Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • February 27, 2013
Wyckoff
Kevin Rooney hopes for award in cooking contest
by John Koster Wyckoff Deputy Mayor Kevin Rooney has hopes of winning election to a new position of honor. He wants to become the first amateur chef to win first place on the Food Network’s first “Chopped” contest for kitchen amateurs. “I’ve liked cooking ever since I was a kid, because cooking is a way to make people happy,” Rooney said last week as the hour of decision drew near late in February. The tension began to build two years ago when Jordan, one of Rooney’s daughters, nominated Rooney, a former mayor of Wyckoff, for the first amateur chefs’ contest on the Food Network, which regularly features “Chopped” culinary contests for professionals. Rooney was one of 3,000 nominees for the first amateur cooking contest. The field was narrowed from 3,000 nominees to 500 serious candidates by credential evaluation, and the serious candidates for the contest were then asked to submit video treatments of their cooking techniques. “I didn’t have the video filmed in Wyckoff because we have a fee ordinance on the books, and I didn’t want them to go over budget,” Rooney said. “It’s my ordinance, so I couldn’t violate it,” he added with a smile. A few weeks ago, Rooney learned that he had cleared the last hurdle and was one of the four finalists. The four amateur cooks will now step into the “Chopped” kitchen, according to the Food Network, and first show their raw talent with a sushi platter in the appetizer basket. Then in the entree round, the home chefs will use ostrich fillets and blueberry wine to improvise remarkable dishes. Finally, the dessert round will give the Food Network judges the chance to compare two very similar plates of desserts by the amateur chefs in this first-ever showdown. Rooney, who enjoys trimming trees as a certified arborist and chopping excesses from municipal budgets where possible, said last week that he looks forward to a chance
Kevin Rooney on ‘Chopped.’
to show his skills at chopping up foodstuffs on television. The show was due to air on Feb. 24, and re-runs may be expected.
The Wyckoff Family YMCA is holding tryouts for its AAU basketball teams. AAU teams provide a venue for young athletes to play competitively, enhance their skills, and develop their game during a spring season. Tryouts are grouped according to age and gender, and will be held March 4 and 5 at the Wyckoff Family YMCA,
AAU basketball tryouts announced
691 Wyckoff Avenue in Wyckoff. The makeup date will be March 6. For a full tryout schedule, or to register for a tryout, visit aautryoutregistration.eventbrite.com. For further information, contact Pat O’Hagan at (201) 891-2081, extension 126 or e-mail pato@wyckoffymca.org.