Hero fairtrade preservable fruit juices
9-4-2014
Hero introduces preserved fruit juices with Max Havelaar Fairtrade certification at the Dutch hotel chain Van der Valk. The hotel chain introduces the juices as the first in the Netherlands. Hero wants delicious, honest products based on fruit without artificial flavors or colors. Hero Fairtrade juice contains 100% fruit and only sugars that are naturally present in the fruit.
Hotel blends ultra-modern technology with old-fashioned coziness
8-4-2014
The ACME hotel in Chicago is the first hotel to offer the possibility to guests to try the Google Glass for free. The Google Glass can be reserved for a couple of hours at the reception or with your booking. You can use it for a walk through Chicago. Besides the Google Glass the hotel offers more devices to their guests as well as an almost old-fashioned breakfast Knock N ‘Drop service from the Weston Town Bakery in the lobby. There is also an old-fashioned football game available for guests… Beautiful combination of modern technology and art and old-fashioned games, door chalkboards and service. Quote from a guest on Tripadvisor: “Came here to try the Google Glass, but realized the hotel had way more than just that. So many quirky little things, from the odd name to the chalkboard on the door”.
Lobby concert during Earth Hour
8-4-2014
Every year the Ghent Marriott Hotel in Belgium participates in the global Earth Hour. Last Saturday 29 March they dimmed the lights again during Earth Hour for an intimate free concert from a jazz guitar player and a jazz singer of the conservatory in Ghent. Have a look at the Dutch Issue calendar and inspire yourself with the many (inter)national days you could pay attention to.
Body Dryer replaces towel
8-4-2014
A device that blows your guests dry after showering seems to come to the market soon. The Body Dryer by Tyler Overk collected via a crowdfunding campaign more than the required amount to go from concept to production. In September 2014, the first machines will be delivered. It could be a considerable saving in towel and washing cost if the technique functions. The devices, which sit somewhere between a hair dryer and scale, now costs about $ 150, – plus shipping.
19 Greek Street: stage for upcoming designers
7-4-2014
The 19 Greek Street in London was founded in 2012 by creative director of design studio Montage, Marc Péridis. The 6-floor Victorian townhouse is an experimental playground for designers experiment. The gallery 19 Greek Street gathers design works by established and upcoming designers. The collections include a ‘limited edition collection’, ‘designing the middle east’ and the ‘endless series’ of Dirk van der Kooij that uses 3D printing to create furniture. Late April there will open a café in 19 Greek Street where customers can enjoy a drink, surrounded by examples from the collection of Marc Péridis.
Vegetable snack Snex | best international product
7-4-2014
Scelta Mushrooms is the founder of a healthy alternative for the snack range: the Snex. The Snex are vegetable snacks and don’t contain artificial colors and flavors. This healthier version of a snack is made of fresh frozen vegetables , is 100% meat free and contains an average of 150 calories. The Snex are available in the flavors mushroom, mushroom-broccoli, mushroom-spinach, sauerkraut, ratatouille and red cabbage-apple. At the 20th edition of Alimentaria (South-Europa’s largest food fair) the Snex were voted as best international products during the presentation of the Innoval Awards in Barcelona.
Single Origin Roasters: passion for coffee
7-4-2014
Roaster and café ‘Single Origin Roasters’ opened its doors in 2003 in Surry Hills, Australia. The guys of Single Origin Roasters really have a passion for coffee and take it very seriously. They are constantly roasting, measuring, mixing and tasting the coffee to create the best composition. They use ethically and environmentally responsible products and solar energy for roasting the beans. In addition, this company helped in creating the first special café milk on tap system ‘The Juggler‘. Customers can also have a breakfast, lunch or one of the seasonal menus besides a good cup of coffee.
Opening Crane hotel in Amsterdam
4-4-2014
Today opens the Faralda NDSM Crane Hotel in Amsterdam and is it possible to stay a night in one of the three hotel suites located in a historic ship’s crane (known as Crane 13). The suites are located at 35 to 50 meters high in the ship’s crane and offer a stunning view over the city and the IJ. A Jacuzzi is located on the roof in the open air. On 13 meters height Faralda Broadcasting Studio & Faralda Production Company is located. This studio will be used for productions of external parties, like TV programs and corporate events. In the past year the Frisian Franeker has restored and transformed the crane into the luxurious hotel with three high-end design suites.
Biggest macaroon Easter egg in the world
4-4-2014
It’s almost Easter! Marco Kuit of ‘De Patissier’ (The Patissier) in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands, and his team patissiers made the largest egg of macaroons and chocolates in the world. The Easter egg is 1 meter wide and 2.35 meter high, made of 3.000 macaroons and 880 pounds of chocolate. Five patissiers worked 14 days to stuck the chocolate and fill the macaroon shells. This macaroon egg has established a new world record. Earlier we published an article with inspiration for Easter.
Take-away star cuisine
4-4-2014
The Chabran Drive of chef Michel Chabran* is a take-away concept of his star cuisine. Customers can order by phone or internet and can pick up the dish within an hour at the counter. Customers can choose between entrees, main courses and desserts, like the croque monsieur, scallops and tarte sablée. Michel Chabran is not the only French star chef who makes his food more accessible to customers, earlier we spotted chef Michel Bras*** with his deli ‘Capucin Signé Bras‘.
Industrial interior of Generator London
3-4-2014
Generator London is one of the eight hostel accommodations of the Generator in Europe. Generator London opened in 1995 and now features 212 rooms. Designer Anwar Mekhayech (DesignAgency) worked in partnership with ORBIT Architects and converted the building into the hotspot of London. The impressive interior shows the industrial past of London and includes the eclectic culture, architecture and history of the city. Besides the modern industrial look there is a replica of a Routemaster London Bus inside. Generator London has an internet café, a lounge with game tables, a bar and a café where guests can have an artisan sandwich and drinks.
Local Goods Weekend Market Amsterdam
3-4-2014
‘De Hallen Amsterdam’ (the Halls Amsterdam) are entirely devoted to the modern and progressive Amsterdam brands on 19 and 20 April. Pakhuis de Zwijger, platform Made in Amsterdam and Indie Brands organize the first edition of the ‘Local Goods Weekend Market’ during this weekend. Various Amsterdam food products such as home made sausages, chocolate and ice cream will be sold next to non-food products like bicycles, clothes, furniture and bags. The Local Goods Weekend Market will include products of Kadolab, Ace & Tate, Proeftuin Amsterdam, the Upcycle and Professor Grunschnabel.
Give Back Getaways
3-4-2014
#Throwback Thursday. We started in August 2007 with horecatrends.com / hospitalitytrends.eu, in May 2008 we posted an item about the Give Back Getaways from the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain. With this program they invite their guests to join their employees in half-day volunteer tourism experiences that contribute something meaningful to the communities surrounding the hotels. Each Give Back Getaways project is unique to the destination. At the website of the chain you can see the whole list of possibilities. As example the video from the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, we can’t image that you don’t want to help!
Caffeine Attendant in public toilet
2-4-2014
After a two years of planning and renovation, the former Victorian men’s room in the heart of Fitzrovia (London) was converted into coffee shop ‘Cafeine Attendant’ with quirky features. The original porcelain urinals from 1890 have been cleaned and now serve as a seat and the old payment counter is transferred into a small kitchens. The coffee is made with hand roasted beans from the Caravan Roastery.
Nutritional value on menu
2-4-2014
Recently, the chefs of Restaurant Hemingway created a special nutritional menu of their dishes. The restaurant is part of Hotel de Draak (Hotel the Dragon) in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. With this new menu, the chefs want to facilitate their guests interested in the nutritional value of their dishes. They have determined the nutritional value of each dish and listed the amount of calories, fats, carbohydrates and proteins of all dishes. At the standard menu (without the nutritional value) a reference to this menu is explicitly stated and the menu with the nutritional value is actively communicated by the hosts in the restaurant.
The re-introduction of Reverse Delivery
2-4-2014
Boston Pizza introduces ‘reverse delivery’ for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 16 April. The promotion has a funny wink in it and appears to be merely for free-publicity purposes, watch the video here.
Bread cone filled with local produce
1-4-2014
In September, chef Michel Bras*** opened the deli ‘Capucin Signé Bras’ at the parking lot at the Millau Viaduct. The deli serves a variety of ‘Capucins’, that cost around € 7,=. A ‘Capucin’ is a crepe-like cone made of buckwheat and wheat, filled with local produce such as truffles, black pudding, foie gras, Roquefort etc.. A special variant of a simple sandwich. Michel Bras opened a second location along with his two sons and a local hotelier in Toulouse last January.
Spacified: the marketplace for pop-up stores
1-4-2014
Online platform Spacified.com makes a match between temporary vacant spaces and designers, retailers and startups in Belgium and the Netherlands. The vacancy rate in retail spaces and offices increase and this brought founder Patrice Fleurquin the idea to develop a matchmaking service to bring both parties in contact. Spacified.com doesn’t only support starters, but also stimulates the creativity to set up an office, retail or event location. Recently Spacified.com and Voka ‘Chamber of Commerce Antwerp- Waasland, launched the POP-UP Guide. This guide gives visitors an overview of the newest, hottest pop-up stores in Belgium and the Netherlands. Currently, the guide only focuses on consumers, but can also provide cities and local authorities with information about the pop-up stores on longer-term. Spacified.com started a crowd funding project to extend the POP-UP Guide for five cities outside Belgium and the Netherlands.
Plans for 2015 from Rene Redzepi and Heston Blumenthal
1-4-2014
Last Sunday I read a tweet from René Redzepi of Noma in which he indicated to close for two months early 2015. During that period, the entire team from Noma goes to Japan where they will cook in the restaurant of the Japanese chef Murata (restaurant Kikunoi). The philosophy of the cuisine of René Redzepi will be applied to the Japanese products. Great news for the Japanese foodies!
And yesterday the announcement of Heston Blumenthal in which he told that he will close his restaurant The Fat Duck as from December 2014, to reopen February 2015 for six months in The Crown Melbourne Resort. And Heston Blumenthal is also going to Australia with his entire team. After 6 months, the team is going back but a ‘Dinner by Heston Blumenthal’ remains at The Crown Melbourne Resort. Meanwhile, The Fat Duck will be rebuilt. A special way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his restaurant.^Marjolein
Edible water
31-3-2014
Three design students from London came up with the ‘Ooho’: an easy, biodegradable and edible water bubble. Inspired by the techniques of molecular cooking, they developed ‘edible’ water. The water tank of the ‘Ooho’ is made of algae and can be eaten. Perhaps the solution for all the waste that remains of plastic water bottles. The students won the Lexus Design Award 2014.
Floating hotels
31-3-2014
Thrillist.com gives an overview of seven floating hotels around the world. Like the Salt & Sill, a floating hotel in Sweden with a modern Swedish interior or the Yellow Submarine that is inspired by the movie ‘The hunt for red October’ with Sean Connery. The video above is from the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Resort in Thailand. This unique floating hotel is located in the jungle of Kanchanaburi and only accessible by boat. The hotel is built of wood and bamboo, the rooms are simple and have a veranda with hammocks. Take a look at the complete list here.
The rooster back on the plate
28-3-2014
Last weekend, I have been reading a Dutch Magazine ‘Bouillon‘ (spring 2014). Each time a delight to read all the independent and surprising stories with the food culture as theme. Since I recently read somewhere about fried rooster combs I found it very interesting to read (I’m sorry but in Dutch) the story about roosters. Late January Nel Schellekens of Dutch restaurant ‘De Gulle Waard‘ in Winterswijk has prepared a dinner in cooperation with barbecue champion Ralph de Kok, made with all kinds of goodies such as hay rooster, smoked rooster, butterflyd rooster, pâté etc. In this article is stated that about 40 million roosters be gassed annually on their first day of life, in the Netherlands only. On the website, the comeback of the rooster (Sorry Dutch only), you’ll find recipes and more background information. They started the website in the hope that less roosters will be killed. I guess I will put a rooster on the menu with Easter. Good to see that there are more and more initiatives to bring ‘forgotten animals’ on the plate. Last week we posted an article about the meat of young goats and the goose isn’t forgotten either. ^ Marjolein
David Munoz opens StreetXo restaurant in London
28-3-2014
Spanish chef David Muñoz of restaurant DiverXo*** in Madrid and the urban hotspot StreetXo has announced to open a new branch of StreetXo in London in June 2014. David Muñoz traveled around the world and after several years of training in various kitchens in London he returned back to Madrid. His special street food dishes originate from his journey from London to South East Asia and is influenced of course by Spain. StreetXo restaurant in London will be open and airy with an open kitchen and a bar with an inventive cocktail selection. The menu will feature 12 to 14 dishes that change continuously.
Brasserie van Baerle has its own Brasserieweek
28-3-2014
Brasserie Baerle does not participate in the Restaurant Week . Neither in Dining with the stars, Dining with the rising stars, the Restaurant Festival and all other weeks. Opposite, they do organize their own ‘Brasserieweek’. No discounts but perks. During the ‘Brasserieweek’ (12 -26th of March) guests received an aperitif of the house. More interesting was that they served four of the best wines from their cellar for only 7 euros per glass. This Brasserieweek; the Brut Champagne Bollinger , Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2011 Lavantureux , Nuits -Saints -Georges 2011 Confuron and Chateau Olivier 2000 Grand Cru Classe , Pessac – Leogan. We do hear more restaurant owners complain that the participation of these weeks is so expensive and that the guest still expect you to cook at the same high standards. Brasserie van Baerle doesn’t complain but does address this matter in their own way. You can organize your own week if you have a pretty solid group of guests, like the Brasserie has, which you can achieve through a newsletter and social media. In 2014 the newsletter from the Brasserie is devoted to their wine alphabet. The announcement of the Brasserie Week fell under the E from Extras. ^Marjolein
Small gestures in hospitality 3
28-3-2014
March was a great start of spring, for us as guests and for your turnover as hospitality entrepreneur! In this edition you will find examples of extra services for your guests that you can offer without making large investments, because some gestures are so small that the guest barely registers it. With examples of the Hampshire hotel, Hotel Mitland, the Carlton Oasis and some inspiring, special sweets to be served with your cup of coffee or tea. Download the edition here.
