Latest news with #ShelleySimpson
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nigella Lawson gushes over Sydney's 'hidden gem' restaurant after discovering its 'staircase to heaven': 'Took my breath away'
She's dined in Paris, feasted in Florence, and hosted glamorous banquets in London - but it's yet another hidden Sydney gem that's captured Nigella Lawson 's taste buds. The beloved British food icon, who's currently soaking up the Australian sunshine, took to Instagram to wax lyrical about Club Fontana, a quiet Italian eatery tucked away in Sydney's inner-south. In a post brimming with culinary joy, Nigella, famous for her poetic descriptions of food and unapologetic love of carbs, revealed she was completely enchanted by the Redfern restaurant, describing the experience as 'uplifting,' 'cosy,' and 'exquisite.' 'The visit filled my heart with joy,' the 65-year-old foodie said. 'The food is exquisite but cosy, and the place immediately relaxing and uplifting.' Nigella admitted that despite already falling for a handful of favourite Sydney spots, she was finally persuaded to try Fontana after hearing repeated praise from her close friend and renowned ceramicist and artist Shelley Simpson. 'I haven't been able to resist going back to restaurants I already know and love here in Sydney… but nor do I want to restrict myself to only my fond, familiar haunts,' she explained. 'The wonderful Shelley Simpson has been telling me about Club Fontana for ages now, and I'm really not sure why I haven't gone there before… but we went together last week, and the visit filled my heart with joy.' And while Fontana may not be the most obvious pick from the street, what it lacks in visibility it makes up for in charm. 'It's hard to find from the street (mind you, I have got absolutely no sense of direction), but eventually I discovered the carpeted staircase to heaven,' Nigella said - and from there, she was completely sold. The self-confessed 'carb queen' dove into a string of bold, nostalgic, and impeccably executed dishes, starting with a humble Italian classic - pane fritto with anchovies. 'Pane fritto is, simply, Italian for fried bread,' she said. 'But think puffed-up little pieces of sausage-shaped dough, light but with just the right amount of chew, topped with a salty stripe of anchovy.' And the hits just kept coming. From crostini topped with soft-cooked chicory and velvety broad bean purée, to garlic bread rolls that ooze caramelised garlic butter with every greedy bite, Nigella made her way through the menu with delight. 'Carb queen that I am, I moved on to their garlic bread, which comes sumptuously in the form of a bread roll that gushes… with caramelised garlic butter,' she swooned. She paired it with fresh, soft ricotta which she likened to 'a butterfly kiss', and a bitter leaf Autumn Caesar salad, complete with guanciale, roast kohlrabi, and more anchovies (because one can never have too many). But it was the dessert that left the TV star and bestselling author speechless. 'Pudding had to be the zabaglione cream, piled Mr Whippy style on top of a kind of upside-down crumble… that's to say, wine-poached quince over a bite-able rubble of divinely peppery biscuit,' Nigella wrote. 'This took my breath away. Well, it all did.' Ever the thoughtful diner, Nigella made sure to give credit where it's due, singing the praises of the restaurant's talented chef for their 'palate as perfect as his touch.' She also applauded the service, giving a warm shout-out to front-of-house staff member who helped make the night 'an utter enchantment.' Despite flying relatively under the radar, Fontana has already built a loyal cult following among Sydney foodies, but now, with Nigella's golden seal of approval, a table at the cosy 40-seater could soon be one of the toughest to score in town. The visiting British food icon recently dined at Ester in Chippendale, a trendy Sydney restaurant headed up by chef Mat Lindsay that may be a hidden gem - not widely known among the general public but revered by off-duty chefs and serious foodies. She about Ester for remaining 'unfailingly the most exciting kitchen in the world' after visiting the little-known hotspot with two friends. The high level of praise that Nigella heaped on Ester should hardly come as a surprise given that she'd previously named it a must-visit when she's in town The 65-year-old specifically highlighted some of the restaurant's 'exceptional dishes', explaining that her dining experience commenced with 'impeccable' oysters to start. Also on the menu was the 'legendary fermented potato bread with salmon roe and beguiling jelly-topped kefir cream' - a signature dish renowned at the restaurant. Nigella also called out the 'exquisite pippies' as a standout. ReceipeTin Eats founder, Nagi Maehashi, also responded to Nigella's post with an elongated: 'Yuuuuuummmm!!!' The beloved Australian food blogger also recommended that Nigella check out Ester's sister restaurant, Poly. 'Get everything on the smalls list,' Nagi advised. The high level of praise that Nigella heaped on Ester should hardly come as a surprise given that she'd previously named it a must-visit when she's in town. The British food icon told Gourmet Traveller earlier this year that the surprising yet delicious creations at Mat Lindsay's restaurant are 'extraordinary'. The award-winning restaurant is known for its relaxed yet stylish interiors and wood-fired modern Australian fare.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (JBHT) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges ...
Revenue: Declined 1% year-over-year. Operating Income: Decreased 8% compared to the prior year quarter. Diluted EPS: Decreased 4% year-over-year. Intermodal Volumes: Up 8% year-over-year, setting a first-quarter volume record. Net Capital Expenditures: Expected to be between $500 million to $700 million for 2025. Stock Repurchase: $234 million repurchased during the first quarter, with $650 million remaining on authorization. New Senior Notes Issued: $750 million issued to extend debt maturity. Truck Sales in Dedicated Segment: Approximately 260 trucks sold in the first quarter. Customer Count in ICS: Increased by more than 20% compared to the first quarter last year. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with JBHT. Release Date: April 15, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:JBHT) achieved record first-quarter intermodal volumes, indicating strong demand and operational excellence. The company has successfully reduced people costs by over $200 million through headcount attrition and performance management. JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:JBHT) has a strong safety culture, with further improvements in key safety metrics and a significant safety accomplishment in their maintenance team. The company has a strong brand and customer sentiment, receiving several awards during the quarter. JB Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:JBHT) has a diverse set of customers and a strong pipeline in their dedicated segment, with approximately 260 trucks of new deals sold in the first quarter. Revenue declined by 1%, operating income decreased by 8%, and diluted EPS decreased by 4% compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower yields and inflationary cost pressures. The company faces inflationary cost headwinds, including noticeable increases in insurance premiums for the third consecutive year. Demand for big and bulky products in the Final Mile segment remains muted, with weak demand for furniture, exercise equipment, and appliances. The truckload market continues to exceed demand, leading to competitive pricing pressures. The uncertain macro environment and trade policy remain top concerns for customers, impacting supply chain strategies and potentially affecting future demand. Q: Can you provide an update on the intermodal bid season and whether you expect rate increases in 2025? A: Darren Field, Executive Vice President and President of Intermodal, mentioned that while the environment remains competitive, they have achieved some rate increases and filled some empty legs. However, they have also lost some business due to disciplined pricing. The mix of business, particularly growth in the Eastern network, will influence revenue per unit. Q: How are you managing costs given the uncertain demand and visibility into volume? A: Shelley Simpson, President and CEO, explained that they are focused on growing and repairing margins while being fluid with scenario planning. They are considering cost management, stock buyback strategies, and prudent capital spending to align with changing conditions. Q: What are your thoughts on the potential impact of tariffs and pull-forward on volume growth? A: Spencer Frazier, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, noted that while customers are scenario planning, the uncertain macro environment could create opportunities for JB Hunt to optimize supply chains. Darren Field added that they have not seen significant pull-forward from customers, but they remain cautious and adaptable. Q: How are you addressing the competitive landscape in the dedicated market? A: Brad Hicks, Executive Vice President and President of Highway Services, stated that the dedicated market remains competitive, particularly in renewals. However, JB Hunt's value proposition in private fleet conversions, driver recruitment, and operational excellence differentiates them from competitors. Q: What are the prospects for intermodal margin improvement through the rest of the year? A: Darren Field emphasized that while they are not providing specific guidance, they are focused on executing for customers, finding efficiencies, and growing volumes in the right corridors at the right rates to improve margins. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
New York Times
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
9 Stylish Products for Your Home
Today, in a world overrun with technology, with artists still dealing with the isolation and preoccupations of the pandemic, we're seeing a robust revival of handicrafts for the home. Below, some new objects from established leaders of the pack. Step on It Based in Philadelphia, Claudia Mills began by weaving rag rugs from recycled fabrics; today she works with new cotton so that her pieces are machine washable and colorfast. The rugs can be used for upholstery or hung as art, but all are made to be walked on. 'We send every rug out of here with a nonskid pad,' she said. From $195 for a 2-foot-square to $1,360 for a 2-by 8-foot runner. Custom designs are $95 a square foot. Into the Light After her self-described failure as an actress, Shelley Simpson started playing with clay in a backyard shed in Melbourne, Australia. Thirty years later, her company, Mud Australia, employs 80 people to produce handcrafted dinnerware — and now lighting. The portable and rechargeable Pop Lamp is handmade from a single piece of porcelain. Available in six colors for $520. A Delicate Balance Born in Japan and educated in London, Hiroko Takeda came to New York City in 2001 to work with the eminent textile artist Jack Lenor Larsen. In 2010, she opened her own studio, in Brooklyn, which creates art pieces and fabrics for interiors. (A solo exhibition of her work is on view at Hunter Dunbar Projects, in Chelsea, through April 19.) For one of her latest textiles, Macaron, thick wool slub yarns are twisted and interlaced to create airy panels. The fabric is 48 inches wide and $500 a yard. Fuzzy Logic Jessica Switzer Green, a former technology marketing executive, fell in love with wool after moving to a farm in Sonoma County, Calif., in 2018, and working with the local sheep. She founded JG SWITZER to produce hand-felted fabrics, blankets and pillows using a technique she described as 'painting with wool.' The Shetland Cloud reversible throw is approximately 70 by 50 inches and $895, and the Black Saffron hand-felted pillow is 36 by 28 inches and $780. Blowback Andrew Iannazzi began blowing glass as a student in upstate New York and opened his studio in 2013 in Cambridge, Mass., but his craft is an outgrowth of European traditions, particularly the 800-year-old glass industry on the Venetian island of Murano. Mr. Iannuzzi described his Spout pouring bowls as 'retro,' inspired by humble kitchen housewares from his youth. They come in three sizes and are $185 to $325. Knots and All The latest work of the furniture maker Chris Lehrecke, who has been in business for almost four decades, celebrates catalpa, ambrosia maple, black walnut and turkey feather ash — all types of wood from trees that surround his Hudson Valley home. He said he loved everything about those trees, including their defects: 'Maybe, as I grow older, I feel more of a connection to the imperfections.' His Turkey Feather Ash Screen with handcrafted steel knuckle hinges is 60 x 72 inches and $11,000. Cache and Carry Inspired by French fishermen's baskets that he saw in a Danish museum, Zach Matheson, an artist in Portland, Ore., designed baskets from upcycled materials like plastic zip ties and polyethylene fencing trimmed in leather. He began selling the baskets through Room & Board in 2020 and two years ago handed off the production to Softline, a company in Minneapolis. The baskets, called Fletcher, come in five sizes and cost $99 to $159. Opposites Attract Working with the technique known as sgraffito, the ceramics artist Jennifer Falter, who in 1998 founded a studio in Springfield, Mo., with her husband, Nathan Falter, scrapes away the liquid clay coatings of her pieces to expose the solid layer below. 'I settled on just working in black-and-white because that made the strongest contrast,' she said. Her $425 Ginkgo vase is 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter. Steel Crazy After All These Years Founded in 1845, Shin In-Young's ironmonger shop is the oldest in South Korea. Using metal from discarded train tracks, Master Shin, who began apprenticing in the family business in 1966 at the age of 13, makes an assortment of kitchen and gardening implements, including this carving set whose knife and fork have handles of chestnut or oak. (The carbon steel knife blade needs sharpening only every two or three years.) The set, which is packaged in a leather pouch, is $620.
