Popular North Fork Chef Debuts On Chopped Tuesday

SOUTHOLD, NY — Ever since she was a little girl, chef Jess Dunne, co-owner of the North Fork Roasting Co. in Southold, has loved Food Network's Chopped, watching it with her dad.

And on Tuesday night at 10 p.m., Dunne, 27, will debut on the show, which is centered on the premise of four chefs facing off in a competition to create a full meal, complete with appetizer, main course, and dessert, using only ingredients provided.

"I'm pretty excited," Dunne told Patch. "My dad and I used to watch. We both have a love for food."

Dunne, a chef whose culinary prowess has wowed with delectable pastries, at Grace & Grit and at the North Fork Roasting Co, which she co-owns with her partner Jennilee Morris, has always harbored the dream of appearing on the show.

"A year and a half ago, on my 26th birthday, I got a call to come in for a filmed interview," Dunne said.

Dunne and Morris had set up an espresso bar at a Long Island Wine Council event in New York and met a representative of Food Network's Chopped there, who pitched the possibility of both chefs appearing on the show — and Dunne's hopes took flight.

"I had always dreamed of that, but we didn’t think anything of it. About a week later, on my birthday, I got a call telling me to come in and do a filmed interview," Dunne said.

After a year and a half and two standby dates — when Dunne was ready, should someone cancel — she and Morris were at Eataly when she received a message from a producer. "She told me, 'Check your email,'" Dunne said. She had a definite date to appear on the show.

Dunne filmed in late May. "You don't know anything going into in. There's only so much prep and training you can do. You can get thrown anything. But just walking into the Chopped kitchen, I thought, 'I don't even care what happens. It's just so cool.' It was an awesome experience. Everyone on the show was so nice. It was surreal," she said.

While she can't reveal details, Dunne said the theme of the episode is comfort food.

Dunne encourages any other aspiring chefs to take the chance and apply. "I'd do it again in a second," she said. "If anyone has that dream — just do it. Just be yourself. If I'd freaked out and hadn't gone, I would have kicked myself later."

Tuesday night, Dunne is meeting at a local farm with family and friends to watch the show together.

"I'm sure my dad will be crying," Dunne said.

Tune into Tuesday night's episode of @FoodNetwork's #Chopped @10 p.m. ET/PT to see Jess Dunne's debut!

Photo courtesy Madison Fender. #MadisonFender