Trends we spotted | Week 42

20-10-2026

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:

• BottleCloths catch the drips every time a bottle comes out of the ice bucket, give staff a better grip and turn every pour into a considered, elegant gesture. A useful item!
• Restaurant ‘Jean-Georges at The Connaught’ has refreshed its menu, bringing back signature dishes from Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s celebrated restaurants Vong and Spice Market. With the return of an icon: the Black Plate.
• Bouillon d’Amsterdam opened in March 2026 in Hotel Die Port van Cleve, followed in June by Le Petit Bouillon d’Amsterdam in Amsterdam-Zuid. In 2027 they will open in three more cities in the Netherlands.
• SeaNext and Horecava open debate on the forgotten role of seafood in the protein transition during the Dutch Horecava on January 12.
• Hello Kitty® and her Friends are making their way to Burger King® restaurants in the US. To bring this Hello Kitty® partnership to the next level, Burger King is hosting a one-day Golden Claw Machine experience in a location in California.
• In the US, Stoner’s Pizza Joint serves up Halloween fun with pumpkin-shaped pizza.
• World-renowned artisans begin carving the immersive Christmas experience, ice!™, at resorts across the US.

Enjoy reading!

BottleCloths | Pour like a pro

BottleCloths catch the drips every time a bottle comes out of the ice bucket, give staff a better grip and turn every pour into a considered, elegant gesture. Service is faster, the linen stays cleaner and the presentation speaks for itself. The concept was devised in England, and BottleCloths are made in Portugal. There are three BottleCloths collections: the Catering Collection, the Original Collection and The Classic Collection. A useful item!

Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings back the iconic ‘Black Plate’ to The Connaught

This October, restaurant Jean-Georges at The Connaught has refreshed its menu, bringing back signature dishes from Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s celebrated restaurants Vong and Spice Market. At the heart of the new offering is the return of an icon: the Black Plate. First created at Vong in 1995, the Black Plate was far more than a starter. It was an introduction to Jean-Georges’ culinary world, a dramatic sampler designed to arrive at the table laden with his signature creations, inviting diners to taste, share and discover. Now reimagined for The Connaught, the Black Plate brings together a selection of his greatest hits. Expect playful, intensely flavoured bites such as Crispy Salmon Sushi, Chicken Samosa and Raw Tuna in Rice Paper, alongside other enticing small plates. More details on The Connaught’s website.

Bouillon d’ expands | Restaurants to open in The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven in 2027

Bouillon d’Amsterdam opened in March 2026 in Hotel Die Port van Cleve, followed in June by Le Petit Bouillon d’Amsterdam in Amsterdam-Zuid. In 2027, the Bouillon d’ restaurant family will expand to three new cities: The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven. The Hague will kick things off in the first quarter, at an iconic location in the city.

With The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven, the entrepreneurs behind Bouillon d’ are deliberately continuing to build an umbrella brand in which each city gets its own identity. The choice of these three cities is no coincidence. Each has a strong character of its own, and that is exactly where Bouillon d’ can forge a real connection with the city. The precise addresses are being kept secret for now, although… Bouillon d’Amsterdam is located on the site of the former De Hooiberg brewery, where Gerard Heineken began his brewing story. There is a link to the Heineken family in The Hague too: the new site was once a familiar address for Freddy Heineken. For the rest, we will have to wait and keep an eye on the website!

SeaNext and Horecava open debate on the forgotten role of seafood in the protein transition

Less meat, more plant-based. In the Netherlands, that has almost become synonymous with the protein transition. Yet one category remains conspicuously absent from the discussion: fish, crustaceans and shellfish. At the Horecava 2027, SeaNext will bring together scientists, chefs, behavioural experts and the seafood sector around a thought-provoking question: what place does seafood deserve on the menu of the future? The symposium “Seafood on tomorrow’s menu: from protein transition to hospitality industry” takes place on 12 January 2027 from 1.00 pm to 4.15 pm at the Horcava in the RAI Amsterdam. For more information, visit the SeaNext and Horecava websites.

Hello Kitty® and Friends are coming to Burger King® in the US

Hello Kitty® and her Friends are making their way to Burger King® restaurants in the US. Starting October 20, for a limited time families can enjoy a Hello Kitty® and Friends King Jr. Kids’ Meal, featuring one of six exclusive toys inside a mystery blind box, giving guests the thrill of not knowing which character they’ll get until they open it. The collection features beloved Hello Kitty® and Friends characters. Every Hello Kitty® and Friends King Jr. Kids’ Meal comes with a choice of a 4- or 6-piece chicken nuggets, hamburger or cheeseburger, plus fries or applesauce and a drink, all packaged in a supercute Hello Kitty® and Friends-themed King Jr. Meal bag and served with an adorable, exclusive Hello Kitty® crown (while supplies last) to complete the experience. To bring this Hello Kitty® partnership to the next level, Burger King is hosting a one-day Golden Claw Machine experience at the Burger King location at 10014 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA. More details in their press release.

In the US, Stoner’s Pizza Joint serves up Halloween fun with pumpkin-shaped pizza

Made on Stoner’s Pizza Joint signature flatbread, the festive pumpkin-shaped pizza is topped with pepperoni and meatballs for the eyes for a jack-o’-lantern look. Served uncut, it invites guests to “carve” their own slices, making it a playful addition to family pizza nights, Halloween parties, and dinner before trick-or-treating. Whether fuelling a night of trick-or-treating or feeding a hungry Halloween crew, the Pumpkin-Shaped Pizza gives guests a festive reason to gather around the table before the candy comes out. Available October 19–31, the seasonal pizza comes uncut for guests to “carve” themselves, with 31 Bonus Points for Rewards Members during launch week. We’ve seen heart-shaped pizzas and more, but not yet in pumpkin-shape. More details in their press release.

World-renowned artisans begin carving the immersive Christmas experience, ice!™, at resorts across the US

The countdown to the holiday season begins as more than 300 master ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrive at the Gaylord Hotels and select JW Marriott resorts across the United States. Over the coming weeks, they will sculpt millions of pounds of ice into the immersive Christmas experience, ice!™.

Beginning this November, the attraction will open across eight resorts nationwide, including its debut at Gaylord Pacific Resort and JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort, along with brand-new themes featuring Harry Potter™, Home Alone™ and Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas™. We have written about this tradition in 2023 and 2025 and their announcement back in week 30 of this year. More details in the press release by Marriott. We love this kind of traditions!

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