[1] Shirley was trained as a nurse and worked at the University of the West Indies Medical School.
Shirley started cooking while she lived in Scotland, having been motivated by her lack of interest in regional food.
While she continued to work as a nurse, she also prepared picnic baskets for people who wanted to have a meal to travel.
[3] She then moved to New York city where she worked as a food stylist[4] for Condé Nast.
[1] In 1985 she moved back to Jamaica[1] and ultimately opened multiple restaurants on the island.