Zorri Cress
30-11-2015
Koppert Cress introduces a new cress, the Zorri Cress. Healthy, tasteful and beautiful in compositions on the plate.
The Zorri Cress
On a regular basis Koppert Cress introduces a new cress, this time the Zorri Cress. Zorri Cress is the sprout of the Nasturtium. This is a spicy decorative plant which has been growing in our gardens for centuries. The plant originates from the Andes and arrived in Europe in the sixteenth century via Peru. The leaf is shaped like a shield, and the spicy taste of the product combines well with refreshing dishes both warm and cold. Zorri Cress is available year round. The optimum temperature at which the quality is the best maintained, is between 2 and 4 ° C.
Besides the cresses Koppert Cress regularly introduces flowers that can be used in the kitchen, such as the BlinQ Blossom® in 2013. With the introduction of the BlinQ Blossem® the focus was still on storytelling around the product. Nowadays the cresses of Koppert Cress are so popular with chefs that a single introduction of the cress is sufficient.
Meals That Get You Laid
27-11-2015
A cookbook as inspiration for restaurants. Not only because of the recipes, but due to the idea behind it. Meals That Get You Laid, in the Netherlands awarded with the title ‘best gift for men in 2015’. Unfortunately so far only available in Dutch.
Meals That Get You Laid
Writing about a cookbook isn’t something we often do, but the idea behind this cookbook could well inspire a number of hospitality entrepreneurs to offer dishes with a sexual, humorous touch. Meals That Get You Laid, a manual in the style of a cookbook, describing all the tricks to make a woman completely defenceless. Explaining the combination of the right ingredients, atmosphere, music, and beverage choices. One of the writers is working in the hospitality business, it is therefore most likely that this theme will get attention in the hospitality industry as well.
What can a man learn from it?
According to the writers, the man will learn how to seduce a woman with the use of astrology presented over 12 different chapters. They indicate that astrology is total nonsense, but they are convinced that women believe in astrology. Who are these writers/friends? The compilers of the book are a photographer, a graphic designer, an architect, an advertising executive and an hospitality entrepreneur who regularly come together to go through things in life. Of course also to eat and drink. The cookbook with beautiful pictures made by Jaap Vliegenthart, contains 12 chapters. One for each zodiac sign. Each chapter has a starter, main course and dessert and a wine suggestion for every dish, focusing on the characteristics of the star in question. The dishes are easy to make, but look amazing. The book is full of tips and tricks to make good use of the characteristics of the particular lady. Such as a playlist at the end of each chapter, for maximum impact. Of course there are shopping lists, anything to make it as easy as possible.
The first edition was funded by crowdfunding. The book is published by the friends themselves. Their website has been transformed to the webshop, to order the book. A book with a sexy trailer.
Experience retail
25-11-2015
Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters is getting more and more into the ‘experience retail’ with the acquisition of Philadelphia-based Vetri Family restaurant group.
Experience retail
As the writer of the article at Eater.com states: “Experience retail” swaps dinner-and-a-show for dinner-and-some-shopping. As a mother of a daughter who loves to shop at Urban Outfitters, I have to admit that it would be great to be able to say; “take your time while you’re shopping, I will be at the restaurant or at the nail studio”. Imagine all that within one shop.
As a response on their stock decline of 6,94% over the past three months they started as a clothing and home goods retailer. It expanded into a more general lifestyle arena, with concept stores including in-house nail bars and performance stages as well as restaurants from great American chefs, like Marc Vetri, Michael Symon and Ilan hall since spring 2014. In April 2014 Space Ninety 8 opened, the Williamsburg Urban Outfitters concept store that includes an auxiliary branche of The Gorbals, the restaurant of Ilan Hall’s.
Urban Outfitters has been experimenting with the ‘experience retail’ since 2008, at that moment their store in Los Angeles, Space 15 Twenty, including a nail art studio, a skateboard shop, a performance stage and an Umami Burger outpost.
Read the full article on Eater if you want to know more.
Inspiration
Is co-creating an experience with local restaurants, a benefit your shoppers can’t buy with a click on their mouse? Is it perhaps one of the answers to the growing e-retail business? In the Netherlands we currently have multiple chefs who fit the current retail concepts. However if we change it around and imagine that restaurant chains start selling clothing or other goods via shop-in-shop formulas is prohibited according to the Dutch government. With all the current developments in today’s world it is necessary to review the legislation as a response to the competition of the retail with respect to the hospitality industry. ^Marjolein
Brew your own beer with Brewie
23-11-2015
With the Brewie machine you can brew different types of beer at home or in your own bar.
Brewie the brewing machine
Brewie started as a crowdfunding project. In January 2015 the company raised more than twice their target amount, goal accomplished! The Brewie machine will now be taken into production. The machine is standardly delivered with the ingredients necessary. It’s also possible to make your own mix of ingredients, or use different proportions. In this way you can personalize your beer even more.
Brew your own beer
Brewie works together with your smartphone using an app specifically developed to make brewing your own beer with Brewie even easier. The app can be used to save your own recipes and discover new ones. Brewie also made a video in which you can see how beer is made by using the machine. Beginners should be able to easily do it on their own. The machine cleans itself with one push on a button and can be connected to your own water system.
Serving your home made beer
It’s already a trend to serve your own beer in your bar. It creates an unique selling point as a company and makes a good impression on your guests. Maybe it’s an idea to develop a new beer together with your guests!
Convenient, a wine cloth
20-11-2015
We also love red wine, but it often leaves a red stain on our teeth and lips. You can’t get rid of those with a simple napkin, but with this special wine cloth you can, in Dutch translated to ‘wijndoekje’. It’s convenient to offer this to guests who are drinking red wine.
A wine cloth?
Yes, a wine cloth. Most wine lovers recognize this problem and it’s tough to get rid of those stains with just a napkin and some water. That’s why ‘wijndoekje’ developed a cloth which you can use to easily get rid of the red stains, which red wine leaves on your teeth and lips. The cloth is wet and smells like mint and aloe vera, which gives you a fresh and clean feeling.
The cloth is such a relief for any wine lover and on top of that it’s also good for the environment. There are no preservatives used and it’s completely biodegradable.
The Tea Ceré or matcha brewing device
16-11-2015
Matcha is very healthy and popular, they even made a Tea Ceré – a matcha or tea home-brewing device. With this tea ‘brewing’ machine tea lovers can enjoy matcha drinks at home.
Matcha increasingly popular
Leonie van Spronsen already wrote about the ‘matcha latte’ she drank at Maison Kitsuné in Paris last February. In this article, more about the health effects of matcha. This Japanese tea has become a popular ingredient, even for cocktails. Partly because of the beautiful green colour of the tea.
The Tea Ceré will grind your tea to powder
This tea brewing device is produced by Sharp (Canada) and it kind of looks like a coffee machine. It’s designed to make a perfect cup of tea, of course only if you use high-quality tea leaves. The machine grinds the leaves into a fine powder. The water in the machine will be boiled to the right temperature and even whisks in the tea. You can even make matcha (or another tea) lemonade with the machine.
Slow-melting ice cream
6-11-2015
Scottish scientists have discovered a new natural protein, BslA (Biofilm surface level A) that makes ice cream more resistant to melting.
The advantage of slow-melting ice cream
This new discovery allows us to eat ice cream in a relaxed way without getting sticky fingers, even on hot summer days. In a study conducted by a joint team from the University of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh, researchers have discovered this naturally-occurring protein. When added to ice cream, BslA binds together the air, fat, and water in ice cream, making them more stable in a mixture. Next to that the BslA has more advantages. The protein also helps to prevent the formation of ice crystals, giving ice cream a smoother, finer texture. Because of the fact that ice cream with BslA binds better, it will be possible to make ice cream with less saturated fat and calories.
This protein could be useable in products as chocolate mousse as well as in mayonnaise, due to the fact that you can lower the amount of saturated fats. More important, the taste of the product isn’t influenced. The protein is now used in a Japanese breakfast dish called Natto, that is made of fermented soybeans.
Not yet for sale
The slow-melting ice cream will not be on the market within the next three to five years. But in 2020 we will probably all enjoy slow-melting ice cream!
Is the Keurig KOLD system a replacement for the mini-bar?
3-11-2015
With the Keurig KOLD system you will make your own soda in just 8 seconds. Will this be a possible replacement for the minibar?
How does it work?
The system is based on coffee machines like the Nespresso machine and the Senseo. The provider offers a range of flavours of soft drinks in the form of a pad. You can choose one of your favourite soft drinks, put the pad in the machine and push the start button. The water will be pressed through the pad. You are able to set your favourite temperature to get yourself a perfectly chilled, fresh glass of soda. The Keurig KOLD system works without the aid of a carbon dioxide cartridge, making it user friendly.
You can make different drinks with the Keurig KOLD system
Currently the producers have agreements with different soda vendors, such as Coca-Cola. In addition, the Keurig system KOLD can prepare different soft drinks, iced teas, flavoured waters and sports drinks.
Mini-bar
The system seems an ideal replacement for the minibar. The only thing you have to think of is the presence of sufficient pads in the room. Especially the step of the final invoicel and the restocking of the pads in the room, will save much time and effort.
Fitness beer, grab a beer without feeling guilty!
22-10-2015
Supplemental Brewing specializes in making beer that not only tastes good, but is also healthy. On Kickstarter they launched a crowdfunding campaign to get their fitness beer, Brewtein and NutriBeer on the market in America.
Fitness beer?
Many athletes are busy with their physical health, but would also like to enjoy a beer, especially in the weekend. Supplemental Brewing wants to combine the two, and that’s how they got the idea to brew a fitness beer. This is done under the motto: ‘Workout meets your weekend’.
Brewtein and NutriBeer
Both beers are made specifically for consumers who want to enjoy a beer, after exercising, without feeling guilty. Yet both have their own taste and target audience.
Brewtein contains most proteins and is intended for athletes who specifically want to build muscle mass. It contains 7 grams of protein, which makes it a real fitness beer! However, the amount of protein doesn’t determine the taste, it’s a fairly light beer and it contains the refreshing taste of wheat. It should be served cold with a slice of lemon.
NutriBeer is a bit less strong and lower in carbohydrates and calories, which makes this beer perfect for those that work out a lot to stay slim and healthy. After an hour of heavy exercise in the gym, you can lay back on the couch with NutriBeer, without feeling guilty. This lager has a subtle lemon flavor and should be served ice cold!
Kickstarter
Supplemental Brewing started a year ago and its founder, Blake Konrady is now trying to collect money through Kickstarter to bring his ‘Fitness Beer’ on the market. For those who support him through Kickstarter, he prepared all kind of merchandise, such as shirts, sweaters, bags, a beer bell (a dumbbell in which you can place your beer) and a number of other items. Today, 22 October, he still has eight days left to get his beer funded through crowdfunding and he still has to collect over 10,000 dollar.
Last year we also spotted ‘Lean Machine’, beer and sports drink at the same time.
Mini kiwi fruit: kiwi berries
19-10-2015
In Britain, supermarket Waitrose has started selling kiwi berries which are grown in Withers Farm in Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Kiwi berries
The berries have the size of a grape and can be eaten whole. It looks a lot like the original Kiwi fruit from New Zealand but is a fraction of the size and doesn’t have furry skin. It looks a bit like a gooseberry, but tastes sweeter. The kiwi berries are getting more and more popular, we already spotted the berries in America last year at specific high end food markets. Farmers around the world are now producing it commercially. Like the article in The Daily Mail tells, supermarket Waitrose even started selling them in its stores all over Great Britain. One of the sellers of the kiwi berries in the Netherlands is Nature’s Pride.
The kiwi berries are available during the months February, March, April, September, October and November. The berry grows wild in parts of China, north-eastern Siberia, Korea and Japan. The berries are high in antioxidants, Vitamin A, C and E as well as Potassium and Magnesium.
Another fruit at the breakfast buffet!
