The Spotted Pig
19-8-2013
The Spotted Pig- New York. A one Michelin star restaurant that is in nothing comparable to our European idea of Michelin star restaurants. The restaurant looks like a combination between a nice little cafe and flea market, the waiting staff wears t-shirts and jeans, no reservations can be made and things as amuses/greetings from the kitchen is far from what is happening in this place. Al together I do understand why Michelin inspectors decided to award this restaurant a Michelin star. When you compare the service (for American standards you get a lot of time to enjoy your food and company, the waiters know what food they are serving and what wine they are pouring and they are very alert) and the food (everything is fresh and combinations are all spot on) with what you experience in other restaurants in New York you see a clear difference. Combine this with the cool atmosphere, all the pigs collected all around you and the beautiful location, I can understand Michelin’s decision. But my question remains is this decided based on comprising with other restaurants in the city or solely on the quality of this place? When you are in the neighborhood, definitely try to get a table, it’s the best price/quality ratio you will ever see in a Michelin star restaurant! ^Leonie van Spronsen
Hotel offers Wilderness Survival Program
16-8-2013
Inspired by ‘The Hunger Games’, the ‘Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea’ in Hawaii offers a ‘Wilderness Survival Program’. During the program children ages 5 and up learn how to survive in the wilderness, a unique experience during their stay at the hotel. Children can practice archery, their endurance is tested, they learn more about food and edible and non-edible plants and they will work on their camouflage skills. The hotel has four water slides, a white water rapids slide and a Tarzan pool where the skills of the participants will be improved.
Chili seeds with the bill
15-8-2013
The Mexican restaurant Wahaca surprises guests with chili seeds that comes with the bill. The guests receive a small booklet with some Serrano chili seeds to grow their own chili at home. To help people growing the chili, the restaurants has published a number of expert videos to show people how to grow and take care of the seeds. A nice gesture.
Spa Happy Hour Four Seasons Hotel
8-8-2013
The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston has introduced a Spa Happy Hour. Guests and locals can get USD 30 off at a 60 or 90 minute massage, facial or body treatment from Monday through Thursday from 12:00 to 6:30 pm. They can also choose a special Happy Hour menu that includes free Spa cocktails and snacks. The promotion continued to December 31. A new kind of happy hour, not just like the Happy Hour at a bar…
Phone-holding camera stand
8-8-2013
In Japan a phone-holding camera stand is installed on tourist spots so tourists can take pictures of themselves without the help of others. The camera holder can rotate 360 degrees and is installed at the right height and distance to take a group photo. The stand is suitable for any smartphone and even tablets.
Food sherpas
6-8-2013
There are more and more food sherpas in touristicareas. Food sherpas are local people who receive tourists and show them the city. Unlike tourist agencies, the food sherpas lead you to local restaurants where you normally wouldn’t come as a tourist. They take you on a local culinary discovery tour and not only tell you where to go, but also what to order in restaurants. For example food sherpas can be found in Paris, where they guide tourist to the not so touristy Paris.
Hotels could set up an agreement with local people to guide the hotel guests through the most local hotspots. This as reaction to the deployment of an AirBnB host, because the success of this concept is that tourists can stay at the local people
Split the hotel room bill with a stranger
5-8-2013
Most hotels charge the same price for a double room, whether you are alone or with two people. The website of Easynest enables solo tourists to share a hotel room with another traveler and share the costs. When you sign in on the website you can start looking for a companion to share your hotel room with. Although the focus of the site is on saving money during your trip, Easynest also provides a way for travelers to make friend, or even find a companion, while visiting a city. Looking at their website we imagine that the service will specially be used at big events.
Antwerp Beerwalk
31-7-2013
The Dutch-Belgian company Vonker (specialized in cultural activities) organizes a 2.5 to 3 hour ‘Antwerp Beerwalk’ this summer. A guide takes you through the beer history of Antwerp by visiting the most famous pubs in Antwerp. The beer guide lets you taste four Antwerp beers at four cafés and reveals some secrets of Belgian Brew Masters. The ‘Antwerp Beerwalk’ lets people discover and taste Antwerp in a unique way.
10 Life Hacks
30-7-2013
10 Life Hacks you need to know for this summer! These Life Hacks are especially for consumers and we are looking for restaurant owners that would like to share some simple daily use tips with colleagues. If you do please send them to us. We would like to collect them and share them with the visitors of horecatrends. Of course with you as our source..
Les Halles NYC
26-7-2013
At this moment The French Bistro is very popular in New York. Leonie van Spronsen did visit one. She loves the French bistros in Paris so a small critical eye is unavoidable. But if you love the French bistro style and if you go to NY we recommend to try the French bistros with their American twists… Les Halles NYC – Park Avenue location.
You can see it from afar, the facade, the lanterns, even the tiny little terrace out front, there it is, Anthony Bourdain’s version of Paris! And yes, the food is delicious, prepared tableside, priced as it should in a French bistro and it is a lovely night out, don’t get me wrong I loved it, but I have to say, the feeling that I actually left Manhattan and stepped into Paris? Not really!
