Melissa Crooks left the world of corporate marketing to pursue her great passion — food. The Johnson & Wales University culinary student, whom we caught up with at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, is on The Rock for Spring Break and is sharing cocktails with us inside Jewel of India at The Marketplace.

What are you sipping?

An Amaretto Sour, something basic and light.

What do you love about The Marketplace?

I’ve always loved the ambience and the different culinary experiences when I dine here. It feels like I’m somewhere else other than in Jamaica.

Socialite or homebody?

I’d say I’m a combination of the two.

Flats or stilettos?

Stilettos, they make a girl feel sexy.

You were always a corporate chicster, what prompted the switch to the kitchen?

It goes back to always having a passion… one of the things I love to do is watch people take the first bite, watching their initial expression gives me an idea whether or not they love the food. And my parents remind me how I would get up as a small child and just declare that I wanted to cook something, so now my father is always reminding me that it was my first love and that I have come full circle.

Who does your hair?

I do it myself.

Who does your nails?

When I’m in Jamaica Ava’s Nails & Day Spa.

What’s your style?

Fashionably conservative.

What’s in your handbag?

First up, I only carry Coach and in it you’ll find: only MAC make-up; I’m in the culinary field so I usually have a camera to snap interesting presentations, my keys, My Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, my hair brush and Aveda hand lotion.

What’s your idea of the perfect date?

One where a gentleman opens doors, pulls out chairs and knows how to strike up a conversation… I’ve been on too many dates where talking to someone is akin to pulling teeth. For me, chivalry never dies.

What’s your idea of the perfect man?

Funny, smart, loyal and passionate… and here, passion is not referring to lovemaking but rather a man’s passion for life.

Who or what inspires you?

So many things, but the person to inspire me most is my father who has always told me to follow my dreams and never give up.

What’s in your iPod?

Everything from Maxwell, Sade; I’m a huge neo-soul fan. Classic reggae tunes from Third World and Bob Marley, and old-school hiphop.

What projects are you currently working on?

To graduate from culinary school in the next two months… I’m on the Dean’s List. I’m also looking to do an externship; I’m thinking of going to Germany or maybe even Jamaica to complete it. My ambition is to own and operate a catering service or be a private chef.

What’s your idea of happiness?

As long as you are true to yourself, then you’ll always find happiness.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

My father always tells me, “Follow your heart,” and mother always says, “Life isn’t a dress rehearsal, you can’t come back and do it again.”

And 10 years from now?

I would hope that by then I’d have my own catering company and would have started an organisation to teach children and their parents the importance of eating healthy. What kids eat today is really bad; they are the future, so we have to do better than how we are feeding them now… they deserve better.