Chef Roger Mooking, Massimo Capra, Billy Baldwin, and More Join Celebrity Battle of the BBQ
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - Coming together for a worthy cause is one of the greatest opportunities our industry has to give back. Pair that with culinary innovation, dynamic energy, some of the best and brightest in our industry, and good food and you have Prostate Cancer Canada's inaugural Celebrity Battle of the BBQ presented by Hill Street Beverage Company.
The event, which took place on September 20th and 21st, 2019, hosted celebrities as they battled it out while being judged by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chefs—Chef Massimo Capra, Chef Roger Mooking, Chef Nicole Gomes, Chef Rob Feenie, and Chef Corbin Tomaszeski.
When I asked Chef Roger Mooking what inspired him to join this event and cause, he told me that, first of all, he liked that it was a BBQ-focused event and that the way it was executed was unique and creative. 
"I've also been the beneficiary of proactive early screening for cancer that could have turned into something not good, so to be a part of this event struck a chord with me personally," Roger shared.
The event gave participants a chance to grill alongside celebrity Grill Masters and BBQ enthusiasts including Maddie & Kiki, Billy Baldwin, Chef Ted Reader, Damon Allen, Christian Pritchard, Chef Ivana Raca, and Leo Stakos as they competed for the coveted Celebrity Battle of the BBQ presented by Hill Street Beverage Company Trophy. The group fundraised in support of Prostate Cancer Canada for a chance to grill alongside celebrity chefs in a "Chopped-style" competition.
For Roger, his passion for what he does in partnership with causes like this, truly align with his own values.
"We all have our life and passions to share with those around us. I feel particularly fortunate to be able to indulge all of my passions as my life's work and have blurred the lines of personal and professional balance in a way that few people are able to indulge," Roger told me. "Its my duty to play a small part to draw attention to something I feel personally invested in, in exchange for all of these blessing that are my life."
The highlights of the event were many and just about as joy-filled as you would expect them.
"There are some pretty legendary moments captured on social media posts that are now inside jokes with folks I met that night I will never forget, pretty funny stuff that were a moment in time, captured for the world to see," Roger expressed.
Who took the trophy, you ask? The 1st place was a tie between Team Prostate Canada Survivors and Friends and Team Deloitte. In third place was Tomato King.
Congrats and thank you to all those who generated excitement and support for this amazing event!
