We understand the joy of a good meal, definitely, but when you’re really pushed and the creative juices are flowing, the last thing you tend to think about is food. This attitude ordinarily results in a poor diet of whatever-the-hell-we-can-get-in-under-five-minutes-on-Hindley-Street but a recent discovery in Station Arcade has changed our skinny world forever. My Goodness is a little deli-style sandwich and goodies shop in the arcade that runs between Hindley Street and the Railway Station. It’s run by a bunch of glamorous foodanistas who each look as comfortable with a lapinja as they do a cup cake. We caught up with Josie Vandepeer to find out the secret behind her delicious chocolate crackles.

How long have you been open in Station Arcade?
We have been open for three years, this is my first business- there is no such thing as smooth sailing when it comes to running a business with so many variables  ....I know people always like to blame the weather but everything always depends on the weather... Trade is drastically affected by the temperature. Two or three degrees changes what most people feel like for lunch, and we need to know in advance so we can prepare our menu to suit the day. As we prepare everything fresh daily and have it ready by lunch, we need to guess how much to make. South Australians have funny quirks when it comes to spending habits, over time we have learnt about the various sports, which affect trade; we know if the Crows or Port Adelaide are playing a game at home on the weekend, we’ll be quiet the Friday before the game. If there is a show down, we’ll be even quieter. Or when the Melbourne cup is on, the whole street is deserted for twenty minutes. And when important soccer matches are on at an ungodly hour during the night, we will have a really late lunch rush the next day ‘cause people sleep in. It’s really strange to me ‘cause I have never had any interest in sporting events until now- I have to keep up to date just to predict the trade.
 
What does a typical day consist of for you guys?
A day begins around 6.30, We recieve deliveries, serve the morning trade, make fresh juices to order, we make between 8-10 varieties of fresh salads,  we make over 100 fresh rolls/wraps and we go like the wind to produce lots of bits and pieces to keep the regulars happy. We really have to do a lot of everything, it’s a bit of a whirlwind most days but we all love it! We do all this with only three girls, and we don’t have much free time ‘cause we have up until 12.00 to have our front cabinet full, after 12.00 comes the onslaught of hungry office workers looking for lunch and an interlude to their work. We do 70% of our trade between 12.00-2.00. It can be a bit of an adrenalin rush- for two hours a day we are ready for anything!

Walking past your shop, we’re always struck by how colourful and large and delicious your selection looks. Do you think there’s an element of food porn in your trade?
Pornography and food are two things that remind me of those Jerry Springer episodes with the fat dudes who run around naked with the sausages - I like to not think of this again! So perhaps I can answer your question without this imposing visual image. I guess pornography is addictive and we like people to be addicted to our salads- and many are! Food needs to seduce. People eat with their eyes first. Image is everything when it comes to retailing food- we have always understood this. Of course satisfaction is essential once one has succumbed to the temptation, so my serving a large portion will of course lead to one feeling very pleased with the whole experience and one will find themselves coming back for more.

MY GOODNESS - Shop 2, Station Arcade (off Hindley Street)