Snackization | Top chefs are increasingly specializing in street food
29-6-2022
Who doesn’t like a good snack from time to time? That goes for most people, of course, including top chefs. Behind the scenes, they have always created the most delicious simple dishes and snacks for themselves and their loved ones. A few years ago, the first chefs came to the realization that many more people would like to taste this. Like chef Gavin Kaysen (*) who already served a late night greasy spoon at the bar in his first restaurant Spoon and Stable years ago, New York’s favorite chef David Chang (**) who started his own fried chicken brand, Chef Schilo van Coevorden of restaurant Taiko (*) in the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam who in collaboration with Febo served the limited edition ‘langoustine frikandel’ or the Valuas croquettes and bitterballen of chef Eric Swaghoven which he has been selling since 2004. These chefs already set this trend back then, this article will continue after a few of these examples of “snackization” of the culinary world where we discuss the inspiration and initiatives that the corona period brought us.
Reading time: 3 minutes.
Restaurant Renato’s brings the Italian vibe to Bloemendaal aan Zee
28-6-2022
Restaurant Renato’s has officially opened in the Dutch coast city of Bloemendaal aan Zee. With its family approach, the thin ‘Roman style’ pizzas, extensive choice of antipasti and high quality ingredients, Renato’s has already conquered many hearts in establishments elsewhere in the country. In Bloemendaal aan Zee, Renato’s found a place that had long been on the owners wish list: a location that also offers space for large family dinners, weddings and events and can be combined with a wonderful night’s sleep in Poort Beach Boutique Apartments. Add to that a magnificent terrace overlooking the sea, and you have the perfect recipe for that vacation in your own country.
Enjoying Italian specialties with sea view, what more could you want? We enjoyed it in the sun!
Trends we spotted | Week 25
24-6-2022
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’.
German Maritim Hotel group has signed a new 50-year lease with Union Investment for the biggest integrated congress hotel in Europe, The Maritim Hotel, being developed in Amsterdam North, close to the River IJ and opposite the city’s central railway station across the waterway.
Celebrating a milestone 50th anniversary, European-born brand Le Méridien brings glamour back to travel with renovations across its global portfolio. And SkyDrop and Domino’s gear up to launch a commercial drone delivery trial in New Zealand.
Hard Rock International commences partnership with GEK TERNA Group to create a luxury resort and Casino in the Heart of the Athens Riviera. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens is set to open in 2026. And a Heritage Market by Starbucks opened in Seattle, showing the past, present and future of coffee and their community.
KFC US unveils innovative new ‘finger sporks’ to make its side orders as finger lickin’good as its fried chicken. And NIPA Capital & Conscious hotels join forces for sustainable growth of this chain in Europe.
Organic wine form The Good Wine provides one thousand times more clean drinking water in cooperation with Water Made Blue. And the two Fletcher Hotels at Rotterdam The Hague Airport introduce a package deal: ‘The super relaxed travel package’.
In the category Catering, cleaning, security and various business services of the MT500, Hutten is number 1 this year. The MT500 is the reputation research for Dutch companies, based on the opinion of managers, decision makers and executives.
Het Blauwe Tientje | Beer for the 10th anniversary of De Biertuin
23-6-2022
With now three locations, De Biertuin is a household name in Amsterdam. This year they celebrate their tenth anniversary. In honour of this they have joined forces with Two Chefs Brewing and labelled their own beer: Het Blauwe Tientje (The Blue tenner). They are also celebrating by giving away gifts via their Instagram account, a party on Sunday the 26th of June, and a 10-year burger.
LIGHTYEAR-experience at Novotel
23-6-2022
Novotel, in collaboration with Disney and Pixar, is excited to announce an intergalactic campaign to celebrate the launch of LIGHTYEAR, beginning on June 16 and continuing throughout the summer. LIGHTYEAR is a family-friendly animated adventure that tells the origin story of the heroic space ranger, Buzz Lightyear. Novotel will delight its guests, fans, and followers with special offers, surprises, and fun activities inspired by the film at hotels across more than 50 participating countries around the world. Novotel’s multi-film collaboration with Disney and Pixar has already successfully celebrated the launch of three previous films: ONWARD, SOUL and LUCA.
Children get an assortment of Disney-Pixar’s LIGHTYEAR colouring pages, games, stickers and, on request, a star projector that transforms their room into an unworldly space. But you can also take photos as Buzz with an exclusive Snapchat Lens or pose with a digital Buzz in the lobby via an augmented reality photo shoot. And of course, you can win prizes on their social media.
Everything breathes wine at the Dormio Wijnhotel Valkenburg
21-6-2022
Opening – The first wine bottles have been uncorked at Dormio Wijnhotel Valkenburg and the first hotel guests woke up in their private wine domain. Last weekend the themed hotel and restaurant on the Stationsstraat in Valkenburg opened its doors for the first time. The former family hotel Tummers has undergone a metamorphosis and has been transformed into a wine hotel. The new owner developed a unique concept for this in cooperation with South Limburg winemakers and international wine companies. The CEO of Dormio Resorts & Hotels, Roel de Boer describes it concisely as “everything here breathes wine”.
Trends we spotted | Week 24
20-6-2022
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 about the Michelin stars in South Florida, with COTE Miami amongst them. And in Russia opened the old McDonald’s stores under the name Vkusno & tochka’.
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station offers employees a VanMoof e-bike for one euro a day. And Swingers, the crazy golf club in London, Washington and New York, has reinvented mini golf for an adult audience by adding gourmet street food, cocktails and a party atmosphere.
Recently the 50 Top Pizza list in the USA was published, with nine restaurants from New York! We congratulate the winner: New York’s Una Pizza Napoletana. And vending machines of Subway are hitting the market.
An official ‘Golden Girls’ Kitchen pop-up is coming to Los Angeles this summer and TiNDLE, the plant-based chicken brand, is now available at all ‘Veggie Grill’ restaurants in the USA.
Panera helps guests stay charged for the longest day of the year with the limited edition ‘Charged Up Cup’, that will charge your phone while you simultaneously enjoy an energy boost from Panera’s new Charged Lemonades.
Shaffy Restobar in Amsterdam welcomes a new chef de cuisine: Koji Miyahira. He is adding an Asian twist to the menu. And in the ‘Learn to Taste’ series by Bird Brewery this month the difference between their Ekster and Ekstera beers.
Restaurant Noor (*) in Groningen gives students 50% discount
14-6-2022
Restaurant Noor in the city Groningen in the north of the Netherlands has recently been awarded with a Michelin star and is giving students a 50% discount on their entire bill this fall. Owners Marleen and Jeroen Brouwer want to make dining in a top restaurant more accessible to students and thus invest in potential guests of the future. The student offer runs from September through December 2022 and is valid every second Tuesday of the month.
An innovative drive-thru experience at Taco Bell Defy
10-6-2022
Taco Bell is redefining drive-thrus as consumers know it with one of its most innovative Taco Bell restaurant designs yet. Coined Taco Bell Defy, the restaurant that broke ground last summer opened its doors – but most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on June 7. The first of its kind two-story model delivers innovative technology and design, like a proprietary vertical lift to transport iconic craveable Taco Bell menu items straight from the kitchen to fans.
Back in August 2021 we wrote about the plans for this new drive-thru and as far as we can see, it’s as they said it would be.
Trends we spotted | Week 23
10-6-2022
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 about amongst others ‘tree free paper’, notebooks made from upcycled stone waste. Is ‘Paper / On The Rocks’ interesting as stationary for those hotels who strive to be as sustainable as possible?
Audi USA teams up with three-Michelin-star Restaurant Noma and global nonprofit MAD to spark conversations around sustainability. And the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design opens in Oslo on 11 June, 2022.
You can play ‘feather bowling’ at Randolph Beer bar in Brooklyn. We never heard of ‘Feather Bowling’, or ‘Trabollen’ as they call it in Belgium, did you? Culinary cruise during the hundredth edition of the Dutch sailing event ‘Kaagweek’.
We love the simple idea behind the Pride Wopper of Burger King in Austria (that features a same-side bun for “equal love and equal rights”) but the campaign gets a lot of reactions. The Colombian brewery Dos Tercos prints promises by presidential candidates on beer cans. To remind them of it!
The Apollo Hotels successfully transformed into Leonardo Hotels and their new website is online as well. And TENZING Natural Energy is now also available in the Netherlands, it’s a completely plant-based, low-calorie energy drink with a positive impact on the planet.
Gastrobar Supersoft - credits Nina Slagmolen
Gastrobar Supersoft - credits Nina Slagmolen
Gastrobar Supersoft - credits Nina Slagmolen
Paindemie - credits Chantal Arnts 
Paindemie - credits Chantal Arnts 
Paindemie - credits Chantal Arnts
Exterieur van Softy's op de Nieuwe Markt in Tilburg
Portret Sander & Koos - Softy's tilburg
Interieur van Softy's op de Nieuwe Markt in Tilburg
Softy's - Milkshake Kimchi en Spicy Ananas softijs.
 in Groningen gives students 50% discount)
