What's Cooking?

Summary
Celebrity chef Ming Tsai is coming to judge Lakewood Elementary's cooking contest, and Arthur thinks he has a shot at winning — if he can just get his dad to stop giving him advice.

Plot
The intro starts with Arthur teaching D.W. to do the show. She is getting it right, but Arthur cuts, saying they need a different scene. First, they tried the ocean, but it had too much motion. Next, they tried outer space, but Arthur interrupted her twice, which frustraes her.

What's Cooking?

Ming Tsai is coming to judge the kids' cooking contest at Lakewood Elementary, and Arthur decides to bake a chocolate cake. Jane reminds Arthur that he'll need help. The next day at the library, Sue Ellen met Arthur and Buster. She told them she's going to make randang (water-buffalo stew), much to Arthur and Buster's dismay. At Brain's house, Brain shows Arthur and Buster around his hydrophonic greenhouse. Later at home, Arthur, David, and Buster are working on their chocolate cake. buster suggests more sugar, but David stopped him. David gave Arthur and Buster a piece of advice: always use baking powder to make a successful chocolate cake. The next day at the cafeteria, Muffy, Arthur, and Buster worry about the contest. At home, Arthur plans to wake up early to make the cake. The day of the contest comes, but Arthur's cake is flat much to his horror. At the contest, Ming Tsai is tasting the food when David Read shows up and he reveals Arthur made some brownies. David told Ming everything about his mistakes, but Ming congratulated Arthur for his delicious brownies, but declares himself winner of the contest, much to everyone's complaints, but Ming explains that the winner is the one who gets to eat the products of the cooking, and gives them the  brownies, declaring them all winners and finishing the episode.

Major

 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * David Read
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Ming Tsai

Minor

 * D.W. Read
 * Nigel Ratburn
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Jane Read
 * The Brain

Cameos

 * Kate Read
 * Fern Walters
 * George Lundgren
 * Alex
 * Binky Barnes
 * Jenna Morgan
 * Maria Pappas
 * Francine Frensky
 * Miss Sweetwater
 * Otis
 * Kenny
 * Prunella Deegan
 * 3rd Grade Female Aardvark
 * 3rd Grade Female Aardvark (Number 2)
 * Jessica
 * Jack Weasel
 * Mary
 * 3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)
 * Beulah McInnerny
 * 3rd Grade Male Cat
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog
 * 3rd Grade Male Dog (Number 3)
 * 3rd Grade Male Rat
 * 3rd Grade Male Rabbit
 * Helen
 * Patrick
 * Nancy
 * Norman Hedgehog
 * John

Production notes

 * This is the last episode where Jason Szwimmer voices D.W..
 * The canisters in David's catering supplies read "SALT," "BAKING," and "SUGAR."

Cultural References

 * Muffy's fantasy features her on a show called "American Chef Idol" which is a parody of the show "American Idol".

Home Video
DVD:
 * D.W., Bossy Boots (DVD)
 * Arthur: Season 10

Gallery
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Screenshots
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