Cooking Channel Masters: Whoopi Goldberg and Ming Tsai

By: Holly Bryce

When Ming Tsai was a guest chef on The View, he was told by the show's food stylist not to expect Whoopi Goldberg to eat anything he made — she was just too picky. Determined to prove the food stylist wrong, Ming crafted a menu that even Whoopi couldn't help but love. Now, a few years later, not only is Ming one of the only chefs who Whoopi trusts with her culinary quirks, the two have become good friends. Tonight at 10pm ET on Cooking Channel's Masters, as these two masters of their respective crafts get together to cook a meal, they'll talk about food, their careers and life at large. I won't even try to recount this dynamic duo's natural and (often hilariously) candid tête-à-tête, but I will share Ming's mouthwatering menu.

First up, Ming makes Whoopi's favorite Chinese appetizer: traditional pork and ginger dumplings (or pot stickers). Did you know that the origin of potstickers is really one big, happy accident? Hundreds of years ago, the emperor's cook ran out of water while steaming his dumplings and they stuck to the bottom of the pan (thus the name). But much to the cook's surprise, the emperor loved the crispy texture. From then on, steamed-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-bottom dumplings have been a Chinese staple, and yes, even Whoopi can't help but be a fan.

Next up, Ming puts a Chinese twist on American fried chicken with a rub made up of eight spices (and really 12, since one of those spices is five spice powder). Dipped in buttermilk and thrown into a bubbling pool of oil, Ming's chicken is crispy, spicy and finger-lickin' good.

Tune in tonight at 10pm ET to Cooking Channel's Masters and watch as Ming serves up a meal fit for kings (and Academy Award winners) and Whoopi serves up good conversation and plenty of laughs.

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