Roger Mooking facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Roger Mooking

Mooking speaks at a demonstration at the CNE.
Born	Trinidad and Tobago
Cooking style	Global and BBQ
Education	George Brown Culinary Management Program
Current restaurant(s) Twist by Roger Mooking, Previously executive chef at Kultura Social Dining and Nyood Restaurant
Television show(s) Everyday Exotic, Heat Seekers, Man Fire Food, Chopped: Canada

Roger Mooking is a talented chef, musician, and TV host. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago and later moved to Canada. Roger is famous for hosting TV shows like Man Fire Food and Everyday Exotic. These shows have been seen on the Cooking Channel and Food Network Canada. He also appeared on Heat Seekers with Aarón Sanchez. Roger Mooking has been a guest on many other popular shows, including Today, Good Morning America, and Chopped Canada.

Early Life and Family

Roger Mooking was born in Trinidad and Tobago. His family had many people who worked in the food and drink business. When he was five years old, he moved to Canada. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, where his parents also ran a restaurant. Roger has a mix of African, Dutch, British, and Chinese family backgrounds. His mother taught him about European flavors. She used recipes from their Ukrainian neighbors.

Roger Mooking's Career

Music Journey

In the early 1990s, Roger Mooking was known as MC Mystic. He was part of a hip hop band called The Maximum Definitive in Edmonton. In 1993, their song "Jungle Man" was nominated for a Juno Award. The band then moved to Toronto to continue making music.

After that, Mooking joined a soul and R&B group called Bass Is Base. This group included Chin Injeti on bass, Ivana Santilli on keyboards and trumpet, and Roger Mooking on percussion. All three sang, with Roger as the rapper. Their first album, First Impressions for the Bottom Jigglers, won a Juno Award in 1995. A year later, their album Memories of the Soul Shack Survivors had a Top 20 hit song called “I Cry.”

Since then, Roger Mooking has released two solo albums. These were Soul Food in 2008 and Feedback in 2013.

Becoming a Chef

Roger Mooking studied cooking at George Brown College. He still helps guide the professional cooking committee there. Before becoming a co-owner, Mooking worked at Toronto's Royal York Hotel. He also helped start and advise many food businesses in Ontario.

For several years, Mooking was the executive chef and co-owner of Kultura Social Dining and Nyood Restaurant. Today, he is the executive chef at Twist by Roger Mooking. This restaurant is located at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Television Shows

Roger Mooking hosts several TV shows. These include Heat Seekers and Man Fire Food. He also helped create and hosts Everyday Exotic. In Everyday Exotic, he teaches viewers how to use spices and flavors from around the world in their daily cooking.

As the host of Man Fire Food on Cooking Channel, Mooking travels across the U.S. He explores different ways to cook with fire and smoke. This includes everything from small campfires to special custom-made grills. Man Fire Food has been on for many seasons. Mooking was also a judge on Food Network's Chopped Canada. He also judged two episodes of Guy's Grocery Games.

Roger Mooking has appeared on many other shows. These include The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Iron Chef America. He also makes regular appearances at food and wine festivals. In 2021, he was part of Canada Reads. He supported Francesca Ekwuyasi's book Butter Honey Pig Bread.

Authoring Cookbooks

Roger Mooking's cookbook, "Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook", was published in 2011. It won a Gourmand World Cookbook award. The book explains how to add unique ingredients to traditional dishes. This helps people experience flavors from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

TV Appearances List

Helping Others

In 2011, Roger Mooking worked with World Vision Canada. He traveled to Cambodia to share ideas about child nutrition. He also wanted to raise awareness about the need for healthy food and clean water for families everywhere.

In 2012, Mooking went to Bangladesh. He visited programs run by Save the Children that focused on nutrition. He met with community groups and medical clinics. He explored ways to create lasting health and nutrition programs. He has continued to work with Save The Children, traveling to Peru and working locally.

Mooking also supports Second Harvest, a charity in Toronto. He helps host their yearly event, Toronto Taste. This event provides rescued food to families who need it.

Personal Life

Roger Mooking is married and has four daughters. He has said that he has "never [cooked] the same thing twice."