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Wayne County Chef Stars on The Food Network

DREHER TOWNSHIP — Jessica Seagraves is a chef from the Newfoundland area in Wayne County. For the past few years, she’s been helping out at her dad&...

DREHER TOWNSHIP -- Jessica Seagraves is a chef from the Newfoundland area in Wayne County.

For the past few years, she's been helping out at her dad's restaurant on Main Street, The Hotel.

On Sunday, her favorite customers got to watch her cook on the Food Network. Seagraves competed on the TV show Cutthroat Kitchen, which is finally set to air.

"My daughter's going to be on national television. She's a wreck right now, nervous and shaking, but I'm so proud of her. I can't even tell you how proud I am of her," said Michael Seagraves, Jessica's dad.

Seagraves applied for the show last November, then this April, she flew out to Los Angeles for the taping with her family's support.

"It was the most exciting and stressful moment of my life. Without a doubt, it was hard," said Seagraves.

The kitchen at The Hotel is actually where Seagraves starting cooking and it's the place where her friends and family watched her food network debut.

"I grew up in this restaurant, so it kind of means the world to me. Now being a small-town girl who hits national TV is kind of invigorating. The whole town and everyone is really excited, so it's awesome," said Seagraves.

The star chef still cooks in the restaurant's kitchen. Two years ago, she moved back to Dreher Township to help her dad run the business, which has been in the family since the 70s.

"It was a godsend for me. I learned so much," said Michael Seagraves.

After her Cutthroat Kitchen debut, her family said Seagraves' cooking will be in high demand.

"I want her to come back to Maryland now and cook for me! I miss that," said Cathy Mann, Jessica's mom.

So what's next for this food network star?

"Oh God, I don't know. What do you do from here?"

The chef did say that she one day hopes to open her own food truck.

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