Assemblyman Will Prepare Dinner As Part Of Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Assemblyman Kevin Rooney will cook dinner as part of a charity auction for the Boys & Girls Club.

Steve and Bonnie Holmes of Pompton Plains won the dinner with their $4,000 bid. Rooney, a former township mayor and accomplished self-trained chef, will prepare the multi-course dinner for them and two other couples of his Wyckoff home. Former Wyckoff Mayor Christopher DePhilips will serve the couples and be Rooney's sous chef. Rooney's wife Hayley will be the hostess.

"It is people such as Steve and Bonnie who do so much to help our community organizations without fanfare and they deserve our recognition and thanks," Rooney said in a statement. ""I think it will be a fun evening for everyone and a great opportunity to spend some time with outstanding people living in our area."

Rooney has been cooking since he was 7. He started experimenting with Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and now cooks the majority of his family's meals.

Rooney won a "Chopped" competition on Food Network in 2013. His winning dishes were a stir-fried sushi appetizer, pan-seared ostrich with purple asparagus and blueberry wine sauce and a sweet and savory French toast dessert. His daughter Jordan secretly entered him into the competition. He donated the $10,000 grand prize to charity.

RELATED: Rooney Wins 'Chopped' Crown

"It was a great experience, but it has its drawbacks. Now everyone wants me to cook for them," Rooney joked.

Rooney has used his passion for cooking to raise $100,000 for local non-profit organizations.

"Cooking for me is a creative outlet and a way to relax and get away from the pressures of business and politics," Rooney said.

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Photo: Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney — Patch file photo