Playing with Fire
Canadian TV host Roger Mooking is all about fun and fire in new season of Man Fire Food
It's all about having fun.
That's Roger Mooking's mantra when it comes to cooking.
The celebrity TV host was in Singapore to promote the third season of his show Man Fire Food. The show premieres on Oct 4 at 10pm on Asian Food Channel (StarHub TV Ch 435),
The first two seasons are currently showing on the same channel every Sunday at 10pm.
"Many people have this misconception that cooking with fire only appeals to men," said the upbeat chef.
"Yes, my show features people cooking with fire, but ultimately it's all about having fun and the inventive ways you can cook with an open flame."
The father of four daughters, aged eight, seven, four and two, said his kids love watching his show too.
"Maybe it's because Daddy is on it, but they ask me questions about how I do this and that."
He explained that Man Fire Food is less about teaching how to cook but more about the spectacle of cooking.
"It's all about entertainment and food serves as that gateway."
Mooking is a third-generation restaurateur and chef, whose family has been cooking and running restaurants ever since his great-grandfather migrated from China to Trinidad in the 1920s.
His family is now settled in Toronto, Canada.
Proud of his unique heritage, Mooking draws inspiration from his ancestry, travelling and trying all kinds of local cuisine.
For instance, he feasted on our national dish, the chilli crab, and while he was in Malaysia, he indulged in durians.
"I do understand why people don't like them, but to me, they're amazing!" said Mooking laughing.
Mooking not only likes to play with fire, he also loves spicy food.
He co-hosts another popular TV food series Heat Seekers with celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez where they travel around the US and Canada searching for the hottest food out there.
Similarly in Man Fire Food, Mooking travels around mainland US, visiting home cooks, pit masters and chefs who are fascinated by the open flame and food.
The show has also taken Mooking to Hawaii and Puerto Rico. He hopes he can expand the show to Asia.
"People have so many ingenious ways to cook with fire. We're not just about barbecues."
He shared how he was impressed by a French lady who showed him the most creative and fabulous way of cooking muscles.
"She leaned them up, arranged them in a circle, and covered the muscles with dry pine needles.
"Then she set the needles on fire and after about seven minutes, the pine needles turned to ash and the muscles opened up. The taste was amazing. So juicy and fresh!"
Said Mooking, laughing: "When people are hungry, they'll come up with all kinds of ways to cook their food!"
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