As Deputy Food Editor at The Australian Women's Weekly Food, Fran Abdallaoui has shaped Australian home cooking through:
"Our readers want beautiful results without chef-level skills – that's where our testing makes the difference."
We've followed Fran Abdallaoui's culinary journalism career for over two decades, observing her evolution from home economist to deputy food editor at Australia's most trusted food publication. Her work at The Australian Women's Weekly Food exemplifies how practical cooking guidance intersects with cultural storytelling in modern food media.
"What a delicious year it's been... I'm looking forward to sharing loads more fabulous dishes with you in 2025. Happy cooking, Fran."
Abdallaoui's 2024 appliance review exemplifies her technical rigor blended with real-world testing. Over three weeks, she pressure-cooked 15 meals while simultaneously slow-cooking breakfast porridge, documenting temperature consistency and cleaning challenges. Her conclusion that "this appliance earns its counter space" became a marketing tagline for the manufacturer.
This annual roundup analyzes 127,000 reader interactions to identify trending ingredients. Abdallaoui's commentary reveals her editorial philosophy: "Classic recipes with twists nurture the soul." Her analysis of apple-based desserts dominating the list led to a 2025 editorial calendar emphasizing retro fruit desserts.
In this 2007 profile, Abdallaoui details the logistical challenges of location food photography. Her account of preparing bouillabaisse in a moving train kitchen car demonstrates her problem-solving approach that still informs the publication's mobile kitchen strategies.
Abdallaoui consistently highlights dishes reflecting Australia's multiculturalism, as seen in her North African-inspired lamb tray bake. Pitches should include historical context about ingredient adaptations, like her 2024 analysis of za'atar seasoning in Australian pantries.
With 23% of her 2024 articles focusing on kitchen tech, successful pitches demonstrate thorough appliance testing. Her Instant Pot review methodology shows she values clear metrics: "67% faster than traditional pressure cooking with 15% better moisture retention."
The journalist's "Feed Four Under $15" series (2023-2024) reveals her focus on cost-per-serving calculations. Effective pitches include supermarket price comparisons across major Australian retailers.
Abdallaoui's analysis of Gen Z's rediscovery of 1970s recipes (2024) shows interest in cyclical food trends. Pitches should bridge nostalgia with contemporary dietary needs, like her vegan adaptation of classic rum balls.
Her explainer on maillard reaction in slow cookers (2023) demonstrates how to translate scientific concepts into practical tips. Successful pitches use academic research simplified for weekday cooking.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Food, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
