For the latest in our series of editorials focusing on Irish Women in Business, we’re talking to Ketty Eisabeth, aka French Foodie in Dublin.
Originally from the Loire Valley in France, Ketty moved from Paris to Dublin in December 2004 and never left, “because of love”!
Her blog, French Foodie in Dublin (FFID) was born in August 2012, and since then Ketty has set up French Food and Wine Tours of Dublin, private tours, blogging workshops and The Foodie Movie Club.
Here, Ketty tells us in her own words about her Irish experience, and her own French Food Revolution.
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I started my food blog French Foodie in Dublin back in August 2012 when I was working in the tourism industry. The blog was a place to share my passion for food and Dublin’s food scene in general and became a hobby. I was surprised to see the readership growing quickly and I soon became obsessed with all the foodie things happening in Dublin. The following year, my contract ended with my employer and I was about to turn 30, I decided it was time to do a job I liked and for that I had to create it myself.
I wasn’t writing about French food at all but I soon started to receive emails from people who wanted my recommendations about French restaurants and French food products in general: I then knew there was a niche I could target.
I contacted some of my favourite food businesses and built an itinerary, a little path for discovering French food and wine around the Irish capital. It was pretty straightforward to set up as the businesses knew my blog already.
I started my French food and wine tours of Dublin in August 2013, it’s basically a 3 hour walking tour that includes a French lunch, cheese tasting, a full wine tasting and macaron tasting. I run the tour every Saturday but also during the week for private groups.
I used my social media and blog to advertise the tours and was very lucky to get lots of press coverage at the start. I was nervous before starting this business and wondering if people would accept the idea well in a context where people focus on buying local and supporting Irish food. However the companies I work with are Irish businesses, some are French owned but use Irish products. My approach isn’t to tell people French food is the best and they should buy French products, it’s really about offering something different and showing a side to French food that isn’t stiff or pretentious.
I got many customers from features in the press but now it’s mainly from my blog, social media following and word of mouth that I get bookings. I love the way my blog isn’t so virtual anymore, I meet those people who read my reviews and know me a little. The group size is 6 to 12 people but I’ve also organized private tours for larger groups or hen parties. I always make sure people are comfortable within the group by asking how they heard about the tours and introducing themselves. I personally love when people don’t know each other and I see them connecting during the meal, people are always lovely and here to have a good time.
I mainly get ladies on my tour, group of friends, mother and daughter or sisters but sometimes couples or people bringing their parents along. I enjoy every minute of it, I meet people who love food or France and get to share my tips and show them a different side of Dublin, from my French perspective. It’s funny to see that at the very start people are a bit shy and shake my hand and three hours later they give me a hug or kiss me on the cheeks as if I’ve become their friend. Also a few weeks ago I met a girl who attended my very first tour, she now works for one of the businesses I visit during my tours and told me I introduced her to it. In a way it was so rewarding to know that my tour impacted on her professional path!
I never thought I’d start a business on my own and I’m so grateful to my little food blog. It gave me more confidence, brought so many opportunities and made me meet passionate food professionals. I started with the French food tours but I now run food events, blogging workshops and I also work as a freelance blogger. It’s challenging and sometimes scary to work freelance (no financial security) but I’m my own boss and do what I enjoy instead of being miserable in an office for 8 hours like I was before it all started.
Website: www.frenchoodieindublin.com
Twitter: @FrenchfoodieinD
Facebook: FrenchFoodieInDublin
