Trends we spotted | Week 21
27-5-2025
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:
- Belgian winemakers are launching a new quality label for sparkling wines from Belgian soil: BelBul.
- Belgian poké bowl chain Hawaiian has reached a special milestone with the opening of their 50th outlet.
- British climate-positive vodka brand Sapling is now also available in the Netherlands.
- The Sandwich Series, an inspiration for hospitality companies.
- The ‘Press for Picnic’ pop-up from Blank Street in New York, nice idea for summer?
- Parmigiano Reggiano Gran Riserva 36 months with black summer truffle from Bonat Farm!
- Ahead of World Ocean Day (June 8), Novotel is celebrating one year of sustainable collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Enjoy reading!
Papa d’Amour by Dominique Ansel | A new Asian bread culture bakery in NYC
15-5-2025
On May 22nd, chef Dominique Ansel will open a new bakery dedicated to Asian bread culture at 64 University Place (between 10th & 11th Streets) in New York City, of course, with his signature creative touch. The first images already look promising; this is yet another bakery worth visiting in NYC! The name, Papa d’Amour, is the nickname his children gave him.
We’re big fans of Dominique Ansel’s creativity and we love sandos, those fluffy sandwiches made with shokupan or fluffy milk bread. In Amsterdam, they’re sold at Ranchi. Now we can’t wait to try the Taiwanese soft shokupan, the steamed croissant boos and especially the ‘Hot Dog & Sticky Rice Danish’ we saw on Instagram, it looks amazing! Although choosing might be difficult, as the ‘Scallion Basil Bloom’ looks delicious as well.
2 minutes read
Panda Express® launches ‘Pandaoke’ | Karaoke pop-ups across the U.S.
9-5-2025
Panda Express®, the largest family-owned Asian dining brand in the U.S., is launching ‘Pandaoke’, a fun, one-of-a-kind karaoke experience in four cities during May and June, just in time for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
As inspiration on how to create some rumour around your brand!
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 17
25-4-2025
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’. This edition highlights some fun hospitality initiatives for Kingsday — perfect to visit, enjoy, or use as inspiration for next year! We’ve also included some international examples of creative campaigns and product launches.
- Royal Desserts at live-fire restaurant Nela in Amsterdam.
- Café De Blaffende Vis in Amsterdam will unveil its iconic 2025 King’s Day façade at the stroke of midnight during King’s Night.
- Café De Gaper in Leiden will transform into Snackcafé De Gaper on King’s Day, serving a snack menu fit for royalty.
- Stëlz Hard Seltzer released a limited edition ‘can belt’ especially for King’s Night and King’s Day — it sold out quickly!
- Want to toast with an orange drink? Jägermeister ORANGE has just hit the market.
- In the U.S., BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse teamed up with Mars to launch a new twist on their signature dessert: the SNICKERS® Pizookie.
- Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard introduces a bold take on a classic: Cola Italian Ice.
- Pretzelmaker® in the US is giving away free Pretzel Bites tomorrow (April 26th) in celebration of National Pretzel Day.
- Outback Steakhouse in Australia turns up the heat with their Hot Wing Roo-lette – a spicy challenge for the daring!
Enjoy reading!
Queer Beer launches ‘Tinder for beers’
7-4-2025
Queer Beer, the beer brand celebrating diversity and inclusivity, comes up with a playful campaign: Swipe & Sip – the Tinder for beers! For the first time, instead of the traditional male-dominated beer world deciding what goes in the glass, their fans get to be in charge. Via swipeandsip.nl and in selected pubs, beer lovers can swipe for their favourite flavour. The beer with the most swipes to the right will become their very latest beer: called Lesbier.
1 minute read
Netflix and MGM Grand unveiled new dining experience in Las Vegas | NETFLIX BITES
14-2-2025
NETFLIX BITES Vegas is now open at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, embarking on a savoury one-year culinary residency that invites guests to dig into dishes and drinks that bring the magic of the screen to the table. Promising a flavourful adventure, this unique dining experience offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with each menu item inspired by a hit Netflix show or movie. This one-of-a-kind restaurant combines Netflix’s storytelling with MGM Grand’s renowned hospitality, offering an unforgettable culinary journey crafted to give fans a new way to experience their favorite stories and characters.
Like our prior article about set-jetting, it’s all about storytelling!
3 minutes read
Set-jetting | Stay in movie-star hotels with ALL.com
13-2-2025
From the Oscars and BAFTA Awards to the Venice and Cannes Film Festivals, the silver screen inspires travellers the world over. The ever-growing consumption of films and series is fuelling a boom in cinema tourism, also known as ‘Set-jetting’. This trend, in which travellers take inspiration from hit films when choosing destinations, has had its popularity boosted by popular and award winning films such as Killers of the Flower Moon (Oklahoma), Oppenheimer (New Mexico) and Barbie (Palm Springs). According to Bloomberg, there is a real “White Lotus Effect”: the filming of seasons 2 and 3 in Sicily and Thailand has had a significant impact on bookings in these two destinations (season 3 launches on 17 February).
2 minutes read
Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Crusty Slices, Puffle Bees and HOTBOXXX
4-2-2025
Every day we spot fun, new concepts. This week, we spotlight three new concepts in Germany! Crusty Slices in Aachen, Cologne and Frankfurt, is a fun concept that sells croissant dough slices with pizza toppings, sold in pretty boxes. They are growing fast in Germany, and are looking for franchisees. There are also franchise opportunities at Hanover-based HOTBOXXX, where you get your food out of the wall. Unusual though, you can also pull an entire menu out of the vending machines. And, of course, a few Dutch specialities. Puffle Bees is a concept that has been in Berlin since 2021, they too serve hybrids like the croffle (which they thus call the Puffle) and Egg Drops. They will soon open their second branch in Hanover.
We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and success with their concepts. More information below!
2 minutes read
Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Petit and Bakery Heemelrijck, the SKEWER BAR and Restaurant Paarl
28-1-2025
Every day we spot fun, new concepts. This week: the SKEWER BAR in Rotterdam, where you can enjoy meat, vegetables and tofu skewers. An authentic street food restaurant specialising in dishes from the Changsha region in China. In Amsterdam, restaurant Heemelrijck has opened a new restaurant, Petit Heemelrijck, and bakery Heemelrijck with a new Wentelteefjes (French toast) to go concept. A new concept with a 75-year family history! And in Sassenheim, the South African pop-up restaurant Paarl opened in the third quarter of 2024. They treat you to a shared dining menu with all kinds of South African dishes such as biltong, braai, boboti, samosas and so on.
We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and success with their concepts. More information below!
2 minutes read
Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Nume, Bardo and De Oude Melkfabriek
7-1-2025
Every day we spot fun, new concepts. This week: Bardo in Apeldoorn, a restaurant with a French, chic but also natural ambiance. Owners Yves Jaartsveld and Monique van Helsdingen aim to keep it very personal and offer their guests a beautiful experience. In Arkel, De Oude Melkfabriek (The Old Milk factory) opened in October 2024, where you can eat out and attend culinary workshops on Persian cuisine, by chef Abbas. And in November, Nume New York Bistro Amsterdam opened in The Manor Hotel. You pronounce it as ‘New Me’!
We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and success with their concepts. More information below!
Reading time: 2 minutes
