“Pearson is an Adelaide local who combines her storytelling, singing and cooking skills in this unique performance. And yes, you get to eat!”
Alana Kaye
3.5 Stars
Warehouse at Patritti Wines
09 Mar – 13 Mar
Adelaide Fringe Festival
It’s not every day you get to be in the same room as ‘Australia’s singing cook’!
Michelle Pearson has brought her tasty show, Comfort Food Cabaret, back to the Fringe Festival this year. There’s food, there’s singing… and it’s at a cellar door.
Pearson is an Adelaide local who combines her storytelling, singing and cooking skills in this unique performance. And yes, you get to eat!
Sprinkled between the tasters of entrée, main and dessert are stories and anecdotes from Pearson’s life. They range from tales of singledom and dating, to motherhood and family. At times, the show feels too confined to the script – the memorable moments are the unexpected, improvised ones where Pearson’s personality gets to shine.
The cooking side of the show is a bit clunky, and not actually overly informative. Technically, the overhead video of the kitchen setup didn’t always give us a clear view of what was happening, and we didn’t really learn anything in the cooking demonstrations. There also seemed to be a bit of a disconnect between the stories and the food at times.
The star of the show is Peason’s voice, and when she gets to let it fly, it’s wonderful. She’s backed by a talented 3-piece band, and the barrel room of Patritti Wines is a great setting, even on a very hot day. There is also a hardworking team of cooks behind the scenes whipping up the dishes that we eat.
I fully understand the desire to do something different – and it has to be acknowledged that this show certainly is unique. But the cooking element ended up feeling a little bit tokenistic to highlight that this wasn’t just another singing cabaret show.
There’s no doubt that Person is talented. She’s an award-winner, she’s got three shows at the Fringe this year, and is taking Comfort Food Cabaret on tour shortly. She’s a beloved South Australian, and you can see why. But for me, this performance was a bit undercooked.
For SA locals, a mid century version of Comfort Food Cabaret is playing as part of the Tasting Australia lineup. You can see tickets here: https://tastingaustralia.com.au/products/events/2025/comfort-food-cabaret-a-midcentury-menu
For those elsewhere, I think the best place for tour dates is probably Michelle Pearson’s Instagram.
Alana Kaye, Theatre Now
