Origin Chocolate event Amsterdam
20-8-2013
The Origin Chocolate Event will take place in Amsterdam on October 22 and 23. The most renowned and award-winning chocolatiers from around the world will come together during this event. The chocolate experts will tell you everything about making chocolate. During these two days, presentations will be given by chocolate makers from different countries such as Ecuador, Switzerland and Grenada. Culinary delights are sampled from top pastry chefs and chocolatiers, there is an opportunity for meet & greets with chocolatiers and there are tastings.
Marriott launched mobile travel game
19-8-2013
Hotel chain Marriott has launched ‘Xplor’, a mobile game trip. During this game you will visit five cities (NYC, Paris, Beijing, Dubai, Sao Paul), you get sight-seeing challenges, solve puzzles and answer trivia questions. Players can create their own avatar, ranging from backpacker to jet-setter. For each city completed the player will receive 100,000 Marriott Reward points. Those who complete all levels before November 25, will receive three major prizes. The game is developed for all ages.
The Spotted Pig
19-8-2013
The Spotted Pig- New York. A one Michelin star restaurant that is in nothing comparable to our European idea of Michelin star restaurants. The restaurant looks like a combination between a nice little cafe and flea market, the waiting staff wears t-shirts and jeans, no reservations can be made and things as amuses/greetings from the kitchen is far from what is happening in this place. Al together I do understand why Michelin inspectors decided to award this restaurant a Michelin star. When you compare the service (for American standards you get a lot of time to enjoy your food and company, the waiters know what food they are serving and what wine they are pouring and they are very alert) and the food (everything is fresh and combinations are all spot on) with what you experience in other restaurants in New York you see a clear difference. Combine this with the cool atmosphere, all the pigs collected all around you and the beautiful location, I can understand Michelin’s decision. But my question remains is this decided based on comprising with other restaurants in the city or solely on the quality of this place? When you are in the neighborhood, definitely try to get a table, it’s the best price/quality ratio you will ever see in a Michelin star restaurant! ^Leonie van Spronsen
Hotel offers Wilderness Survival Program
16-8-2013
Inspired by ‘The Hunger Games’, the ‘Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea’ in Hawaii offers a ‘Wilderness Survival Program’. During the program children ages 5 and up learn how to survive in the wilderness, a unique experience during their stay at the hotel. Children can practice archery, their endurance is tested, they learn more about food and edible and non-edible plants and they will work on their camouflage skills. The hotel has four water slides, a white water rapids slide and a Tarzan pool where the skills of the participants will be improved.
The Meatball Shop
16-8-2013
The Meatball Shop in New York. Upon entering you know you are in a cool place, everything looks a little crooked, a little worn out but is beautifully put together. The menu that is presented to you is no nonsense, its balls, balls on a sub or balls plus a salad. There are a few specials on the board but basically you choose what meat you want with what sauce and you are ready to go. The portion seems really small but don’t overestimate yourself, it is more than enough! This is not the place to have a nice evening filling dinner but it is definitely a cool alternative for other fast dinner options! My tip; take their specialty sauce ‘Parmigiano sauce’ it’s amazing! ^Leonie van Spronsen
Win a Warsteiner bike
16-8-2013
Customers can win a Warsteiner bike by purchasing a six pack Warsteiner Radler in the supermarket or on the beach. The promotion is only available at locations where there are special Warsteiner teams and will be until August 24. With the special Warsteiner app consumers can scan the label of the beer and see if they have won the bike. They can also win small prizes such as caps, bottle openers and covers. The bike is made from recycled frames with durable materials. The bike has a six pack holder made of used conveyors, specially made for Warsteiner bottles.
Ten thousand Twitter followers
15-8-2013
To celebrate the mile stone of 10.000 Twitter followers we’ve visited one of our connections, Kitch& in Leiden, the Netherlands. We entered the restaurant with a bottle of Limonchili and were welcomed by co-owner Edwin van den Akker. He got acquinted with Horecatrends during one of our regular trend presentations. Kitch& uses Twitter to start an easy accessible dialogue with guests. Next to Twitter the restaurant uses DineRate to promote feedback on dishes and service, feedback through this service is rewarded with culinairy rewards on next visits. Edwin van den Akker uses Horecatrends.com to keep himself up-to-date with the latest trends in hospitality. “I don’t check the website every week, but if I do, I browse a few weeks back. The trends are for approximately 10% inspiring for my business, so definately worth to look at.” We would like to thank everyone for archieving the 10.000 followers, please keep sending tips via @horecatrends and tip@spronsen.com.
Chili seeds with the bill
15-8-2013
The Mexican restaurant Wahaca surprises guests with chili seeds that comes with the bill. The guests receive a small booklet with some Serrano chili seeds to grow their own chili at home. To help people growing the chili, the restaurants has published a number of expert videos to show people how to grow and take care of the seeds. A nice gesture.
Healthy cocktails of Pierre Wind
14-8-2013
Yesterday the famous Dutch television chef Pierre Wind presented two healthy cocktails. The two non-alcoholic cocktails ‘Happy Vink’ and ‘Way of Life’ contain less than 30 calories and are meant to make people more conscious of their choice of beverage. The cocktail ‘Way of Life’ is based on water, corn and a mix of cucumber, the ‘Happy Vink’ is based on vanilla water with a date mixture.
Interactive window advertisement
14-8-2013
Cities around the world are faced with vacant shops. Earlier we’ve spotted the Public painting machine in empty stores in Poland. Now Niklas Roy has found an interesting marketing solution to target vacant spaces in Sherbrooke. The sign ‘for rent’ follows the passers-by if they walk in front of the shop window. Watch the video to see how this system works.
