Global restaurateur HMSHost is partnering with celebrity chef, television host, and cookbook author Roger Mooking to bring Toronto Pearson airport travellers a taste of some of the best dining this diverse city has to offer. In addition to working with HMSHost on the new restaurant, Twist, scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2014, Mooking is consulting on several new dishes and influencing menu enhancements for many of HMSHost’s other airport restaurants.
Mooking is bringing his culinary flair with local ingredients and products, as he develops signature dishes from scratch recipes, and enhances the offerings of several menus with new flavors. He is helping to increase healthy, gluten free, vegetarian, and sustainable options. In addition, he is integrating local suppliers into his menu creations, such as Donato, Kristapsons, Rowe Farms, Pingue Prosciutto, Sausage King, and Monte Forte Dairy.
“This partnership with HMSHost has been an exciting opportunity to expose Pearson travellers to my culinary inspirations with these latest dishes,” says Mooking. “Together, we are bringing in some great local ingredients and working towards more sustainable, healthy, and unique offerings that we are confident will appeal to our guests.”
“We are so excited that Roger is joining us to bring his culinary expertise and creative dishes to our restaurants, so we together can offer travellers an authentic Toronto dining experience,” says HMSHost vice president of Business Development Renee Tedesco. “His partnerships with local suppliers and sustainable organizations will also help to strengthen our offerings together, and his innovative approach to food will reflect the diversity of our travellers.”
So far, Mooking has helped to enrich menus at HMSHost’s restaurants including Molson Pub, Red Rocket, and Playwright, to include special “Roger Mooking signature” menu items.
Twist, HMSHost’s new restaurant coming soon to Pearson in partnership with Mooking, will present travellers with a global twist on locally sourced North American comfort foods. Menu items created by Mooking include Splat Scones, made with Devonshire cream, lavender honey, and peameal bacon and the Roasted Cornish Hen, with Moroccan spice rub, charred lemon, and arugula.
Mooking is host and co-creator of the internationally broadcast television series “Everyday Exotic,” and has published an award-winning cookbook based on the show. He is also co-host of “Heat Seekers” on Food Network and host of “Man Fire Food” on the Cooking Channel. He is a recurring judge on “Chopped Canada,” and has appeared on many other television shows, including “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” and “Iron Chef.” Mooking appeared at the upcoming CRFA Show March 4th, demonstrating a Blackened Tomahawk Steak with Root Beer marinade, a dish on Twist’s upcoming menu.
