Can you believe it? Another Yank in Oz who loves to cook. Fran Flint even studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris so I suspect that puts her 11 notches ahead of me.
That’s okay because I’m pretty sure I can learn a trick or two from her. I think we all can.
I met Fran when she wrote to us about a question on EasyRecipe shortly after she started her new blog, G’Day Soufflé. As a Yank myself, I wrote to her and said I’d be happy to introduce her to my blogging friends and she was really grateful.
There’s a lot yet to learn about Fran, like did she always live in San Diego and what brought her all the way to Australia to Adelaide? Never fear, I suspect all will be revealed as she makes post after delicious post.
This chocolate fondant was her FIRST post. I suspect she could cook my pants off but in a nice way.
Then her older sister died and off she went to the states. Well, she’s back in Adelaide, that wonderful food and wine producing region, and raring to go on her blog. I’d love it if you’d check out her blog and get to know her.
She’s a very switched on food lover but she needs a bit of networking to get her blog off the ground. Have a look at her easy and elegant panna cotta with strawberries.
Fran’s very friendly – you’ll like her. She’s just started her Facebook page. If you hurry you can be like #3. She’s so new she’s just created her Twitter account and she’s not on Pinterest yet that I’m aware of. We’re going to have to get her up to speed, aren’t we?
You’ll need to click to G’Day Souffle to check out her latest post – Easy Mini Cheesecakes where you place a cookie on the bottom of a cupcake liner and put cheesecake mixture on top. Top with fruit and bob’s your uncle. Even the photos are beautiful. I can’t wait to try these myself.
Fran would love advice on making her blog better. I have suggested social media icons, an email subscription so we don’t forget her, what would you suggest to get her started? While I suspect she’s younger than I am, she and I are from the same generation. I think she’ll be a lovely addition to our community. Please make her feel welcome like you did for me?
Tell Fran to join the Adelaide Food Bloggers Group via Christina at The Hungry Australian here http://hungryaustralian.com/2012/02/the-launch-of-the-adelaide-food-bloggers-group!
Hi Rachel, thanks for coming by and lovely to meet you or did I meet you in Adelaide at the Food Blogger’s Conference? I met so many people that I can’t keep everyone straight. I’m sure Fran will be reading the comments and adding her own so thanks for suggestion #1 !
Thank you Rachel, I’ll definitely join the Adelaide Food Bloggers Group- sounds like a great community of people!
Welcome Fran! You have made a wonderful friend, Maureen. Everyone needs sweet, funny, inspirational friends like this! Wishing you much success with your blog, love your pretty desserts, wish I could share one with you and Maureen!
Chris you’re part of our generation too but that’s not why I love you so much. It’s your loving personality, winning smile and your FABULOUS cooking. Those last cupcakes you made for Liz’s blog were so pretty!
Thank you, Chris. As I wrote on your last blog, your pink cupcakes look like something that the pastry students at the Cordon Bleu School in Paris would have made!
Welcome Fran from another Yank who only wishes she was in Australia! You’ve made a sweet friend in Maureen; that’s a huge first step. Your dishes look fantastic; that’s important but I have to agree with Maureen; getting social media (in particular RSS) on your site will go a long way to gaining and keeping traffic!
Yes, I expect we’ll see most things up to scratch in the next fortnight. Anytime you want to come to visit, I have a lovely guestroom and it might have your name on the door already. I’ll check.
Thank you for your comments, Barb. Yes, Maureen has been a huge help for me in getting started with blogging. Soon, I’ll be getting my Social Media ‘up to scratch’.
Here in Australia, we’re just going into Autumn with a bit of ‘nip in the air’- so your Apple and Cinnamon Cupcakes will suit us well!
Good to meet you, Fran! You’re putting out some great looking dishes. One of these days I really need to visit Australia and meet all the terrific food bloggers (and other people!) who live there.
Wouldn’t that be fun? You could visit each of us for several days, cook, sightsee and then move on to the next one. I think you have a good idea. 🙂
Thanks, John for your comments (always refreshing to hear from a man!) I like your emphasis on using Homemade Mayonnaise with your last post entry- tastes so much better than store-bought!
Nice meeting you Fran! Your desserts look awesome, and look forward to see more posts.
Thanks for making her feel welcome, Juliana. 🙂
Thanks, Juliana for the welcome! I had a look at your last post- Heston Blumenthal would be proud of your molecular gastronomy!
Nice to meet you Fran 🙂
You are such an incredible food blogger and it is always nice to meet more Aussie foodies 🙂
Cheers
CCU
Thank you, CCU. I look forward to “taking a squizz” at your blog soon!
Thanks Uru, you’re sweet.
I am heading on over to say G’day! 🙂
Thanks for your G’day welcome on my G’day Souffle’ website!
Dear Maureen, I would be happy to go over and introduce myself and welcome Fran. I’m sure Fran will feel at home it is a beautiful group of foodies.
That chocolate fondant looks delish!!
On my way….Blessings dear Maureen. Catherine xo
Thank you, Catherine. By the way, love your video clip of John Travolta doing disco dancing with Bee Gee music- looks like he has put on a few pounds over the years- he may have been looking at too many food blogs!
We ARE a lovely bunch of food lovers, Catherine, you’re right. I think she’ll fit in nicely.
How generous of you, of course I’ll go over and look at Fran’s blog and welcome her. GG
Thank you GG! I’ve just added my photo on Twitter (although it looks a bit too small). I hope to get more ‘up and running’ with Twitter very soon. Cheers!
Thanks heaps! Hope you’re having a lovely day.
Welcome, Fran! With food like that she is off to a flying start! Great name for the blog too – very catchy.
Thanks Hester,
I had a look at your blog- would definitely like to try your Buttermilk Muffins!
You certainly know where she is with that title. 🙂
Hehe well if all Americans in Australia are like you Maureen, I think we’ll all like her! 🙂
Thank you Nigella (woops, I mean ‘Not Quite Nigella’)!
Oh Lorraine, I think she might be way more clever. 🙂
Oh you are so lovely and welcoming Maureen 🙂 Welcome Fran… I am on my way over to say hi now xx
Thanks for your welcome! I Must come and visit the Cardamon Pod restaurant sometime – We sometimes holiday at nearby Palm Cove so this restaurant sounds like a cool place to visit!
Aww, I’m only doing what you’d have done if you met her first. 🙂
These desserts look so gorgeous! What a pleasure to meet Fran!
Thank you, Joanne. My daughter lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Good to see some Mexican recipes on the board!
Woah, my heart stopped at the first photo LOL> Love this intro, hello Fran! Will check out her site now.
Wow Adrian- you won the Best Asian Cookbook for Australia award! Looks like I’ll definitely need to learn some things from you!
Isn’t that the truth, Adrian? She’s a winner.
Oh Maureen, you dearest young heart, trust you to be the most generous when one least expects it. With you by her side, I am sure Fran will be off to a flying start in no time.
Welcome Fran! My motto is, Maureen recommends and I get glued obediently. So you have a fan already! And I do think French cooking is best in the world – that from an Indian who lives in States and has eaten very few French creations. Yet, I stick to my guns.Welcome, and I am off to your site now 🙂
Thanks Minnie- I must try some of your Indian dishes- glad you were able to overcome the initial “Eww factor” with your Karupatti Appam dish!
I grew up with nothing but French cooking – peasant style and it’s taken my whole life to learn other cuisines. Thanks for making Fran welcome, Minnie.
Great blog and fantastic title. I will be spending some time here.
Thanks a lot, Connie. I’m so glad you visited. 🙂
Wow Connie- I must come to the Boulder Farmer’s Market and buy some things from the artist that works with old shoes and plants- I bet she could even make my old running shoes look good! Thanks for your comments.
Thank you so much for the introduction Maurine, simply from the fist photo I know I’m going to love reading this blog. That cake is wonderful, a real show stopper that my dinner guests would really enjoy. I’m heading over to see Fran’s blog now, thanks again.
Many thanks, Eva. I see from your photo that you’ve visited Paris-
“a girl after my own heart”! Yes, the molten chocolate cake is very good- only one problem- you can’t stop eating it until it’s too late!
I thought the same thing, Eva!
Thanks for the intro to another nice food blog! I’m in the states, so I can’t be a help in getting her acclimated in Oz, but I will definitely keep up with what she is doing online. thanks for your generosity Maureen!
Thanks Donalyn for your comments. Wow, I saw on your blog that you had 1 million hits on your recipe ‘Crash Hot Potatoes’! That’s impressive- I must try it soon! Yes, I will definitely follow your blog!
She will love any advice she can get. Starting from scratch gets more difficult all the time.
Thank you Maureen for introducing us to Fran!
Nice to meet you, I hope you are enjoying so far food blogging. I already love your desserts, will check your blog now! Wishing you great the rest of the week ladies!
Thank you Sandra- I left a comment on your recent post- Mini Meatball Marinara.
Thanks Sandra. I think Fran will fit in nicely.
Thanks for the introduction!
Catchy name “Yummy Chunklet!” Please don’t let me look at your blog while I’m hungry- your yummy dishes make me want to dive into the screen and eat them!
Well hello there Fran! That chocolate fondant is making my mouth water! Welcome. And thank you to Maureen for being such a fine ambassador for promoting great food blogs!
That chocolate fondant might have been the reason I wanted to introduce her. If that was her FIRST post, I am looking forward to the rest of them!
Thank you Lizzy. And thank goodness for Maureen for introducing me to other bloggers or I might still be feeling lonely in blogland!
Which ones of us are “social media icons”? har har har.
How nice and generous of you to take a new blogger (ya fellow American!) under your wing and thanks for introducing her to us. Welcome, Fran! And with two desserts like a chocolate lava cake and panna cotta she already has me hooked.
Thanks Jamie! I see that you live in France. I’ve spent the last two summers there. I especially miss the rue Mouffetard, with its winding streets and also miss sitting in the little park next to the Notre Dame Cathedral. All the best!
Definitely you. 🙂 Lots of Americans around the world these days. I remember when I was a kid and we were TAUGHT that traveling was unnecessary because we were safe in the states and there was enough to see right at home. :eyeroll:
It’s very nice to meet you Fran, and thanks Maureen for introducing her to us! That chocolate fondant shot is the best chocolate fondant look I’ve seen… the way chocolate coming out… my gosh. Breathtaking!! It’s nice to meet another great American blogger living in Australia. 🙂
I knew everyone would like her!
Thanks Nami. I’ve always loved and admired Japanese food, so I know your blog will be a good source of inspiration for me!
Thanks for the introduction Maureen. I got a feeling I’m going to enjoy all of Fran Flint’s contributions 🙂
Me too, Jerry!
Thanks Jerry, I posted a comment on your website- can’t wait to try your recent lobster dish!
Pleasure to meet you Fran and thanks for the introduction Maureen. That chocolate fondant is outstanding! I do have a tip for kicking off with blogging and that’s Pinterest, it’s a huge traffic driver, even bigger than Facebook and Twitter. I could also recommend submtting your posts to Reddit and there’s a nice group on facebook called Fabulous Food Blog Recipes. You can submit your posts there and also get to know other food bloggers 🙂
Wonderful suggestion!! Thanks so much for giving her some advice. 🙂
Thanks so much for your recommendations, Gourmantine. I hadn’t heard of Reddit or Fabulous Food Recipes on FB- those should keep me busy for hours!
Hi Maureen! Thanks for the introduction – can’t wait to see more 🙂 Hope you are doing great! I recently met a wonderful young man who runs an organic cattle ranch in Queensland – he was absolutely adorable!
Cattle ranches (called stations here) are enormous. The largest in the world is Anna Creek Station in South Australia where Fran lives. It’s 6 MILLION acres. 🙂 That’s a lotta fencing.
I live in Queensland and we have huge stations here too. Wonder how big his was.
Thanks, Tricia. I wrote a comment on your blog about your recent trip to Iceland. The odd thing about Iceland, I found, was that bottle shops are generally only open for one hour each day (longer in the bigger cities)!
Welcome, Fran! Congratulations on starting a blog. I agree with those that have mentioned Pinterest – a great way to build blog traffic!
Thanks, heaps, Laura!