Sunday Funday Moment: El Paso Chef featured in new HBO Max cooking competition show, The Big Brunch

El Paso, Texas-- One El Paso Chef's involvement in the community has landed him a spot on the new HBO MAX cooking competition series, The Big Brunch.

“It's just amazing,” said Chef Roman Wilcox, Co-owner of One Grub Community. “I'm really humbled and honored. It's kind of still processing.”

One Grub Community is El Paso’s first 100% plant based diner and pay it forward community diner.

“So what that means is that we have an opportunity for our community that comes and eats with us to leave tips and donations,” said Chef Roman. “All those tips and donations are left in a pool for those that come in and can not afford a meal we have an opportunity where someone can have a meal not for free but on the community.”

The idea to sign up for the latest HBO MAX cooking competition show, The Big Brunch, was brought to Chef Roman by a former student.

After ignoring the application email for a few weeks, he finally decided he would step out of his comfort zone and apply to be on the show.

“Once I read it and I found out what they were trying to do which was looking for community based people, it really struck a cord with me,” said Chef Roman.

Days later, he would get a call back from show producers and after going back and forth with the interview process, he would secure a spot on the new cooking competition show.

The Big Brunch brings together 10 chefs from different states that are focused on giving back to their community through their work.

“And it's all storytelling. Basically all of us are getting to tell our stories and our projects because like myself the other chefs are very community minded and they're just beautiful stories and beautiful people,” said Chef Roman.

These chefs will compete for the chance of winning $300,000. Something that will help Chef Roman and his wife tremendously.

“The day I got casted was the day I also got a call that there's been a contract put together that the building is being put up for sale,” said Chef Roman.

One Grub Community operates inside of a local church, and the church is being put up for sale so Roman is hopeful that he and his staff can find a place to continue providing locals with their amazing meals.

Roman is happy to put El Paso on the map and he is thankful that he stepped out of his comfort zone.

“My biggest take away from this experience is that I need to stop thinking so small,” said Chef Roman. "Sometimes you have to do things that are uncomfortable to bring that recognition because I cant do it all on my own."

The Big Brunch premiers Thursday, November 10th on HBO MAX. For more details on One Grub Community and their non-profit “Planty for The People” Click Here.