Battle of the Bees
12-9-2013
The ‘Waldorf Astoria New York’ and the ‘Grand Wailea’ in Maui, both members of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand, held a ‘Battle of the Bees’ to celebrate the National Honey Month. Both hotels have a set of beehives and use the produced honey in culinary dishes, cocktails and spa treatments. During the ‘Battle of the Bees’, at September 4, a panel of judges elected the honey of both hotels, processed in dishes. The Waldorf Astoria New York won the judges’ approval by a vote of 3-2, the Grand Wailea got the popular vote as the media attendees awarded its honey as the best. Actually a bit of a tie. Guests are able to taste the honey-exchanged dishes throughout the month of September.
Crooked cucumbers
11-9-2013
Crooked cucumbers, tomatoes in weird shapes or roots with two legs… Research shows that about 5 to 10% of the vegetables in the Netherlands are wasted, because of their shape, color or size. The wholesale Zegro and ‘Kromkommer’ launched a pilot project where they sell four types of imperfect vegetables this month. The vegetables tastes as good as normal, despite of the weird shapes. During the pilot the current assortment of Zegro will be complemented with imperfect cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and red peppers.
Pommes Frites Warsauce in New York
10-9-2013
Pommes Frites, a small restaurant where they serve only authentic Belgian Fries, topped with a variety of extraordinary sauces. We thought that ‘a fries warsauce’ is a typical Dutch/Belgian combination was but it’s being served in NYC as well! Leonie van Spronsen, who spotted Pommes Frites, did enjoy her fries!
Beer tap with built-in spray tap
6-9-2013
Through Twitter Café Valentijn (Schiedam, The Netherlands) told us about their special beer tap of InBev. The beer tap has a built-in spray tap, so the glasses can be rinsed quickly and easily. Café Valentijn is one of the first in the Netherlands that will use this installation. We wish them a lot of fun and succes with the opening on September the 12th.
Creative with bottles
6-9-2013
Last summer we had a delicious lunch at Bistrot Chic Le 7, by Anne Sophie Pic, Valence (France). A bistrot crowded on a weekday, on a non tourist location. Formulas like a main dish with half bottle of mineral water for € 18 and a 3-course formula – Plein des sens – for € 30. Including a delicious ‘carpaccio de tomates’ with an emulsion of vanilla and old rum. At her twitteraccount /blog, I noticed a couple of great recipes, nice to follow for culinary enthusiasts. The interior of the bistrot is sleek with red accents … At the website of Anne Sophie Pic they show a video of the hotel and its three-stars restaurant and the bistrot. A nice impression and inspiration. In the toilets we found this red lamp made ??from bottles Sanbitter (of Sanpellegrino). Personally, I prefer to drink it but it’s a simple and surprising color accent … ^Marjolein
Family fun all in one
4-9-2013
Our colleague Steven van ‘t Hart celebrated his holiday in America this summer. He went out to eat the ‘Pizza-burger‘ by ‘Boston Pizza’ at the Niagara Falls location. We did mention this burger on horecatrends in April (kind of a April the 1st joke) and the burger will be on the menu in September. But Steven got to taste one! Especially the Pepperoni version was considered very tasty! He also noticed that children received a mini pizza box by entering the restaurant, containing coloring pages, games and crayons. Nice small gesture… That of course can be taken home ….
Djemaa El Fna square in Rotterdam
3-9-2013
On September 20 and 21 the ‘Museumpark’ in Rotterdam will be transformed into a huge outdoor restaurant. Inspiration is the famous square in Marrakesh, Djemaa el Fna. This square will transform in the evening from a market into an outdoor restaurant where visitors can buy snacks at various stalls. During the first edition of the ‘Djemaa el Fna’ in Rotterdam, some entrepreneurs will make Moroccan snacks with the goal to make the diversity of cultures and nationalities visible. There will also be different Moroccan products for sale, musicians, dancers and camels. ‘Djemaa el Fna’ is part of the ‘World Food Festival’.
&samhoud foodlab
29-8-2013
Two starred michelin chef Moshik Roth and business partner Salem Samhoud will open the DNA restaurant &samhoud Foodlab in Amsterdam on 31 October. It will be the first restaurant in the world that serves DNA in the dishes. The restaurant will serve three natural GenBoosters with DNA extracts. The menu also contains small shakes and meals, as well as lunches, dinners with GenBooster to choice. The exact location in Amsterdam is not confirmed yet. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
Update: The foodlab appears to be a hoax to feed the discussion about better food for everyone.
The Spotted Pig
19-8-2013
The Spotted Pig- New York. A one Michelin star restaurant that is in nothing comparable to our European idea of Michelin star restaurants. The restaurant looks like a combination between a nice little cafe and flea market, the waiting staff wears t-shirts and jeans, no reservations can be made and things as amuses/greetings from the kitchen is far from what is happening in this place. Al together I do understand why Michelin inspectors decided to award this restaurant a Michelin star. When you compare the service (for American standards you get a lot of time to enjoy your food and company, the waiters know what food they are serving and what wine they are pouring and they are very alert) and the food (everything is fresh and combinations are all spot on) with what you experience in other restaurants in New York you see a clear difference. Combine this with the cool atmosphere, all the pigs collected all around you and the beautiful location, I can understand Michelin’s decision. But my question remains is this decided based on comprising with other restaurants in the city or solely on the quality of this place? When you are in the neighborhood, definitely try to get a table, it’s the best price/quality ratio you will ever see in a Michelin star restaurant! ^Leonie van Spronsen
The Meatball Shop
16-8-2013
The Meatball Shop in New York. Upon entering you know you are in a cool place, everything looks a little crooked, a little worn out but is beautifully put together. The menu that is presented to you is no nonsense, its balls, balls on a sub or balls plus a salad. There are a few specials on the board but basically you choose what meat you want with what sauce and you are ready to go. The portion seems really small but don’t overestimate yourself, it is more than enough! This is not the place to have a nice evening filling dinner but it is definitely a cool alternative for other fast dinner options! My tip; take their specialty sauce ‘Parmigiano sauce’ it’s amazing! ^Leonie van Spronsen
