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
Alternative to the breakfast buffet
3-12-2019
A blog by Marjolein van Spronsen about sustainable breakfasts in hotels. She no longer believes in large buffets and recently came across a nice solution.
For years I have been surprised by the lavish breakfast buffets in hotels, with cooking islands where your eggs, pancakes, waffles, French toast and so on, are prepared freshly. International hotels prepare the most incredible dishes for their guests, smoked salmon is almost always available and sometimes even oysters. More than enough choices for everyone! Now however, I have reached an age where I tend to eat less, and if I look at what others get stuffed on their plates, I am always surprised! I sometimes even have the urge to point out to my fellow buffet users that the pancakes with maple leaf syrup don’t have to be on the same plate with their salmon.
Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2019 by Christian Louboutin | ‘The Loubi Express’ steams into Mayfair straight from Paris
22-11-2019
Claridge’s, London’s legendary Mayfair hotel has unveiled the Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2019 in the hotel lobby, created by long-time friend and guest, designer Christian Louboutin. Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2019, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is accompanied by The Loubi Express, a glittering red train stationed in the snowy forest clearing of the lobby, with a plethora of wrapped gifts atop the train, making their way from Paris to London to spread festive cheer.
Carlsberg Green Fibre Bottle | latest update on their ‘paper beer bottle’
24-10-2019
During the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Carlsberg Group issued an update on its journey to create the Carlsberg Green Fibre Bottle, the world’s first ‘paper bottle’ for beer. Made from sustainably sourced wood fibres, it is both 100% bio-based and fully recyclable. The Group also announced it has been joined by other leading global companies that are united in their vision to develop sustainable packaging through the advancement of paper bottle technology.
These developments are a continuation of Carlsberg’s sustainable packaging innovation journey and a key part of its sustainability programme, Together Towards ZERO, including its commitment to ZERO carbon emissions at its breweries and a 30% reduction in its full-value-chain carbon footprint by 2030.
Lowlander launches Winter IPA | Brewed with donated Christmas trees
10-10-2019
Last winter, botanical brewer Lowlander called on all Dutch people not to throw away their Christmas tree after the holidays, but to donate to them for brewing a winter beer. The call was a great success and after picking all the fir needles by hand, the result can now be tasted. You can find Lowlanders Winter IPA in bars/restaurants and the grocery store Albert Heijn.
Last year we wrote about the Lowlander Beer initiative to brew beer from Christmas tree needles. This year another special initiative from Lowlander Beer!
NUGGS | Vegan ‘chicken’ nuggets, development as a tech startup
30-9-2019
NUGGS, the world’s first vegan ‘chicken’ nugget startup, launched by the 19-year-old founder Ben Pasternak announced a $7M funding round led by McCain Foods in July 2019. Money he will use to create ‘the most advanced nugget on the planet’. Founded by 19-year-old tech wunderkind and entrepreneur Ben Pasternak. NUGGS is ready to disrupt the animal-based meat industry with its new nugget technology.
A great approach to food development: the founder Ben Pasternak does release new ‘updates‘ of his NUGGS. The formula is constantly improved, based on user feedback. Ben explains: “NUGGS is the intersection of food and the internet”. Check out their Instagram account where they recently announced their 1.4 release and the release notes.
Beer meets gastronomy | Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’ from brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’
26-8-2019
The new Dutch brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’ (The Good & the Naughty) was awarded at the World Beer Awards and the International Beer Challenge at the beginning of August with their first gastronomic Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’. ‘Vuurzee’ has been voted the country winner for best taste in the category ‘Specialty Beer: Brut Beer’ at the World Beer Awards 2019. ‘Vuurzee’ is an elegant blond beer (tripel) prepared with the Pinot Noir grape and champagne yeast.
At the International Beer Challenge 2019, ‘Vuurzee’ won gold for the best design & packaging of the bottle in the category ‘Newcomers: Individual Product’. Both beer competitions are among the most professional beer competitions in the world. De Goede & De Stoute brewery can make extra investments to expand the production process and thus meet the increasing demand through a crowdfunding campaign (funded for more than 100%).
Restaurant Arros QD | Paella by Quique Dacosta in London
2-7-2019
The three Michelin starred Valencian chef has opened the doors of his first restaurant outside of Spain, with rice at the heart of the offering. Speaking on the opening during one of his many visits to London, Quique has said, “I am excited to bring part of our tradition and gastronomy to one of the most important capitals of the world. Paella is one of the best-known dishes around yet also one of the most mistreated, with this project, I am materializing a passion I have been nurturing for decades: to reinstate the rice culture from the eastern coast of Spain to its rightful home”.
Quique Dacosta opened Arros QD on Fitzrovia’s 64 Eastcastle Street on the 7th June 2019. His first restaurant in London and outside of his native Spain, the collaborative project showcases Quique’s unique style of cooking while highlighting his passion for rice as well as premium, local and seasonal ingredients.
Going to London this summer and fancy a real authentic paella or one with a modern twist? Restaurant Arros QD is the place to visit!
Intercontinental Lyon – Grand Hôtel Dieu | From hospital to luxurious hotel
11-6-2019
The recent opening of InterContinental® Lyon – Grand Hôtel Dieu comes after an extensive four-year restoration of one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the former hospital (‘Hôtel Dieu’). The renovation of the Grand Hôtel Dieu complex is the largest private transformation of a historic monument carried out in France to date. The interior designer, Jean-Philippe Nuel focused on maintaining the original beauty and architecture of the building whilst offering a contemporary, understated luxury design which is rooted in the history of Lyon and the building itself. They have a great promotion; of course there are quite a few inhabitants of Lyon who were born in this hospital, they get a glass of champagne if they make a reservation at restaurant Epona in the week of their birthday or two cocktails in bar ‘Le Dôme’, this under the name of ‘ Born at the Grand Hôtel Dieu ‘.
Special hotel for an overnight stay during the drive to the south of France or Spain. Lyon is a beautiful city and you can eat delicious local dishes in this culinary city!
Roca Recicla | Turning empty glass bottles of daily service into creative tableware pieces
9-4-2019
Restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (Spain) has been awarded two times ‘World’s Best Restaurant’ (2013 & 2015) and has 3 Michelin stars since 2009. On yearly base, 22.500 bottles of wines are being opened in this restaurant. In fact, their cellar treasures more than 40.000 bottles. Unfortunately, most of the bottles end up in the garbage at the end of the night and therefore, the Roca Brothers’ team decided to transform the empty glass bottles of daily service into creative tableware pieces through Roca Recicla. Although introduces last year we love the initiative and we have a similar initiative in the Netherlands, Rebottled. Rebottled also believes that upcycling is the new recycling. They extend the lifespan of wine bottles by making drinking glasses at a workplace of the Salvation Army in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dominique Ansel Treehouse exterior - photo credit Ed Schofield
Dominique Ansel Treehouse - bakery counter - photo credit Ed Schofield
Dominique Ansel Treehouse interior - photo credit Ed Schofield
Chef Dominique Ansel in front of Dominique Ansel Treehouse - photo credit Orphée Tehranchian
Dominique Ansel Treehouse - Camembert Fondue, Croissant Crisps - photo credit Ed Schofield
Cream of Plum Tomato Soup en Croûte at Dominique Ansel Treehouse - credit Ed Schofield
Dominique Ansel Treehouse - Chicken Liver Mousse Millefeuille, Candied Mandarin, Brown Butter
Dominique Ansel Treehouse - Pillowy Gnocchi, Mimolette & Comté Cream Sauce - photo credit Ed Schofield
Venison Pithivier, Confit Haunch, Salt-Baked Celeriac, Cabbage, Jus
Dominique Ansel Treehouse bakery pastry case (on ground floor) - photo credit Ed Schofield
