Trends we spotted | Week 20
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:
- A real summer festival with unlimited ice cream is coming to London: Ben & Jerry’s ‘Sundaes In The Park’.
- Another seasonal event in London: ‘Capri in the City’ arrives at the Berkeley Rooftop Bar & Pool.
- It’s shaping up to be a busy summer in London, with New York’s acclaimed aperitivo bar and restaurant Dante, hosting a month-long residency at Claridge’s Restaurant.
- A takeaway spot in Barcelona is serving bite-sized flavour bombs somewhere between a pizza and an empanada, called Tino’s.
- After making its European debut last year in Milan, Italy, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is planning to open 100 locations across Europe.
- Soul Water launches their Alubottle – a 100% recyclable and reusable water bottle, offering a stylish and sustainable alternative to single-use plastic.
- White Castle puts its biggest fans in the spotlight through its ‘Cravers Hall of Fame’
- Burger King France teamed up with the Buzzman agency and created a sweet and original Ice Burger. A sweet disc burger filled with ice cream, nuts and chocolate, that’s being introduced by a mysterious Parisian pastry chef.
- Charlie’s TMS is revolutionizing plant-based fast food and expands its U.S. presence with 18 new stores in Arizona.
Enjoy reading!
This is a real summer festival | Ben & Jerry’s ‘Sundaes In The Park’ Festival
Ben & Jerry’s ‘Sundaes In The Park Festival’ is back! It will be held at Chiswick House & Gardens in London on Saturday, July 27th, from 12 PM to 10 PM for the summer’s sweetest festival. Expect a line-up of live music from some of the coolest artists of the season, cabaret performances, and – best of all – unlimited ice cream. And the cherry on top? All proceeds from ticket sales will go to charity partners supporting refugee rights. For more details, check the link in the title.
‘Capri in the City’ arrives in London at the Berkeley Rooftop Bar & Pool
For summer 2025, The Berkeley in London is opening its exclusive rooftop bar and pool to all visitors with ‘Capri in the City’, a seasonal pop-up inspired by the Italian island. Launching on May 24th, the rooftop will be transformed with lemon trees, Mediterranean views, and a Riviera-style atmosphere.
In collaboration with Malfy Gin, the menu features Capri-inspired cocktails like the Azzurro di Capri, Capri Negroni, and Amalfi Gin Granita. A rooftop pizza oven debuts with dishes like lobster pizza and Italian sharing platters, plus desserts like tiramisu and Amalfi lemon sorbet. Guests reach the rooftop via lift, passing a mural by Italian artist Chiara Perano, before enjoying panoramic views of Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and Hyde Park. Open Thursday to Sunday, 7:30–11pm, with bookings available for tables and walk-ins for sun loungers, check out the link in the title for bookings.
‘Capri in the City’ arrives at the Berkeley Rooftop Bar & Pool
TINO | Esto no es una pizza
This takeaway spot on Carrer de Còrsega 225 in Barcelona is serving up bite-sized flavour bombs somewhere between a pizza and an empanada. They’re called Tino’s — from TINO: Esto no es una pizza (TINO – This Is Not a Pizza). We spotted them in a reel by Nora — Italiana a Barcellona. It reminded us a bit of the pizza fritta served by FRIT’ZZA in Utrecht, although the Tino doesn’t appear to be fried!
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls growing European presence
After making its European debut last year in Milan, Italy, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is planning to roll out 100 locations over the next eight years across Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The European expansion is in partnership with Pietro Funaro, an Italian investment banker and businessman, who visited Mason’s in Annapolis two years ago. One year later, he opened the first European location in Milan. Like Mason’s locations in the United States, the European restaurants offer customers a taste of New England, serving sustainably sourced lobster from Maine with rolls in both classic Maine and Connecticut styles.
European locations will also feature unique menu items, including an avocado roll and a spicy diavolo roll. Good news for lobster roll lovers in Europe! More details can be found in the article on Fast Casual (link in the title).
Dante Takes Claridge’s | Dante NYC travels to Claridge’s Restaurant for month-long residency
This summer, New York’s acclaimed aperitivo bar and restaurant Dante, is heading to London for a month-long residency at Claridge’s Restaurant, starting Monday 30th June. Known for its award-winning cocktails and old-school hospitality, Dante will bring the vibrant energy of downtown Manhattan to Mayfair with its signature drinks and nostalgic New York-inspired dishes.
Founders Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson will lead the pop-up, introducing a daily ‘Aperitivo Hour’ and theatrical flair to Claridge’s bar. The cocktail menu will feature favourites like The Garibaldi, Dante Martini, Negroni Bianco, and a Chocolate Negroni fountain.
The food menu celebrates classic American dishes, including seafood towers, shrimp cocktail, New York strip steak, and Dante’s signature burger. On weekends, guests can enjoy a New York-style brunch with buttermilk pancakes, banana bread with ricotta, and huevos rancheros. Dante Takes Claridge’s will run from Monday 30th June until Thursday 31st July 2025 in Claridge’s Restaurant and is available to book here. More details in the link in the title.
Soul Water launches the 100% recyclable and reusable Alubottle
With this stylish and sustainable alternative to single-use plastic, Soul Water reinforces its mission for a greener planet. The lightweight bottle features a practical screw cap and elegant design, making it suitable for any occasion. An integrated QR code offers insights into the production process and circular consumption. Soul Water combines quality, design, and sustainability to help consumers make conscious choices. By offering locally sourced mineral water in fully recyclable packaging and opting for low-carbon transport, the brand actively reduces its ecological footprint.
The Alubottle is a practical and sustainable solution for hospitality entrepreneurs looking to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly products. Not only is the bottle lightweight and convenient, but its sleek, minimalist design makes it a perfect fit for cafés, restaurants, and events. More details on their website — link in the title.
White Castle welcomes 14 fans into their ‘Cravers Hall of Fame’
Great idea to put your fans in the spotlight. A wall with images of famous guests is kind of normal but we don’t often spot a ‘Hall of Fame’ with regular guests!
White Castle has inducted 14 devoted fans into its Cravers Hall of Fame, now totalling 284 honourees since 2001. This year’s inductees include a woman who biked 36 miles for Sliders and friends hosting an annual eating contest since 1967. The ceremony celebrates unique, heartfelt stories from fans deeply connected to the brand. Inductees receive travel, lodging, a plaque, and a feature on Slider box packaging. Notable past members include Alice Cooper and Stan Lee, most members are non-famous fans. More details in their press release, link in the title.
An Ice Burger | A collaboration between Burger King France and mysterious Parisien pastry chef, Clément Chasneau
Burger King France, in partnership with the Buzzman agency, is shaking up fast food norms with a creation that’s as sweet as it is original: the Ice Burger. This innovative dessert combines unexpected flavours and textures, offering a unique taste experience. To bring it to life, the brand teamed up with the mysterious Parisian pastry chef Clément Chasneau, who plays a central role in a bold and surprising advertising campaign. More details can be found in the Media Marketing article linked in the title. One thing’s for sure—the Ice Burger looks delicious! It’s a disc(o) burger filled with ice cream, chocolate and nuts.
Mr. Charlie’s plant-based fast-food chain accelerates U.S. growth with 18-store expansion in Arizona
Back in 2022, we wrote about Mr. Charlie’s opening in Los Angeles — and not long after, one of our team members even tried their delicious plant-based burgers. Recently, Mr. Charlie’s TMS (Told Me So), the globally inventive plant-based fast-food brand with a mission-driven ethos, announced its largest expansion to date: a multimillion-dollar development agreement to open 18 locations across Arizona, in partnership with Exclusive Area Developer Patrick Lam. This marks a major milestone in the brand’s nationwide franchise rollout and brings its crave-worthy, feel-good menu to the Southwest for the first time.
Mr. Charlie’s TMS is leading a revolution in plant-based cuisine, proving that fast food can be ethical, joyful, purposeful — and still taste amazing. With a focus on sustainability, community impact, and a playful spirit, Mr. Charlie’s is challenging fast-food norms and sparking a global conversation about what fast food can and should be. More details in their press release (link in the title). We love their marketing — check it out on Instagram!
