TrashBot by CleanRobotics | A smart trash can that uses AI
10-3-2020
US-based robotics company CleanRobotics recently was named a semifinalist in the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE competition for its product TrashBot. TrashBot is a trash can using sensors, camera’s and Artificial Intelligence to separate trash from recyclables. This is how it works: Garbage is thrown into the bin after which a small door slides over the opening. The garbage is analysed using robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect and separate landfill from recyclables. TrashBot does this more accurately than human beings, capturing high quality waste data and it lets staff know when it’s getting full. Cloud connectivity allows individual units to learn from the global TrashBot fleet, becoming more intelligent over time. TrashBot also has a monitor for corporate communications, education and advertising.
The selection between landfill and recyclables is done way more accurately by TrashBot than by humans. Plus the fact that it lets staff know that the bin is getting full makes TrashBot a perfect solution for convention centers, commercial buildings like malls, stadiums, airports, bus- and train stations. As the pressure to recycle will increase the TrashBot will help these facilities to take out the uncertainty of the recycling done by humans and do it more efficient.
Grounded Foods | Plant-based cheeses with no nuts, no soy, no dairy and no additives
26-2-2020
For many years the vegan cheese market merely consisted out of nut- and soy based products. Prices where high and the diversity was low as the market didn’t seem to progress, until now. Grounded Foods, founded by Veronica and Shaun Fil is offering a variety of cheeses, based on fermented cauliflower and hemp seeds. This way of making cheese keeps prices low and makes it possible for people with nut or soy allergies to also enjoy vegan cheese.
There is a choice between ‘Cauliflower and hemp camembert’, ‘Hemp seed feta’ and ‘Cauliflower Gruyere’ and the cheeses look delicious! We love to taste them.
Gacha Gacha Coffee | A do-it-yourself coffeeshop by Maruyama Coffee
21-2-2020
A do-it-yourself coffeeshop, created by Nendo Design Studio for Maruyama Coffee In Japan. Although already closed it’s been an introduction to a coffeeshop that didn’t require many staff members. Nendo Design Studio created the almost fully-automated café called Gacha Gacha Coffee. The experience was inspired by Gachapon, a capsule toy vending machines that’s popular in Japan. The pop-up from October till November 2019, located in the observation deck of Roppongi Hills, featured 12 vending machines. At these machines consumers could purchase a capsule filled with coffee beans for ¥500 (USD 4.50). As from that the consumer had to take the coffee to semi-automated stations to brew it themselves. Staff only had to give information and clean up!
The idea behind Gacha Gacha Coffee is to create a coffee experience that makes you choose your beans, take time to watch it brewed and maybe even talk about coffee with a barista and of course enjoy the view at the observation deck! But as Trendwatching (we spotted Gacha Gacha Coffee in their ‘Innovation of the day’-trendletter) indicates it’s a great example on how you can use automation to face labour shortage, which we’re facing in the Netherlands as well.
Dominique Ansel Treehouse |A new all-day café in London
18-2-2020
Chef Dominique Ansel, named World’s Best Pastry Chef by the World’s 50 Best Awards, has recently opened Dominique Ansel Treehouse, a new all-day café in London’s Covent Garden. Located on quaint Floral Street, the new concept offers a menu that celebrates and showcases the pastry foundations and artisanal techniques that pastry chefs do best, from flaky puff pastry to delicate handmade pasta, short crusts for pies and tarts, fresh-baked breads, and more.
We’ve been fans of chef Dominique Ansel from the moment he opened his first bakery in New York and got famous by creating his Cronut® and many more fêted pastries like my favourite his signature DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amann). They don’t serve the Cronut® at the Treehouse for this croissant- doughnut hybrid you need to go to his bakery in London. But the menu of Dominique Ansel Treehouse sound delicious and London is relatively nearby for us Dutchies, although we still would love to have a Dominique Ansel bakery in Amsterdam! ^Marjolein
Trends we spotted | Week 7
17-2-2020
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about a nicotine-like ‘meat patch’ and the Fondue Pizza by Pizza Pilgrims and The Cheese Bar.
An international project upcycles shellfish to tackle plastic pollution and Café Jack and Beyond in London serves ‘bottomless Cake and Prosecco’. And a new water-saving defrosting system, called Boss Defrost, offers a more sustainable solution.
And an article on how the Coronavirus is hitting the business of American Chinese Restaurants and some inspiration for Valentine’s Day 2021!
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Trends we spotted | Week 5
3-2-2020
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about ‘Truth & Tonic, the first plant-based café on the Strip in Las Vegas and at an ATM outside of the new Vagabond venue in London, dispensing a glass of prosecco!
Other articles are about CHEW, another personal and reusable straw and an eco-friendly chocolate bar by Kit Kat, flavoured and sweetened with cacao fruit!
The Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid will reopen its doors in the summer of 2020 and Beyond Meat had another collaboration with Dunkin’ this time! A limited edition of the Beyond D-O-Double G Sandwich with Beyond Sausage!
And a very important development in Spain Aqua Abib created a solar-powered system that turns salt water into drinking water and commercial salt. Big, bigger, biggest – At the Lamanna’s Bakery in Scaborough Canada they created very big pizza slices and even sweet ones like The Donut Slice!
Trends we spotted | Week 4
27-1-2020
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about the loss of the third Michelin star by L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Restaurant Paul Bocuse and the most expensive bottle of gin ever is made by Skully Gin!
The Fairmont in San Francisco created a temporary and controversial solution for their very busy breakfast buffet and you’ll be able to enjoy ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ in London as well!
Karma the food rescue app, will install 100 communal smart fridges across Sweden, the UK and France. And in New York, the meat-free sushi restaurant ‘Beyond Sushi’ is expanding., they will open their 7th location.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Ferm Fatale l The world’s first zero sugar probiotic mocktail
22-1-2020
Ferm Fatale, the world’s first zero sugar probiotic mocktail, is kicking off the New Year with the official launch of a line of shelf stable, raw, vegan, organic, probiotic non-alcoholic beverages. At only 22 calories and zero sugar per bottle, Ferm Fatale’s mocktails offer an alternative to typical beverages loaded with sugar and alcohol, giving consumers the freedom to enjoy a healthier choice while socializing.
Mirabeau Rosé Gin | Perfect to make pale pink cocktails
17-1-2020
Mirabeau Rosé Gin, a sophisticated dry gin with a category redefining spirit, created by Alex Ignatieff, the gin brand director of Domaine Mirabeau in France. The Rosé Gin is made with the scented grape alcohol extracted during the dealcoholisation process when making the lower alcohol and vegan rosé of Mirabeau, Forever Summer. Together with the chosen botanicals, this small batch gin stands out in the growing pink gin category. Mirabeau Rosé Gin is a true gin with juniper being a dominant component. The delicate signature flavours come from traditional distillation with no need for sugary additions.
Like all the light pink rosés and sparkling rosé from Domaine Mirabeau, the gin looks beautiful and might be an asset for cocktails like Mirabeau Rosé Gin Fizz Recipe or a festive Punch cocktail recipe, in the article you will find a video about how to make the latter! The Domaine Mirabeau also sells 5 distinctive rosés, rosé with low alcohol and vegan (Mirabeau Forever Summer Rosé) and prêt-à-porter cans of rosé to go!
Trends we spotted | Week 3
16-1-2020
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about Selfridges that has a café with an adult-sized slide in its window and about Lets Golf!, they transformed the city of Groningen into a minigolf park.
During the Hotelnacht (the hotel night) 2020 in Amsterdam (the 18th of January) you can participate at Taiko Bar’s Asian Karaoke Night at the Conservatorium hotel. Or visit the Pulitzer x Lindt during the Hotelnacht 2020. They’re creating a chocolate heaven!
In December the first vegan cheese shop opened in Amsterdam and in London a pop-up cheese-themed hotel will open! An idea by Café Rouge.
Le Prestine in Antwerp, the new restaurant for Sergio Herman is looking for staff, they will open this April. Also a link to ‘The Jungle Bubble by Anantara’ in Thailand, watching elephants from your bed and bubble! And inspiration for a children’ playground from Beijing, the Baoyan Park Children’s Entertainment Park.