CELEBRITY RECIPE
Jamika Pessoa
Founder Life of the Party
Atlanta, GA
Story: Amira Kidd
Photo: Derek Blanks
You have to give this girl her props. A highly
sought after celebrity chef, Jamika Pessoa is
making headlines from BETs Hip-Hop Award
show one of the new Queens for CoverGirl
Queen Collection. Studying in such places
as Venice and Austria, Pessoa has learned to
blend the taste of different cultures into the
foods that make our mouths water. A personal
chef to the stars, learn what makes this lady a
media sensation.
Have you always wanted to be a chef or was
there something else on the back burner?
Actually, the career chose me. I had a four-year
degree in marketing and joined the corporate
world. Even though I was great at my
job, I realized I didn’t like any part of it. I even
hated driving to work. Finally, the company
downsized and my whole department was
closed down. So I asked myself what can I do
that I liked and could make sure I was always
needed, and the answer was food. I went to
culinary school, which was a humbling experience
because I had to learn everything all over
again. I loved every second of being able to
improve on a gift that I already had. I worked
at the Ritz Carlton and later was able to finally
start my own business.
As an African-American female chef in the
media, what does it take to get noticed?
Just on my behalf it takes a lot. There has to be
something unique about yourself, and for me
I’m not a restaurant chef, but a celebrity chef,
and people want to know more because of
this. Also there is your presence and personality
that an audience can connect to. Where did
I come from, my background and even how I
look are all important. I’m a chef so I need to
look like a chef. I don’t believe any chef should
be skinny, but I have to look nice which means
working out to maintain.
How many years of studying did you go
through to get to where you are today?
The difference between a cook and a chef
is the right of passage when learning under
someone else. I had to go to culinary school
for a two-year associate and a full year of interning.
But I have to study every day. A carrot
is just a carrot until you make it unique.
What does healthy living mean to you?
It means eating right and using foods that
work for you. Spiritually, it means realizing that
God is going to have his way no matter what.
Finally, it’s living with a purpose where you are
working towards a goal. A lot of people run
around lost and tired because they haven’t
figured out their purpose in life.
Working with organizations such as the
Atlanta Braves, what is it that you are able
to provide for them?
For the Braves and Hawks, they have community
clinics where we teach children how
to make the right decisions when it comes to
food. It’s important to me because when I was
a child, I was obese.
What’s next on the agenda?
I’m doing different magazines, commercials,
and writing. I’m also trying to get people
together to start a cooking show. I’m still
working on getting a cookbook together, and
getting my face out there, everywhere.
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