Food Fighters Universe | The first NFT-backed restaurant group
11-4-2022
Andy Nguyen and Kevin Seo, the foodpreneurs behind the world’s first Bored Ape restaurant, Bored & Hungry, recently announced Food Fighters Universe (FFU), an NFT collection that will connect food and Web3. Launching in May, FFU will be a collection of 10,000 unique tokens on the ETH (Ethereum) blockchain. Each purchase will help to develop the world’s first NFT-backed restaurant group, focused on building gathering places in real life (IRL) and the metaverse, while offering utility and experiences for Food Fighters NFT holders. “I saw the Web3 space as a way to fix those problems and save the restaurant industry.” – Andy Nguyen.
Although we don’t see exactly what Andy Nguyen means with saving the restaurant industry, it’s an interesting development. They opened Bored & Hungry last Saturday and the 10,000 tokens will give members access to special events, rewards, and other perks. In January 2022 we wrote about the exclusive Flyfish Club, which is expected to open in New York City in 2023. A membership card for this exclusive club and restaurant is an NFT purchased with cryptocurrency.
3 minutes read
Claridge’s Afternoon Tea at the Maybourne Beverly Hills
11-4-2022
For the first time in its 150 year history, Claridge’s legendary afternoon tea will be served outside of its Mayfair home, and will take residency at sister hotel The Maybourne Beverly Hills – the first American property from Maybourne Hotel Group. Guests will enjoy the traditional British teatime ritual, but with playful twists in true Maybourne spirit, that will reflect the flavours of California and the vibrancy of the destination. Presented on the LA hotel’s sweeping outdoor garden terrace, guests will enjoy this alfresco service surrounded by a white jacketed team, a fragrant garden of wild flowers, accompanied by the sounds of a grand piano.
Although it doesn’t sound like a trend, we love the idea of being able to enjoy a real British Afternoon Tea in another place. Would you go to a Dutch hotel if they would for example serve the delicious Claridge’s scones and their British style sandwiches? Or any of the Afternoon Tea’s we wrote about? We think collaborations like this could work at many more destinations!
2 minutes read
Rococo des Fleurs | Gastronomy Extravaganza
8-4-2022
On May 13, 14 and 15, pop-up restaurant ‘Rococo des Fleurs’ will open its doors. An exclusive culinary, colourful experience styled by master florist Menno Kroon. In his ‘Oranjerie’ – hidden between the orchards of Cothen in the province of Utrecht – some of the best Michelin-starred chefs of the Netherlands, Ron Blaauw, Dennis Huwaë and Hans van Wolde will create ‘the taste of seduction’ pop-up dinners. Concert pianist Iris hond will enrapture guests with her grand piano music and a number of international club DJs will lace the evening with modern jazz, lounge and deep house. Rococo des Fleurs partner Bentley Leusden will facilitate pick-up & drop-off of guests.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Trends we spotted | Week 13
4-4-2022
At horecatrends.com we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
With this week links to articles and amongst others three Instagram posts we spotted, the special branding of Mr. Charlie’s in Los Angeles with their red/yellow colors as well as the upside down smile. And Miss Crispy Rice who recently opened inside the Oasis Wynwood in Miami, serving crispy rice sushi!
Another Instagram post that we really love is one from Paris where restaurant La Bourse et la Vie hired 3 refugees from Ukraine and changed their cuisine and their name in Le Borscht et la Vie as of yesterday for 2 months.
Dubai is the 36th destination which will have its own Guide MICHELIN! The first selection of restaurants will be revealed in June. And McDonald’s USA surprises fans with unexpected Szechuan Sauce drop. Great idea a limited time offer of products from the past, which product would you bring back?
SALSA SHOP is a fast growing brand of fresh Mexican food restaurants, they recently opened the 10th restaurant in the Netherlands and they have big dreams for Europe. And a great initiative of Culinair Leiden in our hometown, a 6.5 km long festive ribbon of tables along the Singelpark route on 25 and 26 June 2022: Singelpark Dinner.
Restaurant commerce platform, GoTab, recently announced that it is partnering with Mastercard to transform the digital checkout experience in hospitality venues across the US with the implementation of Click to Pay.
Smullies Maastricht | Trendy patisserie shop and ice cream parlour
4-4-2022
Since 10 March 2022, Maastricht has been home to a trendy and special patisserie shop and ice cream parlour. Servais Tielman of Michelin-starred restaurant Beluga Loves You and his partners opened ‘Smullies Maastricht’, a unique and trendy shop with unique ice cream flavours, exceptional patisserie, smoothies, milkshakes and coffee. Smullies is located at Frankenstraat 198 and has a striking interior in pastel pink colours and gold. In May 2022 the second branch will open in the new Foodchurch in the Boschstraat in Maastricht.
A trendy new address to go to when you go to the most touristic city in the south of the Netherlands, Maastricht! Here you can enjoy a cup of slow roast coffee with a Big Boy Macaron from the Michelin-starred restaurant Beluga Loves You or an éclair or madeleines or….. Or ‘just’ an ice cream: the pink ruby chocolate ice cream with raspberry and rose water sounds delicious, right?
2 minutes read
Wilhelmus Orange IPA | Brewed for King’s Day in the Netherlands
1-4-2022
The Orange fever will rage through the Netherlands at the end of April when we celebrate King’s Day (April 27) and Bird Brewery created their newest beer Wilhelmus Orange IPA for this event. A fresh, fruity Orange IPA (6%) with notes of orange. The Elixer hop also provides a subtle bitterness and tropical aromas. Our Dutch anthem is called the Wilhelmus and Brid Brewery creates beers with bird names, the Dutch ‘mus’ is a sparrow. They even brew their beers at a location in a forest near Amsterdam, House of Bird in the Diemerbos.
Reading time: 1 minute
Eggshibition at Brouwerij ‘t IJ | Next level egg painting
1-4-2022
Just over thirty ostrich eggs and as many Dutch artists. These are the ingredients for the Eggshibition at Brouwerij ‘t IJ, which is being organized for the second time this year in Amsterdam. From cartoonist to tattoo artist and from rapper to illustrator – they all went to work, resulting in unique works of art. Certainly no eggs to hide and therefore they will be exhibited over the Easter weekend at Sissi’s Expo-Resto in Amsterdam. During this exhibition you can also enjoy a good glass of PaasIJ, the delicious hoppy spring beer that the Amsterdam brewery makes every year especially for Easter.
2 minutes read
First edition SHIT HOT FEST sets Amsterdam ‘on fire’ on April 9 and 10
31-3-2022
International hot sauce makers and pepper fans flock to Deus Cantina for the hottest event of the year. Amsterdam’s Deus Cantina restaurant will transform into a temple of hotness on April 9 and 10 during the first-ever edition of the SHIT HOT FEST. 16 international hot sauce makers, pepper fans and spice lovers will come together at the hottest culinary event of the year. ‘At the SHIT HOT FEST, the pepper takes the stage. You’ll meet the world’s best hot sauce makers and taste what makes spicy cuisine so hot. But: at this FEST it’s also mainly about fun,’ says Neil Roake, co-organizer of the event (and co-founder T-Rex Sauces).
Reading time: 2 minutes
Under The Sea by Ephemera Restaurant Group | The first immersive restaurant in Paris
31-3-2022
Recently opened in Paris, at the MK2 Bibliothèque on 160 Avenue France in the 13th arrondissement, the first immersive restaurant in France: Under The Sea by Ephemera. The three young entrepreneurs of the Ephemera Restaurant Group, Jade Frommer, Annaïg Ferrand and chef Loris de Vaucelles, created a restaurant where your taste buds will be surprised, without breaking the bank and where you will immerse yourself and your company in the theme of the ocean. Video projections on large screens, light and sound effects and a spectacular décor: everything to create a unique atmosphere within the place. The chef is Loris de Vaucelles and he works with high quality products and has a lot of creativity, watch the video later in the article.
So if you’re driving to the South of France this summer, a visit to Paris and a plonge in the ocean to discover its ‘majestic fauna and luminescent flora’ whilst enjoying real French cuisine for a reasonable price, might be a fun idea!
1 minute read
Vegan fast food chain in California | Plant Power Fast Food
29-3-2022
Another plant-based fast food chain, with 11 locations in California. Plant Power Fast Food, the country’s fastest growing 100% plant-based fast food restaurant chain recently announced the opening of its new Los Angeles location in the heart of Hollywood, California.
In this article one of the founders says that most of the guests are omnivores who know it’s better for the environment and for themselves if they eat vegan once in a while. Becoming a flexitarian is made easier by chains like this! In our opinion, there is enough space in Europe for this kind of vegan fast food chains that are a 1:1 copy of the well-known fast food chains. The Dutch Vegan Junk Food Bar also proves this by growing considerably with 7 branches already.
3 minutes read
Food Fighters Universe founders Andy Nguyen and Kevin Seo. credits Evan Lancaster
Food Fighters Universe founders Andy Nguyen, Phillip Huynh and Kevin Seo with advisory team member Bun B. credits Evan Lancaster
Food Fighters Universe Mascot "Pete Za".
The Food Fighters Universe team in Los Angeles on March 30, 2022, during NFTLA. Credits Evan Lancaster
