North Fork Chef Shares Wisdom, 'Chopped' Experience With Kids

SOUTHOLD, NY — Local North Fork chef Jess Dunne, co-owner of the North Fork Roasting Co. in Southold, shared her culinary finesse and her experience on the show Chopped with a group of high school students Wednesday.

Riverhead High School culinary students participated in a cooking workshop with Dunne, who spoke to the students about her business and recent appearance on the show.

Students also took part in a cooking session where Dunne showed them how to make avocado hummus and leek and walnut pesto.

Dunne has loved Food Network's Chopped since she was a little girl watching it with her dad.

And in September, Dunne debuted 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 before the episode aired. "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 back in September.

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, 2017. "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.

The theme of the episode was 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."

On the night the episode aired, Dunne met at a local farm with family and friends to watch the show together.

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

Friends and family tuned in eagerly to see Dunne, who made the North Fork proud.

Social media was abuzz after she aired. "I was rooting for you!" one friend wrote.

"Of course I watched every minute and was so proud to know you," another said.

After the show, Dunne wrote on Facebook, "Everyone's kind words are overwhelming and I am so happy I got to spend the viewing with close friends and holding my parents and Jennilee Morris' hands. We truly live in the best of the best town. I'm so proud to call the North Fork home. I am excited for what's next, I'm going to keep pushing the creativity. Most of all I am proud of myself, which feels good. I'm very fortunate to have all these people supporting me. Hope I did ya proud, NoFo! Thank you!"

Photo courtesy of the Riverhead Central School District.