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Trends we spotted | Week 51

20-12-2024

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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:

• Dirty Sodas – we wonder if Europe will be taking over this trend from Utah? It’s served at for example SWIG, ‘home of the original dirty soda’, as they call themselves.
• Some inspiration via Instagram: we love the stick library of the Sanctuary Beach Resort and the simple but festive looking ‘Snowman Latte’. Why not serve slices of this festive looking Tiramisu Cabin? We love The Santa Lucia Kayak Parade in the canals of Copenhagen, by restaurant Kayak Bar. And the ‘Embassy Diplomat Screens’, a very luxurious cinema in Thailand.
• A cocktail flight as inspiration! Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill created a margarita flight.
• Top-Loaded Fries at Dave’s Hot Chicken.
• New products for ice tea series BOS – with the BOSpresso you make the perfect Rooibos Cappuccino or Latte.
• WE ARE EDN is a new, approachable, family-friendly, all-day dining concept in Amsterdam.
• Progressive Slow Food restaurant Pianeta Terra was ranked 31st in the 50 Top Italy list of 50 best Italian restaurants in the world. Making it the best Italian restaurant in the Netherlands. There is another Italian restaurant in the Netherlands on the list: at spot 45 is chef Pasquale Carfora’s restaurant Aroma in Vaassen.

Enjoy reading!

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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | CUP N CRUST, restobar Vivid and Haricot

19-12-2024

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Every day we spot fun, new concepts. This week: CUP N CRUST, the ‘little sister’ of Panda Pizza in Kralingen, Rotterdam. A specialty coffee bar where they sell CUPS (coffees, lattes, Matcha, Chai, Mocktails) and CRUSTS (Focaccia’s). In Utrecht on the Nobelstraat, restobar Vivid opened its doors this month. A shared dining (or not, of course) concept where they serve Mediterranean dishes in a casual atmosphere with a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays. And in Maastricht, Haricot opened its doors this week. A fine dining restaurant but slightly different, with a focus on fish, crustaceans and shellfish.

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

2 minutes read

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Headspace’s science behind sleep, presented by the ‘World of Hyatt’

17-12-2024

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Hyatt’s award-winning loyalty program, World of Hyatt, in collaboration with Headspace, the world’s most accessible and comprehensive mental health platform, debuted an exclusive video series, ‘Headspace’s science behind sleep, presented by the ‘World of Hyatt’, extending care for guests and members by providing access to expert and science-backed tips on how to get better sleep while traveling. The new sleep series is available in guestrooms at nearly 400 Hyatt hotels and within the Headspace app since November 14^th.

2 minutes read

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The croissant craze | This is what 2024 brought us

16-12-2024

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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

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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

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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!

2 minutes read

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

3-12-2024

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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. 

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 48

2-12-2024

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Cheesecake Project, Massalia and Surf & Turf

21-11-2024

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We spot fun, new concepts every day. This week, the artisan cheesecakes of the Cheesecake Project in Amsterdam, they created their own recipe for Basque style cheesecake. Massalia, a French-Greek restobar, which recently also opened in Amsterdam, where you can enjoy the influences of both French and Greek cuisine. And Surf & Turf, which opened its doors in Utrecht this September, where you can enjoy a refined selection of fish and dry-aged meats.

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

2 minutes read

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‘Subway’s Fresh Forward 2.0’ positions the chain for the future

19-11-2024

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Subway has unveiled their new global restaurant design. Subway®, one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, is introducing ‘Subway’s Fresh Forward 2.0’. Rolling out globally in 2025, the next iteration of its global restaurant image is designed to further enhance the guest experience, improve convenience and help drive franchisee profitability.

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 46

18-11-2024

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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 cool way to serve a ‘girl dinner’ for 2! Done at Restaurant Villa Orange in Amsterdam.
• NH Collection celebrates its 10th anniversary across Europe with an Anniversary Spritz, as cocktail and mocktail.
• Papa Johns Pizza and Aviation American Gin are spicing up the cocktail scene with the ‘Cini Tini’.
• The Ron Gastro Bowls are back at Poké Perfect! This winter Ron Blaauw created the Beef Rendang bowl and a Tempura Shrimp bowl.
• Dave’s Hot Chicken chain is giving away hundreds of free sandos in East London on November 20^th.
• A great NYC tradition: the adult happy meal. Now also available at the Conversatorium Hotel in Amsterdam.
• Waddle into wonder, the Penguin Parade Sculpture Trail in Fleet Street Quarter is now open!
• IKEA has opened its first Swedish restaurant on a UK high street.
• Cahoots Postal Office has officially landed in Borough Yards, London. Through a life-size postbox you step into a 1940s-inspired cocktail den.
• An snow or ice maze in Poland: Snowlandia in Zakopane!

Enjoy reading!

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Dive into Christmas | At the HUMBUG immersive Christmas Dive Bar

15-11-2024

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Dive into Christmas, to cheer up Santa! This November, London’s magical immersive Christmas dive bar, HUMBUG, is back in town and, this time it promises to be even bigger, even better and even more raucous than before. Shaking things up for the festive season, the team at HUMBUG will be firing up the snow machines and sprinkling a little mischief into the magic at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane from November 14^th – December 31^st, after a fully sold-out season last year.

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Café Paloma, Bistrot Le Béret and Café Toulouse

14-11-2024

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We spot fun, new concepts every day. This week: Café Paloma which opened in September and features South American cuisine and Paloma cocktails. Bistrot Le Béret recently opened in Medemblik, a real French bistro with mostly classics on the menu. And Café Toulouse opened recently in Leiden, also serving French cuisine but with a Sicilian touch! Three concepts with intriguing details.

We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams lots of fun and success with their new restaurants, more details below!

2 minutes read

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Hotel The Diamond opens in the center of Amsterdam

12-11-2024

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Opening – Every diamond is created under extreme pressure, resulting in a unique and enduring final product. Such is the case with Hotel The Diamond, located in the impressive building of the same name on the Leidseplein in Amsterdam. This long-awaited five-star boutique hotel with 36 luxurious rooms will open its doors on November 15^th, right in the bustling heart of the capital.

3 minutes read

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An immersive Christmas Light Maze with a shopping village and Christmas magic

11-11-2024

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We couldn’t find an immersive Christmas Light Maze in Europe yet, howevere correct us if we are wrong. But we love the idea, another fun event to visit with the family instead of just meeting each other for Christmas dinner. Inspiration for Holiday Season events!

Enchant Christmas, creates the beloved holiday event known for its World’s Largest immersive Christmas Light Maze, shopping Village, and magical atmosphere, and its newest creation, Classic Christmas. This year they are also launching ‘Kids Light Up The Night’ during select event dates this season.

2 minutes read

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Trends we spotted | Week 45

11-11-2024

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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:

• Horecava 2025: this is how top chefs see the future of the hospitality industry: socially engaged, innovative and exceptionally delicious.
• Thomas Baeyens, the chef of restaurant L’Amitié in Antwerp, recently launched his new project: Sardineshop.be. Tinned fish as the perfect apero during the holiday season.
• Brasserie Appelmans & the Absinth Bar in Antwerp exists 20 years, keep reading to find out how they celebrate. We love the idea of the mini-bar offer!
• On the menu of the Dutch McDonald’s, a McDonald’s X Old Amsterdam burger, their ‘year-end-burger’!
• Another Airbnb icon: House sit for Paddington and The Browns in their London home.
• Spotted on Instagram: a great way to make cheesecake lollies, done by Lolly Bakery!
• Four Seasons celebrates ‘World Kindness Day’ with food at the heart.
• Hilton celebrates their ‘Global Week of Engagement’ and partners with Keep America Beautiful.

Enjoy reading!

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Young entrepreneurs & new concepts | Restaurant Noos, Hotel Rumour and Los Cosmos

7-11-2024

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We spot fun, new concepts every day. This week in the spotlight the Spanish restaurante Los Cosmos and Hotel Rumour in Leiden and restaurant Noos in Terneuzen. Three totally different concepts with beautiful details.

We wish all these entrepreneurs and their teams good luck with their concepts. More details below!

Reading time: 2 minutes

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Trends we spotted | Week 44

5-11-2024

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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 new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort opens on May 22, 2025: Universal Epic Universe.
• Sir Paul Smith is designing the Claridge’s Christmas tree 2024. It will be unveiled on November 20^th.
• McDonald’s in Budapest introduced the McDonald’s Nyugati Lounge with DJ’s and live music, every Friday and Saturday. We think this idea might work for more locations!
• How about a game of ‘Glow in the dark Padel’? It’s possible at the Sand Dune padel club in Dubai. Inspiration for other padel clubs or for Family Entertainment Centers?
• New in New York City, a great spot for a picture with NYC in the background: The Skylift at the all-new Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.
• Did you already spot ‘sealed burgers’ or in France ‘Disco Burgers’? We recently spotted the Sunny Pockets with other ingredients than just burgers. It originates from France.
• Selling stamppotten (stew with mashed potatoes and vegetables) in the winter instead of ice cream! Done by DROOMijs in Nijmegen and more Dutch ice cream parlours!
• For those visiting the Horecava, check out the way to experience some of the Netherlands’ leading chefs up close in the exclusive Chef’s Table setting of Taste of Horecava by Gault&Millau.

Enjoy reading!

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Restaurant La Môme | In Cannes, Monte Carlo and as of January in The Berkeley in London

4-11-2024

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In January 2025 French restaurateurs Ugo and Antoine Lecorché will bring the glamour of the French Riviera, past and present, to The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, with an iteration of their sophisticated restaurant La Môme.

2 minutes read

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Le Petit Restaurant in Rotterdam serves ‘bistro-plus’ dishes

1-11-2024

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Hostess-sommelier Chantal de Raaf and chef Rolph Hensens recently opened Rolph’s Deli – Le Petit Restaurant in Rotterdam. They transformed their Rolph’s Deli at the same location into an cozy modern French bistro where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails.

2 minutes read

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