The feminine hamburger
7-11-2013
The Japanese fast food chain ‘Freshness Burger’ has developed a special ‘Liberation Wrapper’ for the Japanese women. The fast food chain noticed that their large size burgers were only a hit with the men and not with the women. Most Japanese women have an ‘ochobo’ (a small and modest mouth) and see this a paragon of beauty. During dinner they cover their mouths and eating a giant burger is not appropriate. Freshness Burgers has developed a special burger packaging with an imprint of a face with an ‘ochobo’ mouth. So, Japanese women can unabashedly enjoy a double cheeseburger.
Hospitality experienced in New York
6-11-2013
A blog about whether or not tap water; additional chips to the sauce and free Wifi or not? Experiences in New York City.
After visiting New York you won’t really understand the discussion of tap water in the Netherlands anymore. In the USA you are welcomed in each restaurant with the question, if you would like to have some tap water? Of course this is in the DNA of the American restaurant industry but the habit is very welcoming. You also hear a lot of complaints about the taste of chlorine in the tap water causing many people to still buy mineral water. In that respect I would have less problems with the taste of the Dutch tap water. However, especially in areas which are visited by many tourists , restaurant owners must realize that guests from America, are used to the ‘free’ tap water service . They don’t understand our policy to even ask money for tap water! Read more..
Foodpairing with cookies
6-11-2013
The Flemish cookie baker Jules Destrooper has taken its authentic cookies to ‘taste professors’ of the University of Leuven (Louvain) and ‘Foodpairing’. Just like famous chefs, foodies, mixologists and taste professors they are on the lookout for the ideal taste combinations. The University of Leuven (Louvain) has a specialized device for it, a gas chromatograph connected to a mass spectroscope that measures aroma molecules in food and beverage. Products that have similarities in scent appear to combine very well and are visualized in a Foodpairing tree. The taste analysis of the Almond bread, Natural butter waffle and Cinnamon cookie products are surprisingly connected to taste allies like mushrooms, ginger and caviar.
Hertog Jan *** as pop-up bistro Yellow
6-11-2013
Joachim Boudens and Gert De Mangeleer from Hertog Jan *** in Sint Michiels (Brugge) renovate the Michelin star restaurant to a modern bistro from February to June 2014. The original Hertog Jan restaurant moves to a protected farmhouse in Zedelgem. They are so eager to keep on cooking that they’re opening a pop-up restaurant ‘Yellow’ in the center of Bruges.
All about grapefruit
5-11-2013
I hadn’t seen it on the menu for a while; half a grapefruit. During a brunch at The Breslin Bar and Dining Room in the Ace Hotel in New York I ate a super yummy grapefruit with ginger sugar flakes and mint. But again the same problem as always, the cutting isn’t easy and is often not done well, with the effect that you have to do it yourself or miss parts. I don’t understand why it’s not served in ‘clean cut’ wedges, much easier to eat! Marjolein van Spronsen
Kitchen video stream
5-11-2013
On the terrace of ‘A Taberna do Pescador’ in Albufeira, Portugal there is a television screen with a live stream from the kitchen. The terrace is situated in a busy shopping street and the screen combined with a glass display full fresh fish seduces passersby in an original way.
Light spectacle in the streets of Zwolle
4-11-2013
On November 1st, the opening of the light project Sassenstraat Allicht took place in Zwolle, the Netherlands. This autumn/ winter the ‘Sassenstraat’ (name of the street) is illuminated with over 300 lights. Business owners, residents, property owners, City Centre Zwolle, volunteers and more have worked in recent weeks to make this lights show possible. The goals is to create a meeting place where living, working and shopping comes together. Especially during the dark winter days, the light show will be very attractive.
These plates make your food food bigger
1-11-2013
These plates are fun to use in restaurants that serve small dishes such as sushi, pastries or amuses. There is a print made on the plate with the outlines of a plate, knife and fork. It creates an optical illusion that makes the dish looks larger than it actually is.
Silence dinner
1-11-2013
Having a dinner without saying anything.. People who has no need of rowdy guests can have a dinner in silence at restaurant Eat in New York. The restaurant serves a four course diner with organic and local produce. Owner Nicholas Nauman was inspired by a silence breakfast during his time with Buddhist monks in India. By dining in silence, guests are not distracted and they can enjoy their dish with all their senses.
Miracle fish instead of fortune cookies
31-10-2013
Last week we ate at the seafood restaurant, The Mermaid Inn at the Upper West Side in NYC. They have two more restaurants in town and serve delicious seafood, lobster and oysters. They have no desserts on the menu, all guests receive a chocolate mousse served with, instead of a fortune cookie, a miracle fish who tells the future. Just like the fortune cookies in Chinese restaurants remain very popular, these fish are also very nice. And can be used in other seafood restaurants as well! ^Marjolein