Crispy bacon and country baking: Meet Good Food’s new national food editor

Hello, I’m Good Food’s new national food editor. I grew up in Nundle, a tiny village about 60km south-east of Tamworth, home to 300 people, four churches and one great corner pub with a sprawling beer garden and two-headed cow on the wall. My family still lives in the same A-frame house, with its backyard of olive trees, truffle oaks and happy, clucking chickens. It’s a beautiful spot (just don’t stand too close to the septic tank). In February, we like to go blackberry picking at a secret spot in Hanging Rock. We’d come back with purple hands and scratched-up legs, but it was worth it for the pies. If you’re ever heading north-west on the New England Highway, do yourself a favour and pull over at Graze at The Willow Tree Inn for a cracking rib eye and jacket potato. Good Food’s new national food editor, Erina StarkeyDion GeorgopoulosThe best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.Sign upI’m not a fussy eater (fruit cake aside). I like crispy bacon sandwiches, and marmalade on soft-ripened cheese, Liquorice Allsorts (the pink ones), and Japanese sesame dressing on everything. For the past two years, I’ve edited the Good Food app, where I’ve loved seeing the recipes you search for, click on and save. For instance, I know that you love an easy tray bake: ideally, chicken thighs roasted with lemon and herbs, that can go straight in the oven at the end of a long day. You like slow-cooked French favourites like beef bourguignon and coq au vin almost as much as you like a speedy dinner, be it 20-minute laksa or Mongolian beef noodles.Chocolate and carrot are your favourite cakes, but you wouldn’t say no to a slice of blood plum cake if it’s going, especially if it has a cardamom sugar crust. And though you might deny it, you love tuna patties too. One of your favourite recipes: Helen Goh’s blood plum cake.William MeppemOver the coming months, I hope to get to know you even better. I’ll be keeping an eye on the numbers, but I’d love to hear from you directly. Which recipes were triumphs? Which were too tricky (or not tricky enough)? Have any become family favourites? And if you’ve made an improvement, please share, via social media comments or using the Reader notes on our recipes. I look forward to reading them, with a crispy bacon toastie in hand.Almost forgot to mention The Drunken Trout Cafe! Another one to check out if you’re ever in the Nundle area. Erina Starkey – Erina is the Good Food App Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously, Erina held a number of editing roles at delicious.com.au and writing roles at Broadsheet and Concrete Playground.From our partners