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!
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’.
Glaces & Jus by Marc Veyrat
30-8-2013
Last holiday we enjoyed reading Alain Caron’s book, Tour d’Alain (a French chef living in the Netherlands, so unfortunately in Dutch). Because of his enthusiastic stories about Montpellier we spent a few hours there. There we saw a new initiative by the former French three-star chef Marc Veyrat. In addition to his self-service restaurant ‘Cozna Vera‘ in Annecy, he opened ‘Glaces &Jus by Marc Veyrat’ early August in Montpellier. A small shop where you can pick frozen bio fruit and put it in various size cups, after which you can choose whether they will make an ice cream, yogurt ice cream, sorbet or smoothie from it. We had a delicious rhubarb yoghurt ice cream with raspberry, a smoothie of wild strawberries and a banana milkshake … Delicious …. And if you’re ever near Montpellier, go soak up the city and a bowl of healthy fruit processed at Urbanfruits. ^Marjolein
Taco Bell surprised impatient customers
30-8-2013
Taco Bell has held a fun stunt in collaboration with agency Grip Limited during the launch of the long-awaited arrival of Doritos Locos Tacos in Canada. Impatient customers were surprised during a special fan event. The exasperated tweets from the impatient customers were burned with a special laser on the first batch of shells and served to the specific customer. These customers ate literally their own words on the taco.
Hotel offers self cooking boxes
29-8-2013
Boutique hotel Affinia Hotels has started a partnership with US online grocer ‘FreshDirect’ to offer their guests an extra service. The rooms at the Affinia Hotels are equipped with a kitchen, separate dining area that allows guests to cook in their hotel room. Therefore the hotel offers meal packages by FreshDirect, such as the Healthy kit or the Business kit. The boxes are filled with food like fruits, vegetables, biscuits, dairy products and chips. Guests can order these boxed when they make the reservation for the hotel room or during their stay.
&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.
Meet the farmers and growers
28-8-2013
During the open door days of supermarket chain Albert Heijn on 21 and 28 September you can personally meet local farmers and growers. Approximately 140 participating farms, greenhouses and orchards are open for visitors. For adults there are guided tours organized where they can learn everything behind the product. Children can experience where there food comes from and get their farmers and growers diploma. Using the online map of Albert Heijn you can see which farmers and growers participate in the Netherlands. During these days consumers can meet the people behind the fresh products of Albert Heijn.
On The Roof Film Festival
28-8-2013
From 3 till 6 September the second edition of the ‘On The Roof Film Festival’ will be organized. During the four evenings films and documentaries with the theme ‘your green heart’ will be played. The festival will take place on the roof of the ‘Vrije Universiteit’ in Amsterdam. Every night, before the film starts, interviews with scientists about their green heart will be shown. Watch the video to get an impression of last year’s edition.
