Somehow "No Solicitors" reads better...

On my way back from a business lunch at Becasse, I saw this sign on the front of an office building across the street from Cisco.

I've heard of "hawkers" (as in someone "hawking" or trying to sell you something) but didn't know what "spruikers" were.  And upon hearing his definitions, they both still sound remarkably similar but according to him not really interchangeable. 

So, according to him:

* Hawkers are people trying to sell you something or asking you to buy a chocolate bar for a school fundraiser.

* Spruikers stand in front of the building and either yell out or use a microphone to say something like "check out Dick Smiths down the street for a sale on computers".

P.S.: The restaurant, Becasse, really pampered us! It's been awarded "Two Hats" by the Sydney Morning Herald (akin to Michelin stars) and we all ordered the Producers Lunch (main ingredients were locally grown or produced) which included an entree, main and dessert but we received all of these "extras" in between the expected courses like this wonderful palette cleansing sorbet and a ceviche salad before our entree.