Cook's very secret ambition - to be private investigator

Each Wednesday, The Citizen features someone in the food services industry from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Joann Melie of Mac's Family Restaurant.

Q. What is the one food you cannot live without? Why?

A. Butter. I put it on everything.

Q. Fill in the blank. People would be surprised to know that even though I work in the food industry, when I am at home in the kitchen, I __________.

A. Do the same things as I do here; I hate going out.

Q. What do you like most about living and working in the Finger Lakes region?

A. I like the change of seasons, and I love the fall.

Q. If you were given $1 million to open your own restaurant, describe it and what type of food you would serve.

A. I would serve old-fashioned, simply cooked meals, family-style.

Q. Where would it be located?

A. Australia. I always wanted to go there, and I'd probably end up staying there.

Q. On the day of your restaurant's grand opening, if you could select anyone in the world to be your first three guests, who would they be?

A. First would be my niece Heather Sue, who passed. And once she's there, everyone who knew her would come because she touched everyone she met.

Q. Describe your most embarrassing moment while working on the job.

A. When I slipped in the cooler.

Q. What is your favorite junk food?

A. Chips.

Q. What have you learned are the top three ways to run a successful food business?

A. Good service, great food and great prices.

Q. If you weren't working in the food business, what would you like to be doing?

A. I would like to work in law enforcement, but as a private investigator. I love that kind of stuff.

Q. Ugh. What's the one food which you absolutely can't stomach? Why?

A. Hamburger gravy. I just don't like the looks of it, and my dad ate a lot of it when I was a kid.

Joann Melie

Hometown: Skaneateles Falls

Occupation: Cook, Mac's Family Restaurant, Route 5, Elbridge

Hobbies: Reading and playing cards.