|
Jan Warner, right, of Hagerstown and her friend, Teresa Moreland, of Falling Waters, W.Va., react while watching Jan's son, Justin Warner, on the finale episode of "The Next Food Network Star," where Justin is a finalist. (By Colleen McGrath, Staff Photographer / July 22, 2012) |
It was an evening of champagne and tissues at Jan Warner’s Hagerstown home.
As the mother of Hagerstown native Justin Warner, who has been competing in “The Next Food Network Star,” Sunday evening could have gone either way as she hosted a party awaiting the official news.
Sunday night, it was a cause for champagne to toast. The tissues were to wipe away happy tears, said Jan Warner, who is a teacher at Bedington (W.Va.) Elementary.
As the winner, Justin Warner will have his pilot, “Rebel with a Culinary Cause,” aired by Food Network and produced by his “Star” mentor and Food Network celebrity chef Alton Brown, a feature in Food Network magazine and a featured spot at the New York Wine & Food Festival.
A small group of friends gathered around Jan Warner’s TV set to see the results, including Tyler Moreland, 10, of Falling Waters, W.Va., who came with the cookbook Justin gave him.
Food was set out for guests, including cookies she said “I opened myself.”
“No one taught Justin to cook,” she said with a laugh, before telling a story of how her son outted her “family recipe” as one that came from a box.
Based now in Brooklyn, N.Y., Justin Warner runs his own restaurant, Do or Dine. Since appearing on “Star,”
Warner has consistently served up quirky dishes and has been a fan favorite.
“The Next Food Network Star” started out with 15 contestants. The top four with Warner were his Team Alton teammate and show “BFF” Martie Duncan, as well as Michele Ragussis and Yvan Lemoine.
