Gastronomic experience between wine appetizers and jazz
5-4-2013
The first edition of ‘Sunday Jazz & Wine’ in the MC Theater Amsterdam takes place on Sunday April 7th. An event with a special wine arrangement, culinary tastings and live jazz music from jazz artist Aruan Oritz from Cuba. Sunday Jazz & Wine is initiated by the MC Theater, Aubergine Cuisine and ‘De Wijnengel’ a supplier of classic European wines. Chef cook Aldwin Veenstra (Aubergine Cuisine) prepares the appetizers and accompanied by performances of jazz artists. Each new season starts with a tasting of wine and appetizers.
More fun and relaxation in a gastropub
4-4-2013
At this place we want to congratulate Ron Blauw (former owner of Ron Blaauw (2 Michelinstars) in Amsterdam) with the opening of ‘Ron Gastropub’ today. In his new restaurant, he returns to affordable quality, 25 dishes at high gastronomic level for € 15, = per dish and a fixed margin on the wine. We will have to wait a couple of months to see if his new company is appreciated by Michelin. More and more we see that chefs are talking about a different reorientation. In November last year Flemisch Foodie Jason Blanckaert from Gent indicated he wanted to follow his own course and didn’t want to be mentioned in the culinary guides Gault & Millau and Michelin anymore. He opened his own bistro JEF in Gent last year.
Of course there are chefs who have started a gastropub alongside their existing business. In Stockbrigde Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack (both good for a Michelin star) opened last week their pub ‘The Scran and Scallie’. The dishes are simplified and at this place it’s all about enjoying great food, drinks and fun at affordable levels.
Frantzen / Lindeberg opened in Stockholm in addition to their 2-star Michelin restaurant, a gastropub ‘The Flying Elk‘ where they serve the British ‘ fish and chips’. Their motto, “Haute cuisine meets the British Pubcultur”.
These are just some recent examples of star chefs who alter their direction or opened a gastropub next to their existing business. Makes you wonder who will follow?
Baby shower for men
3-4-2013
Beer and Bubs is a one-night session for expectant dads to learn how to support their partner through the birth of their baby. The session is held in pubs in Australia. The program is perfect for first time fathers who don’t know what they’re in for and it helps men gain the practical knowledge they need to be involved in the births of their children. During the session the man will meet dads who recently became father and other expectant dads. The Beer and Bubs is run in local pubs in all major cities of Australia. Seems to us a hilarious subject for a good night out for bachelor parties or baby showers for men.
An ice cream on hold…
2-4-2013
A cup of coffee or an ice cream on hold.. At ice cream parlor Mezzo in Amsterdam it is possible to order a cup of coffee or ice cream and put it on hold for someone who can’t pay it. It does not necessarily have to be a cup of coffee, it may also be a (hot) drink, or in this case an ice cream. A simple way to do something for others, without knowing who it is. This tradition began in Naples (Italy) but starts to spread across the world rapidly. Earlier we saw that consumers could put a cup of coffee on hold for someone at Coffee Company (The Netherlands).
World record ‘Farthest Beer Bottle Slide’
2-4-2013
During the Guinness Draught bottle launch, a new world record ‘Farthest Beer Bottle Slide’ was set! New sport for in the pub?
Sleeping in a bubble
28-3-2013
Sleeping in the middle of the nature or high in the trees? That’s possible at hotel ‘Domaine du Tisserand’ in France. The hotel offers accommodation in a bubble. One bubble is placed 5 meters high in the trees and can be zipped open and closed. The other bubble is placed at the ground and is transparent. The bubbles provide a beautiful view of the green area and at night you can see the stars. For outdoors enthusiasts this is a wonderful accommodation. For those who prefer more comfort, the hotel also offers accommodation in suites.
Sparkling, flat water or tap water
21-3-2013
During the ‘Water4daagse’ guests can order tap water (for a small fee) at a number of restaurants in Zwolle, the Netherlands. During 4 days the revenue will go to the drinking water projects of Join The Pipe in Africa. The campaign runs from 20 till 23 March and is an initiative of the students at the Landstede Institute in Zwolle and part of Upgraden.nl. ‘Upgraders’ are young people who execute positive actions for a better world. The actions contribute to one of the Millennium Goals or human rights.
Pay the bill with an app
20-3-2013
How often did you get a great service at a restaurant and as only point of irritation had to wait too long for the bill? With the new app ‘Cover’, that will be introduced soon, you can walk out of the restaurant without physically paying the bill. The payment is taken from a credit card stored on the app. Guests do make their reservation through the app and enter the payment information. The ‘Uber’s payment experience at restaurants’ according to Clover. It’s a new way of paying that is in particular useful for restaurants, it saves time and turns tables faster.
Recharge your phone at McDonald’s
19-3-2013
Together with the Finnish company PowerKiss, McDonald’s is developing special tables to recharge your phone automatically when you put him on the table. By using the QI technology and a wireless power transmission the tables can transfer power to phones and / or headsets. At this moment, McDonald’s is testing the tables in Europe.
Cyclists get a free salad
19-3-2013
Bistro ‘Le Repas’ in Brazil is offering a free salad for any guest who rides his or her bike to the bistro in reward for being green. Sommelier Karen Ferrari was inspired by the number of cyclists she saw on a trip to Paris en introduced this action. The French-themed restaurant hopes that the reward will stimulate visitors to come by bike and also to inspire other companies to do something similar.
