Rolling out spent a wonderful afternoon with chef Jamika Pessoa. While grilling sweet chili pork kabobs, Pessoa shared that she has been a busybee while hosting her new show on TLC, “Home Made Simple.” We sat down to enjoy the meal and discuss her stint as a contestant on “Next Food Network Star” and why living your passion is important. Here is what the culinary queen shared with rolling out. –tammie reed
Where does your passion for cooking stem from?
I have always loved to cook. My family is from the islands and we love to eat and cook. I grew up around it.
How did you go from working in corporate America to being a chef?
I was in corporate America working in marketing. I got laid off and I thought my world was over. I didn’t know it was a blessing in disguise. I was still paying on my first student loan and enrolled in culinary school — creating another bill [laughs]. I never looked back after that.
Talk about your experience on the “Next Food Network Star.”
While on “Next Food Network Star,” we were not allowed to talk to anyone in our family. I think I talked to my family twice while taping the show. The windows are blacked out, no cell phones, no communication for 2-3 months, which seemed like a lifetime. Their were cameras everywhere watching you. It was very intense dealing with people that you do not know and living with them for months. I enjoyed the opportunity, though.
Why is living your passion important?
If you go to a job everyday that you hate, you will not do a good job. If you love what you do, even if it’s low pay or you have to give services away for free, you feel better about yourself doing something you love.
