A Quick Bite With Roger Mooking

Roger Mooking is the executive chef/co-owner of Toronto scene-making spots, Kultura Social Dining and Nyood Restaurant; host of Food Network Canada’s Everyday Exotic and recording artist and creator of Soul Food, a unique music project. He has two children, ages 2 and 3.

photo courtesy of Food Network Canada

Q: What’s your earliest food memory?

A: Standing at the counter on a chair folding wontons for soup with my dad. I was about 4 years old. It is actually one of my very first memories period.

Q: What was your favourite food as a child?

A: Vermicelli Rice Noodles. Our weekly jaunt to Chinatown would not be complete without picking up a new pack (or 6) or these noodles. I could eat it with anything imaginable. Also, pepper sauce – the hotter and spicier the better.

Q: Is there a food you loathed as a child and have since learned to enjoy? Or maybe you still can’t stand it? Tell us – what is it?

A: Hating food??? Are you mad? Not possible. I ate anything that came my way as a kid. It is now that I am more picky and have developed a dislike of cauliflower.

Q: What’s your default, throw-together-and-wow-everyone meal?

A: This is a trick question. It is rare that I cook the same thing twice actually. I’m constantly experimenting with new dishes as I have to do so many recipes throughout the year. So every new dish is an adventure that leads me to that next dish. Truly, it depends on how adventurous my guests are. Cooking is never about the cook; it’s always about the guest. That is the true secret of wowing everyone.

Q: What’s the one meal you would love to cook but fear it’s too complicated?

A: Fear not dish, life is too short. This is why I love cooking; I will never learn every technique, iingredient or trick in a lifetime. Learning to cook is a continuous journey and for someone as creatively ADD as I am is the perfect activity.

Q: What’s your favourite thing to cook or bake with someone else?

A: Nothing beats making pancakes with my kids. This week I snuck in chopped pecans and chopped candied ginger into them. They claim to hate them both but they kept asking for more of these damn pancakes. What else will I sneak in? Hmmm….

Q: What do you love most about cooking?

A: Cooking is about learning and sharing. Learning inspires and sharing is living. Plus, you get to eat some yummy stuff. It’s a no brainer.