Chef Roger Mooking showcases Alberta in JUNO Awards 2016 gala dinner menu

Last week, the media was invited to taste the food and drink that will be served at the upcoming 2016 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards. The event takes place on April 2 and celebrity Chef Roger Mooking showed us what he’ll be serving up that day.

Attendees will be devouring bison sponsored from Canadian Rangeland Bison & Elk, signature JUNO week cocktails handcrafted by Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd, and provided by Polar Ice Vodka and J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whiskey, and wine parings to compliment Mooking’s dishes. The Canadian beer maker, Steam Whistle Brewing, is the official sponsor of JUNO week and will have their signature pilsner on hand.

Image: Arabelle Aparici / Calgary Buzz

This is the first year a celebrity chef is taking the reigns to create a JUNO meal, and how fitting to have celebrity Chef Roger Mooking who is also a JUNO Award winner.

“I get to feed my friends, it’s pretty cool,” Mooking told Calgary Buzz. “It’s also my two careers, my life kind of coming full circle in a tangible, very interesting way. I just thought it was a good experience and fun challenge.”

Mooking is pairing up with the culinary team from the Mariott Hotel and TELUS Convention Centre, led by their executive sous chef, Chef Hussein Haji.

Chef Haji said he’s excited to work with Mooking, saying this is the first time he’s worked with a celebrity chef for a dinner at the Convention Centre. “You get a good mix of a restaurant feel as well as the banquet feel. We came up with something together, where it’s something we can accomplish, we can push our limits for something like this, for 12 to 1,500 people.”

Mooking aspired to keep many of the ingredients and themes of his dishes local and Canadian. From the Alberta Bison to Phil & Sebastian’s Espresso Mousse, you really get to enjoy Canadian inspired dishes.

Here’s a look at Mooking’s three-course menu for the stars:

Tomato Surprise: Baby Greens & Sunset Campari Bomb – Boston, Basil, Kale, Arugula, Sidewalk Citizen Spiced Croutes, Roasted Garlic Nuh Gana Dressing, Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Alberta Love – Vegetarian Option: Herbed Mushroom Toast – Sidewalk Citizen Sourdough, Parmesan Crushed Fingerlings, Grilled Lemon & Chili Oil Baby Bok Choy

Alberta Love: Blackened Canadian Rangeland Bison Tenderloin & Chimichurri – Parmesan Crushed Fingerlings, Grilled Lemon & Chili Oil Baby Bok Choy

Cracked Caramel & Brownies: Cup O’ Coffee & Brownies – Chocolate Brownie Chunks, Phil & Sebastian Espresso Mousse, Sautéed Banana, Cracked Caramel

Image: Arabelle Aparici / Calgary Buzz

Image: Nikolai Cuthill