The croissant craze | This is what 2024 brought us

16-12-2024

We discussed which products show up the most on social media, in all kind of shapes, flavours and colours, this year. The first product that popped up is the croissant. We think the croissant hype began with the Cronut by Dominique Ansel, back in 2013. Since this croissant-donut combination, we have seen endless variations. Last January we wrote an article with the question what 2024 was going to bring us? Well the year 2023 ended with a broissant and 2024 started with a brioche croissant loaf, which is kind of the same! We spotted the broissant in a pop-up in the Landmark hotel in December and the brioche croissant loaf in Amsterdam early January. Later this year we spotted, croissant cereals, potato croissants, the Onioissant, BallSsants, the Croicheese, the Cröner, a Cherry Crioche, Croissant Cones. And it ended with tasting the elongated croissant by François Perret at the Ritz Paris Le Comptoir.

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 50

13-12-2024

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:

• We think the Ritz Carlton Berlin has one of the most beautiful Christmas trees in their lobby, ‘Der Giving Tree’! An initiative to make wishes come true for children who are hospitalized. They give their guests and passers-by the change to participate in the season of giving.
• Heineken Hoek Steakhouse has recently opened in the hotel ‘The Diamond’ in Amsterdam.
• Le Pain Quotidien opened its first franchise in Maastricht and is looking for expansion to other Dutch cities through franchise.
• Great examples of how international ‘Christmas trends’ are used – in their own way – in the Netherlands. A gondola and a ‘Christmas lighting party’ or as they call it a ‘magical winter evening’ at ‘t Noorden in Aalten. And you can dine in a transparent igloo at restaurant Saus in Bergen op Zoom.
• 1 Hotels announced a new hotel in 2025: 1Hotel Tokyo.
• A ‘Reindeer Games Pop-Up Bar’ at Holston House Nashville.
• Panera turns the holidays upside down with their new: limited edition Holiday Soup Cup Collection. Some ‘soup’- inspiration!
• The ugly Christmas sweater ‘trend’ continues to inspire, this time we got a press release from soccer club PSV and came across a press release from KFC about their Christmas sweater.

Enjoy reading!

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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Loft 88, Zeste Keuken & Bar and Sis & Joy

12-12-2024

Every day we spot fun, new concepts. This week: Loft 88 which is opening a second location in Bilthoven and, like their location in IJsselstein, is set to become an ‘urban oasis with boho vibes’. Zeste Keuken & Bar in Groningen opened recently. You can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Zeste Kitchen & Bar, with many dishes and the limoncello being made in-house. And Sis & Joy, a lunchroom opened by two sisters at the Winkelhof in Leiderdorp . A spot to enjoy their delicious cakes but also have lunch and drinks.

We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and success with their concepts. More information below!

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Silent Night 2024 | Mandarin Oriental celebrates ten years of ‘the Art of Stillness’

3-12-2024

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group recently announced their 10th annual Silent Night, which will be hosted on December 8th, 2024. They will celebrate ‘the Art of Stillness’, the global tradition invites guests to immerse themselves in a night of mindfulness and disconnection and dedicate a break from the busy holiday season. In commemoration of this milestone year, The spas at Mandarin Oriental have elevated annual activations to include the Silent Retreat, an immersive, sensory journey designed to foster self-discovery and peace.

We love their Silent Night initiatives, we wrote about them last year in our ‘Trends we spotted, week 47’. More time for stillness and reflection is very now! Last week we wrote about the Zencember© initiative of Bagels & Beans. 

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Trends we spotted | Week 48

2-12-2024

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:

• Wheat flour brand NACARINA from Costa Rica created a cake replica to celebrate the historic reopening of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. The official reopening is on December 8th this year.
• UNESCO and Relais & Châteaux announce a partnership for sustainable development in harmony with all life on earth.
• CollaBEARation Build-A-Bear & KFC®: Bears in KFC outfits!
• Zara opened Zacaffé in Madrid, Zara by Castro coffee shop and a coffee shop concept store in Athens.
• Clone, the European foodtech startup from Paris that has raised €105 million in funding, is officially launching in the Netherlands.
• Collaboration of restaurant Parkheuvel (**) with Parkcafé Parqiet.
• SOUS celebrates 2-year anniversary and kicks off Christmas.
• ‘Wie zoet is krijgt lekkers! (Those who are sweet get treats) – This year MR PORTER Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge, IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar, THE DUCHESS and MOMO Restaurant, Bar & Lounge are offering a unique interpretation of a Sinterklaas classic on Thursday December 5: the chocolate letter.
• And from Instagram: the Louis Vuitton dog collection. Would fit nicely in luxury hotels that allow dogs!

Enjoy reading!

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Christmas inspiration by the Conservatorium Hotel, Pulitzer Amsterdam, Fauchon l’Hôtel Paris, Great Scotland Yard hotel and Le Meurice

2-12-2024

Our second Christmas article includes examples of hotels that invite friends and/or designers to decorate their Christmas tree. In the Netherlands we have some hotels with trees decorated by artists, like the Conservatorium Hotel and the Pulitzer hotel. But we spotted more inspiration like the Wish Tree of Fauchon l’Hôtel Paris, the afternoon tea’s at Le Meurice in Paris and their Bûches de Noël (Yule Logs) by Frederic Grolet. And the Afternoon Tea at the Great Scotland Yard hotel looks very Christmassy! Some great examples by luxury hotels. Who knows some of it might inspire you!

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Don Utrecht, Daruma Crêpe and BunBun Amsterdam

28-11-2024

We spot fun, new concepts every day. This week: Don Utrecht, where you can enjoy coffee made with Neapolitan Kimbo beans and tasty Italian panninis, luxury sandwiches, salads and pastas. Daruma Crêpe where they make the Instagrammable ‘Crème Brûlée Crêpe’ and more; they have opened a shop in the Nishimarket in Rotterdam and have pop-ups in Amsterdam and Leiden. BunBun sells croissant buns in the centre of Amsterdam. They make 7 Bun flavours, 3 savoury and 4 sweet, every day.

We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and good luck with their new restaurant, pop-ups and bakery, more details below!

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Trends we spotted | Week 47

26-11-2024

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:

• Spotted on Instagram: A Snowglobe Christmas Cocktail! A G&T with edible white glitter and edible crocs and frozen Rudolph cream on hot chocolate!
• Holiday season inspiration from Australia, Outback Steakhouse launched Steakmas, with a ‘Koala on the Walla’.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill recently announced it is bringing back three of its best-selling merchandise in their ‘All I want is Chipotle’
• Restaurant Spetters in Breskens has been named ‘Restaurant of the Year’ by restaurant association JRE-Nederland.
• KULT Kefir is an innovative Belgian brand which sells an organic, healthy drink based on water kefir. You can order it at different restaurants and bars and it’s now also available in supermarkets in the Netherlands.
• Youtuber Kaj Gorgels and culinary influencer Colin Knopper are opening burger restaurant Drippy’s in Rotterdam in cooperation with the CEO of the restaurant chain ‘De Beren’.
• McDonald’s will launch their McValue platform in US Restaurants next year!

Enjoy reading!

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Bagels & Beans celebrates Zencember© | All you need is less

26-11-2024

Need to relax and recharge between the festive rush? You can do so at Bagels & Beans throughout December. During Zencember©, you can drop by their locations for a zen moment. They will also help guests with personalised Christmas cards and the most beautiful wrapped gifts. And they also serve stress-relieving drinks and bagels, musical assistance and hand yoga!

2 minutes read

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Christmas inspiration | Like an arty Christmas tree, decorations, delicacies and music at luxury hotels

25-11-2024

We love the fact that some hotels invite friends and/or designers to decorate their Christmas tree. We’re always looking forward to the arty Christmas tree of the Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair, this year decorated by designer Sir Paul Smith. The arty Christmas tree just outside the Connaught hotel has been decorated by influential British artist Conrad Shawcross RA. But we also always love the decorations at the Plaza hotel in New York, the Bûches de Noël in France and more. A list of luxury and fancy Christmas trees, decorations and traditional delicacies by luxury hotels. Who knows some of it might inspire you!

5 minutes read, scrolling goes much faster but you’ll miss the best details!

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