A lobby as living room the hotel
9-10-2014
Last Thursday 2 October the flagship hotel of Mercure reopend, the Mercure Amsterdam City. The entire lobby, restaurant, the flexible workplaces and the lounge are merged in order to meet the changing needs of their guests: “People are travelling more than ever, they are aware of what they want and strive to achieve this. The call for comfort and authenticity is great. At the fully refurbished Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City we offer the high international standards that can be expected from an international hotel and at the same time we let guests get acquainted with local elements that give the hotel its own personal touch” according to Caro Eekelen, COO Accor Hotel Services Benelux.
Gastronomixs goes international
8-10-2014
During this year’s Chefs®evolution, the international website Gastronomixs.com was launched. Gastronomixs is already familiar in the Netherlands and used by a lot of Dutch topchefs. Gastronomixs is an online platform filled with ideas, recipes and inspiration about food. It inspires chefs to create new dishes or to adapt existing recipes. This website contains all the classic cooking methods but also the latest techniques all ordened by ingredient or product. Gastronomixs.com is designed to simplify the culinary creative process! Watch their video for more information.
Pop-up ‘Region Table’ on a farm
7-10-2014
The gentlemen of the Gastrovan prepare a Burgundian meal in the farm of ‘Hoeve Biesland’ in Delfsgauw, The Netherlands, on 10, 11 and 12 October. The stable of the farm will be transformed into a pop-up restaurant that serves 4-course dinners and 3-course lunches. Gastrovan prepares a special menu using fresh organic vegetables of ‘De Groentenboerin’ (The Vegetables Farmer) and the organic beef, lamb and dairy products from the farm itself. The purpose of this event is to get people acquainted in a culinary and educational way with local and organic food.
‘The World’s Best Chefs’
7-10-2014
Here’s a video about the new television series ‘World’s Best Chefs’. It is a new series from Fox in which Katie Button, chef of restaurant Cúrate in Asheville, North Carolina, visits a number of three-star chefs; Grant Achatz, Ferran Adrià, Joan Roca, Alex Atala, Michel Bras, Daniel Humm, Gaston Acurio, Massimo Bottura, Andoni Luis Aduriz and Jose Andres.
We want to see this series in the Netherlands!
We can’t wait for this series to start in the Netherlands and we think a lot of chefs and foodies do too. Who is going to broadcast it?
Update: from 26 October on, 24 Kitchen will broadcast ‘The World’s Best Chefs’ in the Netherlands.
The story of KETEL1
7-10-2014
The Dutch jenever brand KETEL1 launches a new commercial this week. In this video campaign Bob Nolet, 11th generation of the KETEL1 family business, gives a unique insight in his life. For over 300 years, the family business in Schiedam brews this artisan jenever. A special aspect is that in each generation only one member of the family receives access to the secret recipe of the drink.
Previous campaigns:
KETEL1 feels strongly connected with personal stories. They launched storytelling video before with Dutch singers Joshua Nolet (Chef’Special) and Willem de Bruijn (Opposites) in the lead.
What would tour story be?
Another example of Storytelling; ever thought about the story you could tell about your restaurant or hotel?
The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam on Wallpaper’s shortlist, Best Urban Hotels
2-10-2014
The Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam has been called on the shortlist for ‘The Best Urban Hotels’ by Wallpaper.com. Mentioned on the list are those recently opened hotels that are nominated for their price ‘Best Urban Hotels’, amongst others The Mainport Hotel in Rotterdam. The list offers a 136 inspiring pictures with details from all nominated hotels. Great to scroll through if you’re looking for inspiration.
Success!
We wish all participants success of course, but in particular the Walldorf Astoria. This hotel opened in May this year and located in 17th century canal houses in the city centre is an asset to Amsterdam. The former houses were transformed into an impressive hotel provided with all necessary facilities such as a stylish fine dining restaurant (in cooperation with De Librije(***), Librije’s Zusje), Peacock Aley and the Vault bar. The interior of the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, designed by GA Design International, is a combination of old elements of the 17th century and a luxurious design what gives the hotel its elegant atmosphere. In the December issue of Wallpaper the winner will be announced.
Opening Market hall Rotterdam
2-10-2014
The city of Rotterdam has a new a new architectural landmark, The Markthal. Following Stockholm, Barcelona, Valencia and Copenhagen the first indoor market of the Netherlands opened yesterday, 1 October, in Rotterdam. The market hall has the size of a large soccer field and gives space to several entrepreneurs: about 100 fresh produce units, 15 food shops and 8 restaurants are located in this impressive hall. Besides that the market hall a culinary meeting point is, the building has 228 apartments build in the arch as well.
A restaurant, amongst others, located at the Markthal; BasQ Kitchen. We do wish all the entrepreneurs a lot of fun and success at this location.
What’s your choice? Apple or Pumpkin pie flavor?
1-10-2014
Dairy Queen asked their fans to vote on which flavor the preferred; apple or pumkin pie flavor. in September, their more than 4 million members of the ‘Blizzard Fan Club’ and their guests voted for the pumpkin pie taste to win (54%). Members of the ‘Blizzard fan club “get a monthly email with the ‘Blizzard of the Month’ and at registration and anniversaries, they get coupons. One could vote at a specially created website; #VoteApple Or #VotePumkin. Earlier we saw a social media campaign from Pizza Hut, where customers could think of for the fictional perfume fragrance a name. What could you do to involve your guests via social media to your restaurant, nightclub or café?
Essential: a marketing campaign should score locally
30-9-2014
In response to the article of the national marketing campaign, ‘Street Dine’ of the JRE (Jeune Restaurateurs d’Europe) in the Netherlands, Mr. Jan Vrielink, owner of, among others, the restaurant ‘Het Schellinkje’ in Meppel drew our attention to his campaign ‘Street-Dining’ organized in 2012 and 2013. As his restaurant is located outside the direct city center of Meppel he surprised shoppers with a prepared table, a glass of wine and an appetizer. A good example of what we want to achieve with Horecatrends.com (Hotel, Restaurant, Café trends): entrepreneurs who inspire each other to perform their own marketing campaign, adjusted to the capabilities of the organization and location. Most important is; the effect should be locally measurable! The action and the publicity in the local newspaper and on social media should inspire guests to come dine at your place. Learn how the employees of ‘Het Schellinkje’ have performed the campaign and the reactions from their ‘guests’…
Having crow for dinner
30-9-2014
This year, restaurant MOES in Amsterdam and the ‘Keuken van het Ongewenste Dier’ (Kitchen of Unwanted Animals) organize the fourth edition of the unwanted animals dinner on 5 October. As we wrote last year in the article about the Christmas edition, the dinner of unwanted animals is dedicated to animals that are undesired for whatever reason. Examples are gooses, muskrats, crayfishes and the swans. As always, Rob Hagenouw and Nicolle Schatborn (of ‘Keuken van Ongewenste Dieren’) give explanations of why these animals should be eaten. One of the animals that will be on this year’s menu is crow. It is a four course diner, including appetizer, welcome drink and tea/coffee for € 39,50. Reservations can be made via the website of restaurant MOES.
