A Perfect Weekend in Hobart - A Taste of Tasmania

Instead of a two week try-to-see-it-all drive around Tasmania, we decided to break up our experience into two, long weekend trips. First stop, Hobart.

What we did...

MONA

MONA, 655 Main Road Berriedale, Hobart +61 (3) 6277 9900, info@mona.net.au
Arriving early from Sydney meant we had almost a full day to fill (and a number of hours before we could check into our hotel), so we drove straight to the Museum of Old and New Art, more commonly known as MONA, and found everything from coffee and pastries to a gourmet lunch to a cellar door and enough shocking artwork for a lifetime of conversation. 

Port Arthur Convict Settlement

Because you just have to. It's a 90-minute drive from Hobart, so on our first full day in Hobart, we headed out to see the historic site. 

Bruny Island
A little known foodie have is just a short drive and even shorter ferry ride away from Hobart. In less than an hour we were walking on pristine, albeit chilly, white sand beaches in one of the most remote places in Australia. And then there's the food. From the freshest oysters to artisan cheese, this island is a mecca for food lovers. I regularly order from Bruny Island Cheese Co. (now making their own beer too) after sampling and buying everything at their popular Bruny Island tasting room.

Salamanca Market
On our last morning in Hobart, we headed straight for what was the top tourist site in Hobart (up until the MONA came to town). We weaved our way through the largest street market I've ever seen. You'll find local honey, handmade crafts and souvenirs, artisan breads and pastries, fresh produce, clothes and lots of food. Set aside at least an hour to wander at leisure, work your way through crowds and figure out how much you can stuff into your luggage to get back home.

Glassworks Cellar Door
Gasworks Cellar Door, 2 Macquarie Street, Hobart, +61 3 6231 5946, cellardoor@vantagegroup.com.au
I first noticed the building when we drove through town to our hotel. The historic gasworks brink tower stands tall in the waterfront precinct near the harbour and many popular hotels. We made our final stop of the trip here and were incredibly impressed by the fantastic Tasmania wines available for tasting (via tasting cards costing $10 for 3, 6 or 12 tastes of various sizes). But most of all, we loved that we had the opportunity to buy these wines, from all over Tasmania (not just the Hobart region) and ship them to our home in Sydney (for only $15/case). But best of all, we had a ball with the fun and very knowledgable manager, James Hordern.

Where we ate (or more importantly, where we'd eat again)...

Pilgrim Coffee

Pilgrim Coffee, 48 Argyle Street, Hobart +61 (3) 6234 1999, coffeework@live.com.au
Fantastic Sensory Lab coffee and gorgeous breakfast dishes. Literally, the "porridge" -- that was actually warm tapioca made with coconut milk with freeze-dried fruis and edible flowers -- was the prettiest I've ever seen.

Sidecar - CLOSED

Sidecar, 129 Bathurst Street, Hobart +61 (3) 6231 1338
Love this tiny spot with small plates and a uniquely European wine list. Seating no more than 20 diners around an open cooking area and a couple of small tables, the atmosphere is wonderfully cozy and dimly lighted in an otherwise stark and modern setting. The food that comes out of a tiny, spotless "kitchen" is fantastic. We loved the house-made ricotta, sliced meats and meatball sandwich washed down with wonderful Italian and French wines by the glass. Highly recommended for a light meal. Sidecar has been replaced by Small-fry Hobart. We'll be giving it a try on our next visit.

Jackman and McRoss Bakery
Jackman and McRoss Bakery, 57-59 Hampden Road, Hobart,
In the quaint Battery Park area of Hobart (just a short walk from the bustling Salamanca area) sits the wonderful Jackman and McRoss Bakery with a picture-perfect case of sweet and savory pastries and breakfast dishes. We devoured a tasty vegetarian quiche layered with potatoes and asparagus to name a few of the ingredients, a risotto cake topped with a pile of slow cooked pork and a brioche filled with cream and fresh raspberries. All were absolutely incredible as were the selection of breads available to take home.

Next trip, we'll be flying into Launceston and working our way around the north of Tasmania. And afterwards, I'm coming back to Hobart for a longer visit!

Happy Travels,
30-something Travel

Celebrate International Coffee Day at the Best Coffee Shops in the World

Quite possibly our favorite day of the year...International Coffee Day is here! 

Updated October 23, 2014

We've spent countless hours searching for and drinking the best coffees around the world. In fact, we've been late to meetings, risked missing trains and planes, and even followed GPS up a narrowing path through a pedestrian only alley (then had to reverse all the way back down) for a good coffee. So this time around, in honor of International Coffee Day, we decided to compile the best of the best. We've covered four continents of great coffee - Asia, Australia, Europe and North America - so we hope you too can enjoy a fantastic coffee wherever you are or wherever you are traveling. 

ASIA

Little Nap Coffee Stand, Tokyo

5-65-4 Yoyogi Shibuya-Ku, 03-3466-0074, www.littlenap.jp

On a quiet side street in a residential area of Shibuya, a tiny, friendly coffee shop is making perfect lattes. From the closest subway stop, you'll walk by parks and see kids playing in the community center yard before you come across the small but well-designed Little Nap Coffee Stand and enjoy a single origin drip or espresso made with their own roasted beans.

40 Hands Coffee, Singapore

Blk 78 Yong Siak Street, #01-12, Tiong Bahru Estate, www.40handscoffee.com
The name 40 Hands comes from the notion that it takes 40 hands to produce a cup of coffee, from seed to cup. This cafe and casual restaurant, as well as ODP (Open Door Policy) across the street run by the same team, serves a fantastic latte with absolutely the best consistency of milk we've tasted. We can't say enough about the incredible coffee (and latte art) at 40 Hands Coffee.

AUSTRALIA

Brother Baba Budan, Melbourne 

358 Little Bourke Street, +61 (03) 9606 0449, www.brotherbababudan.com.au
This tiny, wonderful haven of perfect espresso has been called "the best coffee in town" (by We Know Melbourne) and that's quite an honor in the foodie capital of Australia. We completely agree with the accolade, especially since we are subscribers of their Seven Seeds coffee bean delivery service. Not to miss.

Pablo & Rusty's, Sydney 
161 Castlereagh Street, +61 (02) 9283 9543, ww.pabloandrustys.com.au

We could not be any more excited that a fantastic roaster and coffee maker has come to Sydney CBD in a big way. Check out their beautiful cafe and have a fantastic coffee while you're there.

Pilgrim Coffee, Hobart

Pilgrim Coffee, 48 Argyle Street, Hobart +61 (03) 6234 1999, coffeework@live.com.au

Fantastic Sensory Lab coffee and gorgeous breakfast dishes are what Pilgrim Coffee is all about. The "porridge" -- that was actually warm tapioca made with coconut milk -- was the prettiest I've ever seen.

EUROPE

Princi, London
135 Wardour Street, +44 020 7478 8888, http://www.princi.co.uk/
Most importantly, the coffee is excellent, but if you are looking for a good pastry to go along with it, this is the place for you. Finding a great coffee place in London took ages, but by George, we think we've done it.

Cappuccino, Mallorca 

San Miguel, 53, Palma, 971 719 764, http://www.grupocappuccino.com/

Coffee aside (for just a second, don’t worry) the atmosphere at Cappuccino near the cathedral of Palma – an open terrace at the foot of a huge church right in the middle of the shopping district – is hard to beat. The perfect place to people watch with a cappuccino italiano and an ensaimada, a giant, but light, powdered sugar covered doughnut. 

NORTH AMERICA

Victrola, Seattle
411 15th Avenue E (and other locations), www.victrolacoffee.com
Seattle takes its coffee seriously and has landed on the top of our lists more than once. Victrola is the latest and greatest in the land of serious coffee drinkers. It's dark, strong coffee, not for the faint of heart, but always a perfect latte.

Photo courtesy of Victrola Coffee

Intelligentsia, Chicago
Monadnock Building, 53 West Jackson Blvd., www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
Known for top-tier baristas and a strong commitment to creating the perfect shot, Intelligentsia brings a serious approach to making excellent coffee. Behind the scenes, Intelligentsia works directly with producers too ensure that only the best beans make it into your cup of coffee. The baristas also seem to know how to be hip and still be nice to customers while pulling a consistently beautiful shot. Try the Black Cat beans, a sweeter but balanced blend made specifically for espresso. 

Stumptown, Portland

4525 SE Division Street, +1 (503) 230-7702, www.stumptowncoffee.com
One of the pioneers of the coffee revolution (at least in Portland), Stumptown has stood out with their own roasted beans and bottled cold brew in a city that is very serious about coffee. If you aren't going to be near Portland any time soon, you can still find their beans across the country in cafes that know a good coffee.

Joe The Art of Coffee, New York 

141 Waverly Place (and other locations), +1 (212) 924-6750, www.joetheartofcoffee.com

Joe’s is one, if not the best, example of a serious coffee shop with talented baristas that serve every latte with a perfectly designed leaf or heart in the expertly steamed milk.  If you like your cuppa joe (pun intended) as much as we do, the pictures on their website will make your mouth water. Seriously. 

Blue Bottle, San Francisco

Mint Plaza, 66 Mint Street, San Francisco (and other locations), +1 (510) 653-3394, info@bluebottlecoffee.net
Blue Bottle is where I want to go every morning for a double latte and breakfast.  And I always end up walking out with a bag of anise cookies, some granola, another latte...

Photo courtesy of Blue Bottle Coffee

Habit Coffee, Victoria, British Columbia
Two locations: Chinatown, 552 Pandora Avenue, +1 (250) 294-1127
Atrium, 808 Yates Street, (250) 590-5953, http://habitcoffee.com/
On our last visit to Victoria, the search was on for the best espresso in town. And after many tries, we landed on Habit Coffee. Great coffee, cool vibe. And we love their seed to cup approach (they care about every step in the process) to making the best coffee possible. 

We've heard lots of great suggestions from our readers over the years and are truly trying to get to them all. Here are a few we can't wait to check out:

- Proud Mary, Melbourne, Australia

- Rockwood Bakery, Spokane, WA, USA

- Niche & Co., Gold Coast, Australia

- Black Sheep Coffee, Sioux Falls, SD, USA

What's on your not-to-miss coffee list? Share your favorites and we'll add them to our list!

Cheers,

30-something Travel

As seen on...

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Menulog: Australian Online Food Delivery and Giveaway

Online food delivery doesn’t get much easier than this - browse, click, eat. It’s really that simple.

Food is fuel. That is what my husband thought when we first met, but after a year traveling around the world where trying local cuisine was a top priority for me, he changed his mind. Now as expats living in Sydney, we have time to learn not just about Australian cuisine but what locals actually eat on a daily basis. It’s not all shrimps on the barbie and Sunday roasts, that’s for sure. It’s a wide range of fresh produce, fantastic meat and seafood as well as spicy influences from neighboring Asian and Malaysian cultures. You will never get bored eating in Australia.

We have just moved to Wooloomooloo, a city suburb bordering Sydney’s CBD, and haven’t yet explored the area’s restaurants. So, it was perfect timing to be invited to try Menulog -- an online food delivery website with dozens of restaurants in my neighborhood offering hundreds of dishes available for delivery right to my door.  

Here’s how it works:

1) Pick a restaurant 

Go to Menulog.com.au. Enter a suburb or postal code where your meal will be delivered. This step ensures that every restaurant in the resulting list, in our case Woolloomooloo Take-Away, is already vetted and you won’t have to worry that the restaurant you pick doesn’t deliver to your street. I decided on Indian Food delivery at a highly-rated restaurant called The Colonial. It’s the first Indian restaurant I have encountered that puts tapas on the menu, but it works. Smaller plates mean more variety and a cost-effective way to try new dishes as well as cater to different tastes.  

2) Place the order

It could not be simpler to place an order on Menulog.com.au. Once you click on the restaurant from the list of choices, you immediately see relevant information like opening hours, accepted payment methods and ratings. The menu is clearly displayed and can be easily sorted. To add a dish to your order, simply click on the “+”. Once finished, add any special delivery instructions, pay and click “confirm”. 

3) Wait for your food

It's fast! Almost instantaneously after ordering, I received a confirmation e-mail with an estimated time of delivery. On a busy Friday night, I was sitting down and enjoying my fantastic meal less than thirty minutes after I ordered, well within the timeframe noted. 

Thank you, your order was placed at The Colonial Darlinghurst. Order number ZGGWHX4 Time requested for: NOW.

In case you are wondering, we enjoyed a perfectly spiced Vindaloo, layered bread called Paratha, large and tasty Garlic Tandoori Prawns and The Colonial Vegetarian Platter which included a Samosa, Paneer Tikka (marinated, clay oven baked cheese), Onion Bhaji (scallion and onion fritter) and Aloo Tikki (a potato patty with peas). Plenty for two hungry people and everything was wonderful. My next order will also include a popular dish called Lamp Lollipops (yoghurt and spice marinated lamb chops).  

4) Repeat

I will be ordering through Menulog.com.au again and again. Little details like saving my address, remembering delivery instructions, keeping credit information for future use and reminding me where I've previously ordered means makes it quick and convenient to order through Menulog.com.au when I want takeout. 

Many restaurants offer a discount of 10% - 25% off the entire order for first time customers. Delivery is often free with a minimum purchase, which is usually easy to meet, especially when ordering for more than one person. Some restaurants even offer loyalty cards through Menulog — place seven orders, get the eighth free, is not uncommon — and your orders are saved on Menulog so no need to keep track of punch cards.

I do most of my grocery, household and even clothes shopping online, so discovering an online food delivery service like Menulog with great restaurant choices and a simple ordering process fits perfectly into my lifestyle. I'll update this post with my future experiences with Menulog and invite you to add your favorite participating restaurants in the comments. 

Last but not least...the GIVEAWAY! Australian readers can win a $25 Menulog voucher for Menulog.com.au. Just click on the Rafflecopter entry below for your chance to win. A big thank you to Menulog for sponsoring this giveaway and inviting me to try their website. 

Click to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. Good luck!

Best Meals of 2012

Surprisingly simple meals and, more often than not, lunches topped our list of best meals in 2012 

#5 - Hamburger at The Standard, New York (USA)
Maybe it was the hype around staying at the "in" place in the Meatpacking district or the fact that we sat at a stool watching the kitchen make countless porterhouse steaks for two or simply the housemade pickle that accompanied it, but this hamburger left a lasting impression on both myself and my dinner guest who wished he had ordered it too (although his pork chop wasn't bad at all!)

#4 - Salad Nicoise in Nice (France)
It's really a combination of the local dish, Salade Nicoise, along with a chilled rose wine, enjoyed right on the beach. Pick any beachside cafe, get a seat with a view and an umbrella because you'll want to sit there for a long time, savoring the fact that you are in the South of France while you eat.

#3 - Lunch at Knee Deep Winery, Margaret River (Australia)
This fantastic meal of pork belly as well as a wonderful fresh fish dish was enjoyed as the glass doors of this small restaurant were opened allowing us to feel as if we were dining right in the vineyard (which we pretty much were) where our lovely wines (we had both a Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay with our respected meals) had been born. Read the full story of our adventures wine tasting in Margaret River here - http://bit.ly/P3LhM0

#2 - Lunch at 40 Hands Singapore (Singapore)
We went for coffee, we stayed for lunch. This DIY pork bun was better than any I've had that were pre-made, but the biggest surprise was the Salted Cod with Potato Sandwich which we were actually fighting over. As for the coffee, it ranked as one of the best coffees of the year.

#1 - Small Plates at Baco Mercato, Los Angeles (USA)

Bon Appetit was right on when it named Baco Mercat one of America's top 10 best new restaurants of 2012. In fact, it was well worth the drive from Santa Monica in rush hour traffic one Friday night to get to the restaurant in what felt like a deserted area of downtown LA. The food and drinks are fantastic. A baco, if you are wondering, is a type of sandwich made on flatbread and folded in half. We had the beef tongue schnitzel baco and it was amazing, but we also ate stuffed squash blossoms, grilled peaches, ceasar brussel sprouts, pickled eggplant salad and, although we had no room for it, the wild boar pasta. Oh and then we had fresh pineapple upside down cake for dessert because it's hard to say no to anything on this menu. Our full report can be found here - http://bit.ly/12SzA6c.

2012 was a great year of travel, food, drinks and new experiences, including making the move to Sydney, Australia. We promise to keep searching for great places as we travel from our new home base. Thanks to all of you for reading the blog. We appreciate all of your support and feedback!

Best,
30-something Travel

Wine Tasting in Margaret River

Even wine snobs aren't familiar with the stunning wine region of Margaret River on Australia's west coast that not only offers some of the country's best wines, but beautiful beaches, gourmet food and the nicest wine producers you'll ever meet. 

Margaret River in Western Australia, or WA as the locals call it, produces less than 5% of the total amount of Australian wine made, but almost 25% of the best Australian wines. It surprising then how few of the labels are recognized by wine lovers and even worse, it's almost impossible to find these wines outside of Australia. We've done our fair share of tasting and investigating so you know which are the best and most interesting wineries to visit and how to find these amazing wines back home.

Where to Taste Wine

Vasse Felix
Corner of Dr. Tom Cullity Drive and Caves Road, Cowaramup +61 (0)8 9756 5000, info@vassefelix.com.au
The very first winery in WA, Vasse Felix started as an experiment in the late 1960s and proved the area just south of Perth was well-suited for Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling grape growing. The wine at Vasse Felix is excellent, but our favorite part of the visit was learning the story behind the falcon logo that decorates every bottle. Legend has it that rats were a problem in the early days of the vineyard, so the proprietor, Dr. Tom Cullity, trained a falcon to guard the grapes. After a lengthy and expensive training, the falcon was released for duty and flew away immediately, never to be seen again.  
Find Vasse Felix wines through the US distributor, Negociants USA Inc, retailers including Beltramo's, Southern Hemisphere Wines, Southern Lattitude Wine, Winerz and Wine.com.

Howard Park and Mad Fish
Miamup Road, Cowaramup, +61 (0)8 9756 5200, margaretriver@hpw.com.au
The wines of Howard Park and Mad Fish may be the most recognizable wines in this area. Since 1986, they have produced Cabernet Sauvignon and wonderful Rieslings, but have since extended their lines to include Shiraz, Muscat and even sparkling wine. And lucky for us, the Mad Fish wines are known for their value. The modern design of the cellar and winery even resulted in a nomination for an architectural award.
Mad Fish wines are distributed in the US by Distinguished Vineyards and Wine Partners, www.dvwinepartners.com.

Cape Mentelle
331 Wallcliffe Road, +61 (0)8 9757 0812, cellardoor@capementelle.com.au 
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay lead the list of fantastic wines at Cape Mentelle, one of the pioneers of Margaret River wine producers. You might recognize the bottles by the row of Eucalyptus trees on the label. We love the Cabernet Sauvignons and swear we can smell the Eucalyptus every time we open a bottle back home. Beyond the wines, visitors will find specialty tours and outdoor movies on the grounds of the winery throughout the summer.
Cape Mentelle wines are distributed by Moet Hennessy in the US and I've been lucky to find them occasionally on Wine.com. 


Xanadu
Boodjidup Road, +61 (0)8 9758 9500, info@xanaduwines.com 
Award-winning wines from a stunning winery (with quite possibly the longest driveway in Australia), Xanadu should top the list of any visit to the region. On beautiful grounds you'll find a massive tasting room and a gourmet restaurant. Gorgeous chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons are the standouts, but you'll also find lovely Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends and Shiraz to try. You'd never guess from the modern architecture that this is one of the oldest wineries in Margaret River.

Leeuwin Estates
Stevens Road, Margaret River, +61 (0)8 9759 0000, winery@leeuwinestate.com.au 
This is the place to come if you want great wine, top food from the award-winning restaurant, a visit to an art gallery and a concert all in the same day. The Art Series wines are the best wines from each vintage and the labeling is as thoughtful as the wine making.
Find Leeuwin Estate wines at Old Bridge Cellars (Napa) and Wine.com.


Where to Eat
After a hard day of wine tasting, food is in order and Margaret River doesn't disappoint. From gourmet restaurants to top notch pub grub, you'll find whatever your stomach desires.

Knee Deep Winery
160 Johnson Road, Wilyabrup, +61 (0)8 9755 6776, cellar@kneedeepwines.com.au
A wonderful winery to be sure, but we come here for the food. At the time of our visit, only lunch was available, but we couldn't think of a better time to be here as the glass walls open on warm days so you are dining literally steps away the vines. The main dishes were phenomenal and made even better with perfectly paired wines, but our favorite course was dessert - a deconstructed Cherry Ripe, a popular Australian candy bar consisting of chocolate, cherries and cream. Amazing.

MUST
107 Bussell Highway, +61 (0)8 9758 8877, bistromr@must.com.au
Located in the center of Margaret River, MUST is known for its extensive wine list but also for the best hamburger in the region. The burger is huge and certainly doesn't disappoint after an exhausting day of wine tasting in the sun.


Where to Stay

Cape Lodge
3341 Caves Road, Yallingup, +61 (0)8 9755 6311, stay@capelodge.com.au
Award-winning hotel and restaurant, including Top 10 in the World for Food on Conde Naste Traveler's Gold List, Cape Lodge sits on a secluded vineyard in central Margaret River. Charming rooms, picturesque grounds, tennis, wine and one of the best meals you'll find in Australia, this boutique luxury lodge is well worth the splurge. I particularly loved the grass tennis court!

Urban Treehouse
+61 (0)8 8757 2795, jolene@arthousedc.com
A fantastic, eco-friendly design project amidst the trees, the Urban Treehouse is a private home rental that sleeps six and is a unique way to experience life in Margaret River. Modern and innovative, this house has everything you need - BBQ, open kitchen, private bedrooms, decks and easy access to town. It also has things you didn't know you needed - a pond built into the deck allowing natural cooling in hot weather, a "living pantry"or herb garden right outside the kitchen window - all built in a group of trees. I keep trying to think of excuses to bring a group of friends back here, just to get to stay at the Urban Treehouse again.

Don't forget to set aside some time to visit the lovely beaches in the Margaret River area. While most are surfing beaches, there are a few secluded gems for swimmers. When the weather cooperates, head straight for the beach, well, stop for a wine tasting if needed, but be sure not to miss the beautiful Western Australia beaches.

Beer from the Land Down Under - Little Creatures Brewery, Western Australia

If you find yourself in WA (that's Western Australia), plan a stop at Little Creatures, our favorite Australian microbrewery. 

Nothing quite hits the spot on a hot summer day like a cold beer. So when we recently passed through Fremantle, a short drive from booming Perth, Australia, we headed over to Little Creatures. We were looking for a great beer (and found it), but also discovered good pub food, like wood-fired pizzas, and a stylish place to spend some time.

First and foremost, the folks behind Little Creatures make some seriously good beer. On the lighter side, as Australian microbrews tend to be, they offer a fantastic pilsner and a light (from an alcohol content perspective, 3.8%) amber ale. A new hard cider trend has recently surged in Australia so you can also grab a Pipsqueak apple or pear cider, but my favorite of the lot is Little Creatures Pale Ale which is a bit heavier but offers loads of flavor.

Come for a beer, take a tour, stay for lunch, enjoy the views over the harbor and grab a six-pack for home.

Cheers,

30-something Travel

Little Creatures Brewery and Loft

40 Mews Road, Fremantle, WA 6160

+61 8 9430 5555

www.littlecreatures.com.au

 

Top Spots for New Year's Eve

2011 is behind us. Resolutions are ahead. But on New Year's Eve, it's just time to have fun.  

Champagne, parties and kissing...what's not to love about NYE. At 30-something Travel, we have a goal to spend New Year's Eve in as many different places as possible. So far, that includes North America (New York, Miami, San Francisco, Whistler B.C.), South America (Venezuela), Europe (London, Paris, Stockholm) and Australia (Sydney). Here is a glimpse of some the great places to celebrate the new year.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is in one of the first time zones to ring in the new year and the Ozzie's take it seriously. Sydney Harbor festivities involve over one million people culminating in the viewing of the famous show that many consider the best fireworks display in the world. There is a 9PM show for kids and the big midnight fireworks at the Sydney Harbor Bridge. If you are heading to Sydney this year, check out our City Guide - Sydney with lots of ideas for your trip. 

New York, USA

The quintessential American tradition - Times Square for NYE. If you aren't there, you'll be able to catch all the action on TV. The streets in Times Square are blocked off in the afternoon as people begin to flood the area to see the famous ball drop. But once inside the barriers, it is near impossible to sneak out for food, drinks or bathroom breaks during the many hours of waiting. So, do it the 30-something way...a room at the W Times Square, dinner at the Blue Fin restaurant (a multi-course seafood and sushi set menu with champagne) all perfectly timed for the doors to open onto Times Square 15-minutes before midnight. Prime viewing, a fun and exciting setting and only a few steps back to the comfort of your room. This is exactly why we save all those Starwood Points!

Tokyo, Japan
The Japanese literally ring in the new year as temple bells are rung 108 times at midnight. Then, on New Year's Day, the post office delivers New Year’s cards, or Nen-ga-jyo, which bear good wishes for the new year to neighbors and friends. Food is a highlight in Japanese New Year’s celebrations, but it doesn’t happen until houses are cleaned. Similar to Spring Cleaning, Osoji is the act of thoroughly cleaning Japanese households. Then it is time to prepare traditional New Year's meals such as Toshi-koshi soba, which literally translates to "Across the Years Noodles". 

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theedinburghblog/ /
CC BY 2.0 from http://www.theedinburghblog.co.uk/

Edinburgh, Scotland

One of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the world is in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hogmanay festivities include a torchlight procession and fire festival, with thousands of participants carrying torches through the city streets. The burning of a Viking ship kicks off the festivities, then its days of concerts, live entertainment and finally fireworks creating a spectacular finale to this five-day event. The song “Old Lang Syne”, written by a Scot, Robert Burns, is sung on the stroke of midnight when fireworks are launched from Edinburgh's seven hilltops, lighting up the skies above the massive Edinburgh castle. 

Whatever you do this year, we wish you all the best in 2012. Thanks for being a 30-something Travel reader.

Cheers and Happy New Year!

30-something Travel

P.S. From a live opossum to a 100-pound bologna to a drag queen named Sushi, check out some of the strangest NYE traditional ball drops here - http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/wackiest-new-years-eve-ball-drops. Hillarious! Thanks T&L.

Back to the Grind: 5 More Top Coffee Shops around the World

The quest for the perfect espresso continues as we build on our original top 5 list of the best coffee shops around the world with five more of the best places we've found for a great coffee.

Updated October 23, 2014

Pablo & Rusty's, Sydney 
161 Castlereagh Street, +61 (02) 9283 9543, www.pabloandrustys.com.au
We could not be any more excited that a fantastic roaster and coffee maker has come to Sydney CBD in a big way. Check out their beautiful cafe and have a fantastic coffee while you're there.

Victrola, Seattle
411 15th Avenue E (and other locations), www.victrolacoffee.com
Seattle takes its coffee seriously and has landed on the top of both of our charts.  Victrola is the latest and greatest in the land of serious coffee drinkers. It's dark, strong coffee, not for the faint of heart, but always a perfect cuppa joe.

Photo courtesy of Victrola Coffee

Princi, London
135 Wardour Street, +44 020 7478 8888, http://www.princi.co.uk/
Most importantly, the coffee is excellent, but if you look for a good pastry to go along with it, this is the place for you.  Finding a great coffee place in London took ages, but it was well worth the search.

Blue Bottle, San Francisco

Mint Plaza, 66 Mint Street, San Francisco, 510-653-3394, info@bluebottlecoffee.net
Blue Bottle is where I want to go every morning for a double latte and breakfast.  And I always end up walking out with a bag of anise cookies, some granola, another latte...

Photo from Blue Bottle Coffee

Pasticceria Bastianello, Milan
Via Borgogna, 5, http://www.bastianello.com/en
I'm always amazed that even the tiniest, least decorative caffes in Italy have excellent coffee.  Well, Pasticceria Bastianello is the opposite...ornate and formal but still, a perfect cappuccino.  And the pastries are almost too pretty to eat.

 
Best to our fellow coffee drinkers,
30-something Travel

Countdown to 2010

While the US is popping champagne, watching the ball drop in Times Square and kissing at midnight, people around the world are preparing for NYE celebrations in their own way...and not necessarily on December 31st. 

At 30-something Travel, we look for any excuse to take a vacation, so we have a goal to spend New Year's Eve in as many different places as possible.  So far, that includes North America (New York, Miami, San Franciso, Whistler B.C.), South America (Venezuela), Europe (London, Paris) and we can soon add Australia to the list as we head to Sydney this year to welcome 2010.  Here are a few of the places we loved or have put on the list for future new year celebrations...

New York, New York
Hundreds of thousands of attendees can't be wrong, but there is more than one way to join in the fun. The streets are cleared in the afternoon as people begin to flood Times Square to see the famous ball drop. But once in, it is near impossible to sneak-out for food, drinks or bathroom breaks during the many hours of waiting. So, we did it the 30-something way...a room at the W Times Square, dinner at their own Blue Fin restaurant (a multi-course set menu with champagne) all perfectly timed for the doors to open onto Times Square 15-minutes before midnight. Prime viewing, a fun and exciting setting and only a few steps back to the comfort of your room. This is exactly what we save all those Starwood Points for! We didn't even have to book years in advance, so before braving the elements, check hotels in the area for options.



Mochima, Venezuela
In 2001 we went to Venezuela for a break from the traditional white Christmas and celebrated New Year's Eve in a remote beach town.  We were welcomed by the family that ran the small hotel where we were staying in Mochima, to a New Year's meal.  Various courses were made in huge quantities and then, at the stroke of midnight, grapes were served for good luck and as it is customary, we all ate twelve, one for each month of the new year. Afterwards, the whole town was in the streets wishing each other Feliz Año Nuevo.

Edinburgh, Scotland

One of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the world is in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hogmanay festivities include a torchlight procession and fire festival, with thousands of participants carrying torches through the city streets. The burning of a Viking ship kicks off the festivities, then its days of concerts, live entertainment and finally the fireworks creating a spectacular finale to this five-day event. If you go, you need to know that the song “Old Lang Syne” was written by a Scot, Robert Burns.  It is sung on the stroke of midnight when fireworks are launched from Edinburgh's seven hilltops, lighting up the skies above the massive Edinburgh castle. Official website - http://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/ Post your resolutions on the Hogmanay resolutions wall. (Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theedinburghblog/ / CC BY 2.0 from http://www.theedinburghblog.co.uk/.)

Hong Kong, China
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events in the world and Hong Kong is the place we want to be to celebrate. On February 14, 2010, China will mark the beginning of the year of the tiger - it's all based on the lunar calendar, the first new moon in the first month of 2010. Firecrackers, parades and incense are all part of the fun. Before the new year, many people literally "wipe away" the previous year by cleaning their homes and offices. On Lunar New Year's Eve, family members share in an extravagant meal full of dishes that bring good luck - shoe-shaped dumplings, cookies, oranges, and orange-inspired dishes because oranges symbolize good fortune. And the day concludes with fireworks. New Year’s Day is the day for the brightly-colored dragon and lion dance which is believed to ward off evil. If you are closer to London than Hong Kong, plan to visit the huge Chinese New Year celebration in their own Chinatown.

Paris, France

The French consider New Year's Eve a quiet family affair with many people hosting dinner parties or splurging on multi-course meals at restaurants. The one thing they all have in common is the drinking of great French champagne.

A couple of years ago we wandered out after a dinner with friends and found a young crowd at the Trocadero or Eiffel Tower with champagne bottles in hand.  The grand finale was the Eiffel Tower sparkling for 10-minutes (as it does every hour in the evenings) marking the beginning of the new year. 

Japan
The Japanese observe Oshogatsu as part of a week-long celebration. Businesses close to allow families to spend time together and on December 31st at midnight, temple bells are rung 108 times to welcome the new year. On New Year's Day, the post office delivers all New Year’s cards, or Nen-ga-jyo, which bear good wishes for the new year to neighbors and friends. Food is a highlight in Japanese New Year’s celebrations, but it doesn’t happen until houses are cleaned. Similar to Spring Cleaning, Osoji is the act of thoroughly cleaning Japanese households. Then it is time to prepare traditional New Year's meals such as Toshi-koshi soba, which literally translates to "Across the Years Noodles".

Sydney, Australia
This year, we'll ring in the new year in one of the first time zones to enter 2010.  We'll be at Sydney Harbor, with over one million other people, waiting for the fireworks - a 9PM show for the kids and the big midnight show at the Sydney Harbor Bridge - that many consider the best fireworks display in the world. To find the perfect spot, check out this great "vantage points" interactive map to find out where the fireworks will be launched, public transportation options and even where bathrooms can be found: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/VantagePoints/default.aspx.  But be warned, this year the city is hoping for a sober celebration, and alcohol will be banned in many prime viewing locations.  Details in the recent issue of The Australian newspaper.

Cheers and Happy New Year...wherever you will be this year!
30-something Travel

P.S.  If any 30-something Travelers want to share their NYE 2010 plans, post them here as a comment. We'd love to hear from you :)

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