Rep. John Lewis, civil rights icon, hands out a sampling of his barbecue chicken at the Real Men Cook event at Georgia World Congress Center Sunday. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

For the third year in a row, I was invited to be a judge for the Real Men Cook event. For the third year in a row, it was in a different location.

In 2010, the event was held at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot next to Underground Atlanta. While beautiful and spacious, it got too hot without enough A/C. The next move was to a room at the Atlanta Civic Center. That way too small and with the crowds meant discomfort again. While some of event was moved outside, that didn’t solve the heat problem.

So this year, they have my have found a much better venue: the Georgia World Congress Center’s Thomas Murphy ballroom. While not distinguished aesthetically like the Freight Depot, it has air conditioning, high ceilings and plenty of room for the crowds.

Here’s an AJC photo gallery from the event.

The purpose of the event is to not just celebrate great food cooked by dads, but to promote fatherhood among African Americans on Father’s Day. This is one of the largest Real Men Cook events in the nation. The non-profit promotes prostate cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular health awareness.

Part of the proceeds are also to help out Ian Weeks, of Cartel Catering, who is trying to raise more than $400,000 for a heart transplant.

The most notable celebrity who fed the masses Sunday was Rep. John Lewis, who doled out his delicious barbecue chicken. He has done it many times before. Class act.

Michael Baisden, relationships expert, author and radio host (heard locally on Majic 107.5/97.5), also stopped by to sell new copies of his sequel to his best-selling book “The Maintenance Man.” He said he was a cook back in the day but now doesn’t do much anymore beyond breakfast.

Michael Baisden, author and radio host, visits Real Men Cook. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Here’s a quick video with Baisden:

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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk