight into the food customs and traditions that define his Chinese heritage. In addition to his TV pursuits, Tsai has also written several cookbooks, including Blue Ginger: East Meets West Cooking with Ming Tsai; Simply Ming; Ming’s Master Recipes; and Simply Ming: One-Pot Meals. He also won the James Beard Award in 2002 for Best Chef: Northeast.
