Our AUD has continued to strengthen against the USD further this week. What a good opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping!
No matter how small or large your budget, as long as you keep within the customs limits and can take advantage of free shipping, there are many American sites to visit that offer cheaper clothes, toys, makeup and perfume.
Not sure what sites to visit? please contact me at sarah.willoughby@willoughbys.com.au
Taking a trip to America, UK or Europe in the next 12 months? Why not purchase a Cash Passport from Travelex now. Do this online rather than at a Travelex Shop Front as you will receive a better rate. Simply follow the prompts ensuring you Bpay within the allocated time.
The Cash Passport will allow you then the flexibility to buy currency, from your computer, as and when you want.
Note - it can take up to 6 weeks for the Cash Passport to be issued...all the more reason to do it now rather than leaving it to last minute.
Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Trotters, Trout and Torte
Two weeks in two cities. San Francisco and New York; a journey of gastronomic delights.
Here are 4 restaurants worthy of visiting...
Our second night in San Francisco (SF), we had the pleasure of dining at Francis the 2010 James Beard Best New Restaurant (the dining accolade equivalent of an Oscar).
My travelling companion’s business associate and his pregnant wife picked us up for dinner and were “lucked out” to have us in tow. We unexpectedly secure a spot at the bar of this hip little place and a park out the front.
Gastronomic bliss! A few dishes :Tender baby squid, saucer sized scallops sweet and juicy, lumberjack cake and explosion of sweet spicy heaven. And pig’s trotters. The house speciality. Not wanting to appear squeamish in front of my new friends I agree to ordering a plate to share. The waiter tells me "I clipped his nails myself”. When the trotters appear I am surprised to see 3 little patties. Delicious. Not at all scary. I highly recommend.
A well known and much loved restaurant to the resident New Yorker, Balthazar on Spring Street serving French cuisine.
Balthazar has all the class and character of a traditional French bistro. Jam packed with people we are directed to the bar and order a bottle of Billecart Salmon Rose before being ushered to our booth. Surveying the scene before me at 7pm the restaurant is overflowing with diners and the queue for a table is notable. A hum of chatter and a buzz of excitement make for a wonderful atmosphere.
The service is impeccable. I order for starters the Roasted Beet Salad to be followed by an entrée of Grilled Brook Trout. The Trout was superb. Cooked to perfection with a most glorious sweet vinaigrette that complimented the fish so well. Considering the quality of the food, the tremendous service and atmosphere to boot, the pricing of the food at this restaurant was very fair.
Our second night in San Francisco (SF), we had the pleasure of dining at Francis the 2010 James Beard Best New Restaurant (the dining accolade equivalent of an Oscar).
My travelling companion’s business associate and his pregnant wife picked us up for dinner and were “lucked out” to have us in tow. We unexpectedly secure a spot at the bar of this hip little place and a park out the front.
Gastronomic bliss! A few dishes :Tender baby squid, saucer sized scallops sweet and juicy, lumberjack cake and explosion of sweet spicy heaven. And pig’s trotters. The house speciality. Not wanting to appear squeamish in front of my new friends I agree to ordering a plate to share. The waiter tells me "I clipped his nails myself”. When the trotters appear I am surprised to see 3 little patties. Delicious. Not at all scary. I highly recommend.
A well known and much loved restaurant to the resident New Yorker, Balthazar on Spring Street serving French cuisine.
Balthazar has all the class and character of a traditional French bistro. Jam packed with people we are directed to the bar and order a bottle of Billecart Salmon Rose before being ushered to our booth. Surveying the scene before me at 7pm the restaurant is overflowing with diners and the queue for a table is notable. A hum of chatter and a buzz of excitement make for a wonderful atmosphere.
The service is impeccable. I order for starters the Roasted Beet Salad to be followed by an entrée of Grilled Brook Trout. The Trout was superb. Cooked to perfection with a most glorious sweet vinaigrette that complimented the fish so well. Considering the quality of the food, the tremendous service and atmosphere to boot, the pricing of the food at this restaurant was very fair.
On to the Torte….
Magnolia Bakery I visited both the Bleeker Street and Columbus Avenue stores. Both twice.
Yes, it is true, as the blackboard says, the banana pudding is better than it sounds. But frankly, the cupcakes won my heart. My favourite being the vanilla with vanilla butter icing. These cupcakes are wonderful unpretentious perfect little gems just the way a cupcake should be. It is no wonder then that both stores have people queuing out the door and up the side path for several metres.
Café Lalo is the other cafe worthy of torte tasting. It is mind boggling how many cakes, tarts and tortes this place will serve. Not only are they mouth watering gorgeous to look at but also truly delicious to eat. And if you are Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie buff (You’ve Got Mail) this is the café where they met. It has a cute, cosy atmosphere. Like most “in” places in NYC, it is busy so be prepared to wait for a table.
Café Lalo is the other cafe worthy of torte tasting. It is mind boggling how many cakes, tarts and tortes this place will serve. Not only are they mouth watering gorgeous to look at but also truly delicious to eat. And if you are Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie buff (You’ve Got Mail) this is the café where they met. It has a cute, cosy atmosphere. Like most “in” places in NYC, it is busy so be prepared to wait for a table.
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