#GoLocal | Artisanal spirits from the Netherlands
14-6-2022
In recent years, we have spotted a lot of new artisanal spirits in the Netherlands. We have written about the Jongens van Oud West (the Boys of Oud West) who produce Orancello, orange-based Limoncello, and about Voerman Vieux, whose vieux is served straight up with ice cubes or used in cocktails. And about Pink Willem, the first Dutch rosé vermouth based on rhubarb, raspberry and matching botanicals and about the canned cocktails by Amsterdam-based brand Kever Jenever. We also wrote about the sustainable limited edition Hemelwater jenever by Hooghoudt: the distillery from Groningen succeeded in producing jenever from rainwater in 2021.
Below a list of more artisanal drinks!
An innovative drive-thru experience at Taco Bell Defy
10-6-2022
Taco Bell is redefining drive-thrus as consumers know it with one of its most innovative Taco Bell restaurant designs yet. Coined Taco Bell Defy, the restaurant that broke ground last summer opened its doors – but most importantly, its four-lane drive-thru – in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on June 7. The first of its kind two-story model delivers innovative technology and design, like a proprietary vertical lift to transport iconic craveable Taco Bell menu items straight from the kitchen to fans.
Back in August 2021 we wrote about the plans for this new drive-thru and as far as we can see, it’s as they said it would be.
Trends we spotted | Week 23
10-6-2022
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 amongst others ‘tree free paper’, notebooks made from upcycled stone waste. Is ‘Paper / On The Rocks’ interesting as stationary for those hotels who strive to be as sustainable as possible?
Audi USA teams up with three-Michelin-star Restaurant Noma and global nonprofit MAD to spark conversations around sustainability. And the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design opens in Oslo on 11 June, 2022.
You can play ‘feather bowling’ at Randolph Beer bar in Brooklyn. We never heard of ‘Feather Bowling’, or ‘Trabollen’ as they call it in Belgium, did you? Culinary cruise during the hundredth edition of the Dutch sailing event ‘Kaagweek’.
We love the simple idea behind the Pride Wopper of Burger King in Austria (that features a same-side bun for “equal love and equal rights”) but the campaign gets a lot of reactions. The Colombian brewery Dos Tercos prints promises by presidential candidates on beer cans. To remind them of it!
The Apollo Hotels successfully transformed into Leonardo Hotels and their new website is online as well. And TENZING Natural Energy is now also available in the Netherlands, it’s a completely plant-based, low-calorie energy drink with a positive impact on the planet.
Good Fish | Vermaat Groep goes for sustainably caught or cultivated fish
9-6-2022
World Oceans Day was on June 8, and it is an indisputable fact that healthy oceans are important to us. Almost 70% of the earth’s surface consists of water. The sea is the largest ecosystem in the world. Billions of people depend on it for C02, food, work, oxygen, tourism and so on. As important as it is, we, people from the Netherlands, continue to eat too much fish that was brought to us due to overfishing. But at the Vermaat Groep, things are changing. In partnership with Good Fish, they are going to ensure that fish that is overfished, endangered, illegally caught or cultivated is no longer available in their 400 restaurants.
SHIN | A new Japanese tapas bar and matcha café in Rotterdam
7-6-2022
Opening – At the beginning of this summer SHIN will open its doors at the Rodezand in Rotterdam. A modern, cosy Japanese tapas bar and matcha cafe in izakaya style. This brand new concept is created by entrepreneurs Tony and Nanako, who also own the popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ajisan on the Coolsingel.
Trends we spotted | Week 22
3-6-2022
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 amongst others the sunscreen swap with the new suncare brand Project Reef at the Four Seasons Resort Maui for World Oceans Day. And would you like to try a pizza with Pepsi Cola infused Pepperoni or as they call it, the Pepsi-Roni Pizza.
Inspiration for pastry chefs: from the pastry chef at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Chambord Foam will be served at their new dessert action station. And from our favorite pastry chef Dominique Ansel, his delicious looking Around The World collection.
Chipotle kicks off pride month with ‘Always Real’ actions for the LGBTQIA+ community, inspiration for other restaurants during their cities pride? And we once tasted Fried Pickles, we loved it so if we lived in the USA we would visit Zaxby’s, the premium quick-service restaurant that has added it to their menu.
Nobu Hospitality continues strategic European expansion with the announcement of Nobu Hotel Madrid, again in a long-term agreement with Millenium Hospitality Real Estate SOCIMI (“MHRE”).
Two new drinks on the Dutch market: the Filipino Santa Ana Gin which is imported by André Kerstens in The Hague and a slow tequila: Mijenta Tequila Blanco and Mijenta Tequila Reposado!
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Mama Gaia Academy | First online hospitality academy with a plant-based focus
2-6-2022
The unique Mama Gaia Academy recently launched, this academy prepares participants for a job in the hospitality industry for free and in just six weeks. This way, the academy wants to tackle the staff shortage in the hospitality industry. In a short online training course, people with little or no experience are trained for a job in the kitchen or operations. The English-language programme is easily accessible and participants can watch short informative videos on their smartphones at any time of day. In order to accelerate the transition to more plant-based options in the hospitality industry, vegan cuisine is central to all modules. The Academy was set up by the founder of social enterprise Dopper, known for the refillable water bottle that reduces the use of single-use plastic. The course is made possible by among others Gulpener.
2 minutes read
Wasted Enough! 013 Poppodium partners with visitors for ‘a better world’
2-6-2022
Under the heading ‘Genoeg Gewaste’ (Wasted Enough), 013 Poppodium is taking big steps in the context of sustainability and at the same time wants to make a global impact. For example, the pop stage is saying goodbye to soft cups and bottled water from now on. Thanks to partnerships with charities, visitors can now contribute to water and food projects around the world. A visitor of 013 Poppodium doesn’t order one glass, but 300 litres of water.
2 minutes read
KFC introduces ‘Veggie Tenders’ in all Dutch KFC restaurants
2-6-2022
KFC Netherlands introduces a new vegetarian product range: the Original Recipe ‘Veggie Tenders’ – available on a burger, in a bucket, as a snack, in a boxed meal and as a Twister. The crunchy Veggie Tenders are made from the plant protein mycoprotein. After a successful pilot – at six different KFC restaurants – this meat substitute is permanently available in all KFC restaurants in the Netherlands as of last Tuesday.
2 minutes read
Sushi in all shapes and sizes
31-5-2022
Sushi, by now a product eaten with some regularity by young and old people. Everyone has at least one type of sushi that they like. There are now countless restaurants where you can eat sushi, in all shapes, sizes and formats. We did some research on the most original ideas for sushi!
Stokerij Lubberhuizen - credits Nilla Berretty
Stokerij Lubberhuizen - credits Seijbel Photography
Passimoncello
Rummieclub 
Rummieclub - Martijn en Judith
Rummieclub
The Stillery - Most Floral Gin and Ouwe Kopstootje
The Stillery - The lab
The Stillery X Moyee Coffee Espresso
Spirited Union Distillery 
