For every delectable dish that graces our tables, there exists a wealth of inspiration that brings it to life. Among the countless cooks and chefs who embark on culinary adventures, Shantelle turns to three remarkable cookbooks that have become her trusted companions on her creative journey. In this blog, we’ll delve into the pages of these cookbooks that have captured Shantelle’s attention, where innovation knows no boundaries and creativity knows no limits.

Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat 

This cookbook is a culinary revelation, distilling the essence of cooking into four fundamental elements. Published in 2017, the book transforms how we approach cooking by emphasizing the roles of salt, fat, acid, and heat in creating exceptional dishes. With her engaging writing and deep expertise, Samin empowers novice and experienced cooks to understand the science and art of cooking, making her book a timeless guide in every kitchen.

Shantelle finds that the inclusion of intricate charts, a captivating color palette, and stunning illustrations adds to the cookbook’s allure, making it not just a collection of recipes but a work of art. The brilliance of the cookbook lies in Samin’s intuitive approach to cooking, which translates beautifully into the writing. Shantelle feels she’s delving into someone’s personal diary with this cookbook, igniting her excitement and connection to the recipes. She highlights that the cookbook embraces an “anybody can cook” concept, laying a foundation for beginners and experienced cooks. Shantelle notes that the cookbook seamlessly intertwines with the Netflix special,“Salt Fat Acid Heat”, where the four culinary elements are meticulously explored.

A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus by Renee Erickson and Jess Thomson 

Co-authored by Renee Erickson, a celebrated chef, and Jess Thomson, a talented food writer, this cookbook is a culinary treasure. Published in 2014, this cookbook weaves together Erickson’s unique culinary perspective with Thomson’s engaging prose. With a focus on Pacific Northwest ingredients and inspired by Erickson’s renowned restaurants, the cookbook offers a delightful collection of recipes, stories, and insights that capture the essence of the region’s vibrant food culture, making it a must-have for food enthusiasts and home cooks alike.

For more than five years, this cherished cookbook has held a special place in Shantelle’s collection, yet it remains untouched in terms of its recipes. Every time she opens its pages, she finds herself lost in its captivating content, drawn into its world without even needing to make a dish. Shantelle declares this cookbook the most exquisitely written. The book’s aesthetic charm is undeniable; its deep blue hue and the letterpress texture of its cover reflect the beauty within, which includes breathtaking photography. The cookbook features dishes of a Northeastern style, with seaboard and seafood recipes that can be altered to fit the ingredients found in our area. 

Memories of Philippine Kitchens by Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan

This cookbook is a captivating exploration of Filipino cuisine and culture. Published in 2006, the cookbook is a labor of love that combines Besa’s Filipino heritage and Dorotan’s culinary expertise. Through a rich tapestry of personal stories, traditional recipes, and modern adaptations, the authors take readers on a sensory journey that highlights the diverse flavors and traditions of Philippine cooking, making the cookbook a cherished resource for those seeking to understand and savor the depth of Filipino culinary heritage.

This cookbook holds an unparalleled place as Shantelle’s go-to source for creativity, serving as a bridge to her cultural heritage and roots. To Shantelle, it’s more than a cookbook; it’s a vessel that lets her delve deeper into her culture, intertwining her identity with the flavors that define it. The stunning photographs complement the recipes, bringing the dishes to life on the pages. The cookbook aptly captures the essence of Philippine cuisine, a fascinating amalgamation of borrowed, stolen, and unique flavors shaped by Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino influences - a true reflection of the nation’s diverse history. As Shantelle flips through the pages with a lengthy list of recipes she’s eager to create, she’s constantly inspired.

Want to learn more about the tie between creativitiy and cookbooks? Listen to our podcast episode here.

On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances Podcast, our host, Shantelle Dedicke shares one of her favorite ways to feed her creativity… reading cookbooks! In honor of her birthday, Shantelle discusses three of her favorite cookbooks, how they have pulled her out of a creative rut, what she plans to cook for her birthday meal, and much more. Have questions or thoughts about this episode? We’d love to chat. Email, he***@********oy.com.

Cookbooks Shantelle mentions:

Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat 

A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus by Renee Erickson and Jess Thomson 

Memories of Phillipine Kitchens by Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan

On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances podcast, our Art Director Janae Erickson and Graphic Designer Ana Sharp take over the microphone to discuss Canva, an easy-to-use, free online design tool! They share things they find most beneficial about Canva, fun projects they have worked on within the program, and much more. Have questions or thoughts about this episode? We’d love to chat. Email us at he***@********oy.com.

Here at Frances Roy, we’re constantly learning to adapt to new changes and embracing new features that roll out on social media platforms. Recently, Instagram released upgrades that garner more collaboration and inspiration for its users. Here are a few of our favorite new additions. 

Add up to three collaborators on posts and Reels. 

At first, users could only add one collaborator to a post or Reel. When you add collaborators to a post, they can accept or deny the invitation to collaborate. Once accepted, this post will be featured on all accounts and all collaborator usernames will show as the creators of the post. This feature gives creators the ability to reach new audiences and boost the overall reach and engagement of the post or Reel. Along with this upgrade, all collaborators can now access organic insights, including view counts, like counts, etc., to posts or Reels they are collaborating on.

Download publicly posted Reels content. 

Instagram now provides the option to download publicly posted Reels to your camera roll, which gives users another way to utilize Reel content. To do this, you will tap the ‘Share’ icon on a Reel and then select ‘Download’. Creators can opt out of enabling downloads of their content in their Account Settings. This new feature adds a way for creators to maximize the reach of their content across multiple platforms.

New ways to find inspiration and easily create Reels with templates. 

Instagram is making it easier to create your next Reel, starting with a new and improved Reel Template Browser! Reel templates allow you to easily create a Reel by reusing elements from another Reel you love. All you have to do is go to Instagram, click the “Create” button, and tap on “Reel”. In the top right corner, you’ll see the Templates tab. The templates offer the categories of “Recommended for You”, “Trending”, and “Saved”, all of which you can use as inspiration for your next Reel!

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Sources:

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-add-three-collaborators-posts-reels/685137/

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-allow-users-download-publicly-posted-reels-content/653449/

https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/instagram-reels-templates-updates

The Perfect in Walton County Awards celebrate the people, places, and activities in Walton County that are, well, perfect! A few of our clients and friends fall into this category, so we’ll be nominating them to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, will you join us? 

Here’s who we’re voting for in the 2024 Perfect in Walton County Awards:

Black Bear Bread Co.

Long before we represented Black Bear Bread Co., we were super fans of their breads, pastries, merchandise, and gorgeous cafes. Everything Black Bear produces is visually appealing and of the highest quality possible. Every item on their menu is made with care and attention to detail, from their artisanal sourdough to their delicious coffees and exquisite tartines. This is why we’re nominating them in the following categories:

  • Best Breakfast
  • Best Casual Dining
  • Best Coffee House
  • Best Lunch

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation is a powerhouse of charitable giving, supporting more than 18 local charities in their efforts to create positive change in the community. Through their events and fundraising efforts, they are able to unite the community around the important work of these charities and provide much-needed resources to support their missions. We are nominating two of their events for the Best Event category.

  • Best Event - Harvest Wine & Food Festival
  • Best Event - Destin Charity Wine Auction

Grand Boulevard

At Grand Boulevard, you can find 100s of your favorite national brands, local boutiques, specialty shops, delicious dining, a wide range of services, national hotels, and professional offices, all in one location! We think it’s truly unmatched and this is why we are nominating Grand Boulevard in the following category: 

  • Best Shopping Area

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties

Specializing in resort rentals, sales, and management in Destin and South Walton, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties takes care of its guests from the moment of inspiration to the post-travel halo. Their property Hidden Dunes boasts a premier tennis facility that consistently ranks among the top in the region. That is why we are nominating them in the following categories:

  • Best Rental Management Company - Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
  • Best Tennis Facility - Hidden Dunes

Sinfonia Gulf Coast

Sinfonia Gulf Coast is committed to entertaining, educating, and inspiring the community through imaginative and innovative musical programming. Their one-of-a-kind events support their mission to enrich and expand the traditional orchestral experience through unique artistic disciplines and collaborations, enhancing Northwest Florida's cultural vitality. We are nominating two of their events for the Best Event category.

  • Best Event - Crescendo!
  • Best Event - Sinfonia Cabaret at Seagar’s

Click here to cast your nominations for the 2024 Perfect in Walton County Awards!

On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances podcast, our host Shantelle Dedicke explores the topic of rest and why most people feel like they have to work to earn rest. Shantelle discusses how leaders can prevent burnout and be more productive through recharging, giving their team the space to do the same, and much more! Have questions or thoughts about this episode? We’d love to chat. Email he***@********oy.com.

Here at Frances Roy, we seek motivation and inspiration through books, movies, podcasts, music, magazines, blogs, and more. Creativity presents itself in many forms and we harness that creativity through these exposures. By sharing our team RWL’s with you, we hope to extend this inspiration and offer it as a platform for contagious creativity. As we present our individual RWL’s, we ask you to share your own RWL’s with us. Where do you find creative inspiration?

Shantelle P. Dedicke, CMP 
President/Chief Creative Officer

R: Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

W: Suits on Netflix and Hijack on Apple TV

L: My “Faraway” Playlist on Apple Music

Hillaree Durso, Senior Director of Content & Marketing 

R: First Time Mom books

W: Alone on Netflix

L: Diary of a CEO podcast

Janae Erickson, Art Director

R: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

W: The Witcher

L: “Toddler Purgatory”

Kelsey Doar, Marketing Manager 

R: Lessons in Chemistry

W: Succession

L: On Air with Ella

Jodie Warner, Research Coordinator 

R: Too Late by Colleen Hoover

W: Nancy Drew

L: Counter Clock podcast

Kayla Koger, Design & Content Coordinator 

R: Never, Never by Colleen Hoover

W: Bridgerton on Netflix

L: Gals on the Go podcast

Nicole Malley, Events & Content Coordinator 

R: Nothing 🙁

W: Yellowstone

L: Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Ryan Cobb, Operations Coordinator

R: Morning Brew

W: Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan - Amazon Prime

L: Pat McAfee Podcast

Jacie Chandler, Junior Copywriter

R: “Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts” by Jennie Allen

W: 9-1-1 on Hulu

L: Letting the AI DJ on Spotify pick what I’m listening to

Ana Sharp, Graphic Designer

R: Graphic Design for Everyone

W: Satori Graphics

L: Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain

Riley Beaulieu, Executive Coordinator

R: “Mister Impossible” by Maggie Stiefvater

W: Queendom Puzzle and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

L: XG, “This Ends at Prom”, and “American Hysteria”

On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances podcast, our host Shantelle Dedicke is joined by members of the Frances Roy team to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Frances Roy Agency! We discuss our favorite memories, things we manifest for our future, and much more. Have questions about this episode? Email he***@********oy.com.

The Finest on the Emerald Coast Awards celebrate and recognize the best our community has to offer, and a few of our clients and friends have been nominated! We’ll be voting to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, will you join us? Here’s who we’re voting for in the 2023 Finest of the Emerald Coast Awards:

Step One Automotive Group

Step One is known for its excellent customer service and a large selection of quality and well-priced new cars, trucks, and SUVs to fit their customers’ every need. Their quality of service and commitment to their community are qualities that we truly admire. We’re voting for them in the following categories - new car dealership, used car dealership, and auto dealer service department.

  • New Car Dealership - Step One Automotive Group
  • Used Car Dealership - Kia Fort Walton Beach, Subaru Fort Walton Beach
  • Auto Dealer Service Department - Kia Fort Walton Beach, Volkswagen Fort Walton Beach

Saltwater Restaurants

Saltwater Restaurants takes pride in providing fantastic waterfront views, outstanding service, and fresh & local ingredients at their eleven award-winning restaurants along the Emerald Coast. They bring a variety of cuisine and libations to the table, and that’s why we’re voting for their restaurants under the oysters/clams, beer selection, and margarita categories!

  • Oysters/Clams - The Boathouse Landing
  • Beer Selection: Restaurant/Bar - The Crab Trap
  • Margarita - Rockin Tacos

Alaqua Animal Refuge

Alaqua Animal Refuge is an animal sanctuary where all animals receive a second chance. Since its inception in 2007, Alaqua has become a recognized leader in animal rescue, welfare, cruelty prevention, and advocacy in our region. We’re voting for them in the animal rescue/shelter/adoption category.

  • Animal Rescue/Shelter/Adoption - Alaqua Animal Refuge

Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

What sets the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce apart is its focus on building a strong and supportive business community. Their commitment to excellence is evident in everything they do, and their dedication to their members is second to none. Ted Corcoran, President and CEO of the Chamber, embodies these same values and works tirelessly to help local businesses succeed and thrive. We’re voting for him as our favorite public community servant.

  • Public Community Servant - Ted Corcoran

The Place on Beal

When you’re looking for a special place to host events, business meetings, parties, and more, The Place on Beal is the perfect place! Located in Fort Walton Beach, they love helping our community members host events and will work closely with them to help prepare for and navigate their events every step of the way. We’re voting for The Place on Beal as our favorite event venue.

  • Event Venue - The Place on Beal

Emerald Coast Science Center

The Emerald Coast Science Center is a hands-on science museum that sparks curiosity in all who visit! Through their in-house and outreach STEAM education programs, they continue to inspire a scientifically engaged community in our area. We’re voting for them in the following categories - birthday party venue, museum, and non-profit/charity.

  • Birthday Party Venue - Emerald Coast Science Center
  • Museum - Emerald Coast Science Center
  • Non-profit/Charity - Emerald Coast Science Center

Cafe Rico

Known for their Latin Caribbean flavors, our friends at Cafe Rico have some of the best eats any local food truck has to offer. Follow their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on their schedule and stop by the truck to taste one of their delicious creations. Join us in voting for them in the food truck category.

  • Food Truck - Cafe Rico

Click here to cast your votes for the Finest on the Emerald Coast!

On this week’s episode of the Hello Frances podcast, our host Shantelle Dedicke discusses how our team incorporates vision boards into our yearly planning and how you can use a vision board to help manifest your goals. She shares how vision boards have positively impacted our team over the years, why vision boarding is connected to personal growth and much more! Have questions about this episode? Email he***@********oy.com.

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