Wikipearls
1-7-2013
Eating yogurt without the need for spoons or an ice cream that does not melt quickly…. The Wikibar in Paris offers a special menu of food with an edible coating, the ‘Wikipearl’. These ‘Wikipearls’ have a heart of yogurt, ice cream, coffee or cheese that is protected by a special edible skin. When taking a bite you will be surprised by a liquid or frozen content. The food can also be taken home in a 100% biodegradable packaging. The Wikibar was founded by David Edwards en François Azambourg.
Fooddrome
27-6-2013
Fooddrome will open its doors in Villa Flora (Venlo) around June 2014. Fooddrome will be a location of 7,500 m2 where retail, food service industry, education and recreation will meet. According to the initiator Gert Benders the classic supermarket sells standard products for the lowest price, while the quality of the pure products and the buying experience get lost. Fooddrome is a fresh food concept with authentic, special and sustainable products of mainly Dutch soil for consumers and business users. Healthy and honest food for an affordable price is the key for Fooddrome. The products can be tasted and bought to prepare the dishes at home. The products can also be ordered through the internet or smartphone and will be delivered refrigerated.
Sushi as inspiration
27-6-2013
Over the years we have had several variants of ‘Sushi’ at horecatrends.com which can easely be used by restaurant owners. Like the German ‘Goshi‘, a sushi with European flavors or the Wichy, a sushi at sandwich-size. In 2011 there was an attempt to bring a sweeter rice variant with fruit, Frushi, on the market in the Netherlands. In Australia, somebody invented the squared sushi and in 2010 we spotted the first sushi sorbet, a dessert you can eat with chopsticks. For pancake restaurants a sushi made from pancakes is a nice appetizer. There are also recipes for sushi sweets and chocolates available on the internet. The shape and taste combination of sushi are perfect to combine with other flavors and ingredients. Catering Hanenburg of cookery school ‘Lokaal 55’, combines Frisian (North of the Netherlands) ingredients and tapas, but also Frisian sushi with smoked eel from the Sneekermeer at a sushi rolls from beetroot with a cream of potato. Use the sushi once as inspiration.
International Comfort Food
25-6-2013
Restaurant ‘Delicatessen’ in Soho, New York City, has a nice interior but the description of their ‘cuisine’ is more special! They indicate their Cuisine as “International Comfort Food ‘, in all their communication. And I also really experienced it this way. With on the menu dishes like, Mac & Cheese, all kind of Burgers, Lobster rolls and for example tacos. But also, ‘flash fried tuna roll, a kind of sushi roll with tuna fried very quickly. ‘Cheeseburger spring rolls’, spring rolls with cheese and crumbled burger in it, served with ketchup and mustard! The whole party really enjoyed them, they where delicious! Some examples from the desserts; they served the “The Un-Birthday Cake’, just a slice of the typical American birthday cake, ‘ It might not be your birthday but who says you can not have the cake? And ‘smores in a jar’; a small glass with some kind of marshmallow liqueur served beside a jar of chocolate mouse topped with piece of graham crackers and then on top of that marshmallow fluff. Great way to present it this way and delicious! Great restaurant to eat if you are in New York. ^Leonie van Spronsen
Cup of coffee with your own picture
24-6-2013
Earlier we saw baristas that turn a simple cup of coffee into a wonderful creation, like Mike Breach. At Lets Caffe in Taiwan they make a very special and creative latte art of photos. The café serves coffee with a print of your own photo. Guests can give a picture of themselves or their label and it will be placed in the coffee machine. The coffee machine makes a perfect copy of the picture of cacao powder on the cup of coffee.
Sustainable geWoonboot
21-6-2013
This inspiring floating meeting room in Amsterdam is called the ‘geWoonboot’ and created by Joan Kramer and Jan Huisman. The object has 120m2 floor space and is divided in two rooms with a view on the IJ or NDSM-wharf. The boot is self sustainable in energy use and has sun collectors, waste water filtering, warmth pump and sun heated water system. It has a biological and/or local catering as well.
Variation Chef of the year
17-6-2013
The ‘Variation in the kitchen’ foundation stimulates consumers, restaurants and caterers to cook healthy, sustainable and creative without meat or fish. This year the foundation organizes the competition ‘Variation Chef of the year’ for the third time. The foundation is looking for the chef that prepares the best vegetarian dish of 2013. Per region a winner will be chosen during the five regional qualifying rounds and the final winner will be chosen at restaurant Librije’s Atelier on October 16. The ‘Variation Chef of the year’ wins an internship at the 100% vegetarian restaurant Joia in Milan.
Eyescream and friends
12-6-2013
Ice cream shop ‘eyescream and friends’ serves ice creams in a funny and visually appealing way. The ice cream (available in seven flavors) is served in a tray with two containers for toppings, like cookies, jams, chocolate sauce and caramel. Two sugar candy eyes are added for a creative twist and to bring the ice cream alive. There are pictures of little funny dolls to reflect the ice cream flavors. These characteristic ice creams are fun for children! The first ice cream shop was opened in Barcelona in September 2012 by Joad Lopez and Federico Mendoza.
Sharing is caring
11-6-2013
On a regular basis we hear that the ideas we show at our website are too far from the daily reality of the restaurant or hotel entrepreneur. There is too little time to bring ideas, with your own twist, in practice. We recently visited Paris and at two restaurants we had the opportunity to enjoy one dessert for the whole table. A giant profiterole filled with ice-cream and topped with chocolate at Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie. Not a great dessert in looks but delicious chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. Based on the sharing part I made a ‘Meringue Peche Melba’ this weekend, fresh peach and raspberry combined with meringue and fresh strawberry sauce and ice-cream, for 4 persons on one plate. And if you prepare this dessert on the table, by breaking the gigantic meringue, your dessert becomes even more spectacular! This idea is based on the video of the dessert for the whole table of Alinea, Chicago. Watch the video once again on what they do with the chocolate ball! This is an example of how you can use ideas and make them your own, enjoy being creative! Your guest certainly will with a dessert like this! ^Marjolein
Branded eclairs
11-6-2013
Just to show you how immense popular the éclairs are at the moment in France. In February we already reported about the savory eclairs being popular in Paris. This time we spotted them during the Rolland Garros French Open. French sportswear brand Lacoste celebrated its 80th anniversary during this tournament with limited-edition éclairs by French bakery Fauchon. More iconic French brands were invited to participate at the event and each came up with a unique product inspired the Lacoste crocodile logo.
