The Simple Greek |Interesting Greek fastcasual concept in the U.S.
17-9-2019
‘The Simple Greek’ is redefining the traditional Greek restaurant with an interactive concept that combines high quality ingredients, open kitchens and Greek atmosphere in a fast casual setting. At Pennsylvania-based ‘The Simple Greek’, customers build pitas or bowls with Mediterranean staples such as grilled steak, tzatziki sauce, feta cheese and garbanzo beans. This concept is one of the fastest-growing franchise restaurant concepts in the U.S.. It capitalizes on the popularity and health benefits of the well-known Mediterranean diet and is a ‘build-your-own’ concept. ‘The Simple Greek’ was mentioned as a high growth, emerging concept to watch at the 2019 National Restaurant Show by Technomic Inc, the leading strategic research and analytics firm in the U.S. for the food industry.
We never spotted a similar concept in Europe but we love Greek food and the fast-casual concept of The Simple Greek is tempting! And who doesn’t love a concept that has this saying: ‘We have OPA’?
Where ‘opa’ is the Dutch word for granddad, at The Simple Greek it stands for O (Outstanding service), P (Passion for the brand) and A (Awesome food). Their slogan is ‘Eat Fresh, Eat Simple, Eat Greek’. Although they aren’t thinking about franchising the concept outside the U.S. we’re quite sure the people from the Netherlands would embrace the concept as well.
Trends we spotted | Week 37
13-9-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, amongst others a link to an article about a special collaboration between the restaurant of the Andaz Amsterdam and Heinz ketchup, a menu called ‘In case Ed Sheeran’. And have you got any idea what the ingredients are for a dish called ‘Musubi Madness’?
We also read an article about a dumpling made with lab-grown kangaroo meat and another ‘veggie’ collaboration; Beyond Meat and Subway introduced the Beyond Meatball Marinara Sub this September.
The Gateway Foundation says it will open its first space hotel in 2025, check out their artist impression of the ‘Space Wheel’ hotel. And the new Raaago app, developed by German design group Random Access Studios, aims to make travel more interesting by making it random.
And Starbucks is rolling out the Chinese ‘Starbucks Now’-concept. The first pick-up-only shop will open in New York City this fall.
Trends we spotted | Week 36
6-9-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about a ‘walking chocolate trolley’ at restaurant ‘El Celler de Can Roca’ with a Dutch element to it and a ‘High Tea with a twist’ at the Lobby Bar and The Restaurant of the Williamsburg hotel in Brooklyn, New York.
In 2020 Starbucks will deliver throughout the U.S. via Uber Eats and this fall a Dutch book called ‘Water, coffee beans & milk’ will be published in English as well.
Did you ever attend a Tank Party at a brewery? We never even heard of it, but the Camden Town Brewery Tank Party is held September 7 for the seventh year in a row!
Open house by JO&JOE moves in with IKEA at Vienna West Station
5-9-2019
JO&JOE moves in with IKEA at Vienna West Station, two innovative concept unite in one project. On the two upper floors of the planned city IKEA, near the Westbahnhof train station in Vienna, a JO&JOE open house arises. The JO&JOE brand (part of the Accor Group) combines hostel and traditional hotel elements with an attractive array of restaurants and services.
Beer meets gastronomy | Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’ from brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’
26-8-2019
The new Dutch brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’ (The Good & the Naughty) was awarded at the World Beer Awards and the International Beer Challenge at the beginning of August with their first gastronomic Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’. ‘Vuurzee’ has been voted the country winner for best taste in the category ‘Specialty Beer: Brut Beer’ at the World Beer Awards 2019. ‘Vuurzee’ is an elegant blond beer (tripel) prepared with the Pinot Noir grape and champagne yeast.
At the International Beer Challenge 2019, ‘Vuurzee’ won gold for the best design & packaging of the bottle in the category ‘Newcomers: Individual Product’. Both beer competitions are among the most professional beer competitions in the world. De Goede & De Stoute brewery can make extra investments to expand the production process and thus meet the increasing demand through a crowdfunding campaign (funded for more than 100%).
Cleanyst | A ‘sodastream’ for cleaning and personal care products
22-8-2019
Cleanyst recently launched an at home mixing system for creating natural home and body care products with minimal plastic waste. In May 2019 their product, developed by industry professionals, was backed for more than 200% for their crowdfunding at Kickstarter. The ‘reusable bottle system makes plant-based cleaning and personal care products with concentrated ingredients shipped in minimal packaging.
Great product for households but we could imagine that it might be a great asset for B&B’s and small luxury hotels as well! You could create your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and tub and tile cleaner.
Inspiration from 2018 | A list of alternatives to replace your plastic straws
12-8-2019
The use of plastic straws has already been abolished in several American cities. Last year, the European Commission also proposed to ban the use of plastic disposable items per 2021. Several parties have now taken the initiative to ban plastic straws permanently. They came up with sustainable alternatives. In this article from 2018 we came up with some alternatives!
Pop-up stores at your summer destination
8-8-2019
Lately, pop-up stores seem to be everywhere. Curious if there will be one at your summer destination? In this article you’ll read which pop-up stores we have seen passing by and which ones will still be there coming period.
Inspiration from 2018 (and 2019) | Non-alcoholic drinks
5-8-2019
Not just demand for healthy food is increasing, but also demand for healthy drinks. In 2018 we have seen a lot of product releases of non-alcoholic beers, drinks and cocktails. In this article you will find an overview of all non-alcoholic drinks we have seen. Which one is your favorite?
Burger Pride| Ter Marsch & Co celebrates Gay pride with pink burger buns
1-8-2019
In honour of the Amsterdam Pride Ter Marsch & Co takes a colourful approach. Besides the eclectic interior existing of powerful patterns, colours and flowers, they now also offer high-profile colours on a plate. This week, Ter Marsch & Co will be serving colourful pink burger buns from her own bakery, prepared by the great baker Edwin Klaasen. And who knows this may be integrated, after all it’s not their first controversial activity. To follow up on this matter, everyone who shows their pink panties on the third of august stands a chance of winning a free pink burger.
 | Non-alcoholic drinks)
