If you’ve been to a major concert in the past thirty years, there’s a decent chance this week’s guest had a hand in fueling the talent. Debbie Sharpe, the charming Aussie behind The Goddess and Grocer, built her culinary chops touring the globe and cooking for the likes of Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney before jumping off the tour bus and making Chicago her permanent home. Inspired by the bustling delis and markets of her native Melbourne, she opened her first Goddess and Grocer in Bucktown in 2005, combining rock ’n’ roll and a distinctly Australian sensibility to the neighborhood food scene. Today, her shops are known for globally inspired, ingredient-driven dishes, legendary sandwiches and salads, showstopping Rainbow Cake, and catering rooted in backstage hospitality for some of the world’s most exacting performers. She joins us to talk about life on tour, feeding rock royalty, juggling brick and mortar with catering — and so much more.
