Trends we spotted | Week 40
6-10-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends daily. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
With this week links to articles about sleep-friendly ice cream from Nightfood for the grab-and-go shops in hotel lobbies, a stay in the ‘Nutmobile’ from MR. PEANUT® and Leonardo DiCaprio investing in a Dutch cultured meat company.
‘Change is Brewing!’ is the new flavor of Ben & Jerry’s in America, it remains interesting to read how they also translate their social background into their flavors. And at the Resort World Las Vegas, the art of aufguss, known all over Europe, makes it’s US debut at Awana Spa.
More and more companies are also introducing ‘healthy alternatives’ in their fast food concepts. Like in China where Yum China does this in their more than 6,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell shops. And Hard Rock International announces its 22nd annual PINKTOBER® campaign.
Another rebranded concept that focuses on staying in a city as if you were living there. YAYS, unlock the neighborhood with locations in Amsterdam, The Hague and Paris. And spotted in America: a limited-edition of Hendrick’s Gin-infused pickled cucumbers from Katz’s Delicatessen.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Hotel Amerika turns into Haunted Hotel of Horror
14-9-2021
The hotel that once accommodated guests’ last night in the Netherlands before they left for America, embraces American traditions in its hotel concept. Therefore, during Halloween Hotel Amerika becomes the Haunted Hotel of Horror. From October 28 until October 31 guests can enjoy a terrifying stay. From dinner with bloody burgers and chopped fingertips, to a bloodcurdling ‘ghost tour’ and a terrifying overnight stay in the completely transformed ghost hotel. One thing is certain: this will be a stay you will never forget!
In July we have written about the renovation of Hotel Amerika in this Dutch article.
Reading time: 2 minutes
WOWorks creates ‘High Five Challenge’ to help end childhood hunger
31-8-2021
Living up to its name, WOWorks’ mission is to fuel the passions of its team members, guests, business partners and the communities they serve to help everyone live their best life. This translates into a commitment to create a “WOW!” place to work, dine, invest and live. To give back to its restaurants’ communities this fall, all four WOWorks’ brands – Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, The Simple Greek and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh – have partnered with No Kid Hungry to kick off a multi-faceted fundraising campaign called the High Five Challenge with a goal of raising $400,000 (with a minimum of $125,000) which can help provide up to four million meals for kids in need*. According to new estimates, 1 in 6 kids in America could face hunger this year, but when guests dine at any WOWorks restaurant this season, they can ‘Join the Team’ in doing their part to help end childhood hunger in our communities.
Showing the guests commitment with ‘High Five Hand’ images and a ‘High Five Wall Icon Tracker’. Guests can also ‘earn’ a high value coupon!
Reading time: 2 minutes
Hyatt teams up with Gopuff to offer everyday essentials on-the-go in their Hyatt Place hotels
31-8-2021
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a collaboration between the Hyatt Place brand and Gopuff, a go-to platform for consumers’ immediate everyday needs, such as drinks, snacks, over-the-counter medications, home and baby products and more, including alcohol in select markets.
In short: guest can simply scan the QR code placed in their rooms and common areas to order from Gopuff’ categories like travel essentials, spa retreat, movie night, office on-the-go and more. The items ordered online will be delivered within 30 minutes. Inspiring and interesting service!
Reading time: 3 minutes
Trends we spotted | Week 34
26-8-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
WIth this week links to articles about Restaurant Esmé in Chicago, founded by Jenner Tomasko (executive chef at Grand Achatz) who focuses on art and community with even a à la carte menu for ‘walk-ins’. Sounds like Chicago has a new culinary hotspot.
Starbucks opened their 10th ‘farmer support’ centre in Varginha, Brasil with the purpose to offer valuable resources to local coffee communities.
UPSIDE Foods partners with three Michelin star chef Dominique Crenn. Crenn will develop recipes and give culinary advise and if allowed she will use the lab-grown chicken in her restaurant. This is the first collaboration in the cultivated meat industry with a three star Michelin chef.
De Koningshoeven brewery is the first in the world to market a completely alcohol-free Trappist beer: La Trappe Nillis (0.0%). And McDonald’s published their Purpose and Impact Report of 2020-2021 with four impact points: Jobs, Inclusion and Empowerment, the Plant, Food Quality & Sourcing and Community Connection.
Duke’s Mayonaise started collaborating with Champion Brewing Company to produce the perfect beer that fits with a BLT sandwich: Family Recipe (5,1% ABV, 27 IBU). Kind of ‘Mayo Beer’. The new ‘food shopping’-app, Grownby, connects farmers with buyers. Wouldn’t it be great to have such an app as a cook? And getting messages like the strawberries are now ‘ready to eat’!
CandyCan gummy bears are gluten-free, plant-based, low-sugar, low carb and contain vitamins. Is it an idea to lay a bag of Gummy bears on top of a pillow for children visiting your hotel? Or to put a bag in a ‘Happy-Meal’ kind of box?
Oreo opened their first café in New Jersey. The café consists of a shop offering Oreo cookies and other Oreo treats, and fast-service where you can order Oreo treats. And in New York another sweet hybride is gaining popularity: the Croffle. This is a soft, buttery and layered croissant toasted in a waffle iron and sprinkled with different toppings.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Chipotle tests Plant-Based Chorizo
20-8-2021
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) recently announced its latest menu innovation, Plant-Based Chorizo, is in test in Denver and Indianapolis. Plant-Based Chorizo is the brand’s first new plant-based protein option since the debut of Sofritas® in 2014.
Chipotle developed its chorizo alternative internally, passing companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible, which have several deals with other fast food-chains for meat alternatives on their menus. Let’s see if the plant-based Chorizo will become available in all their restaurants.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Trends we spotted | Week 33
20-8-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
With this week links to articles about the most spectacular off-menu dish at the rule-breaking Japanese restaurant Shuko in New York and to the ‘Cuisine Solaire’ by restaurant Le Présage in Marseille. It’s Europe’s first solar-powered restaurant.
In London you can enjoy cocktails and high tea’s at a disused train station, check out the great 1940s themed high tea video at Cahoots Underground in the article. Also opened in London: a new immersive cocktail experience, Mr. Tipsy’s Down The Hatch! With a lot of OTT-ness!
French food tech start-up Gourmey is working on lab-grown foie gras that could allow restaurants to continue to serve the highly-prized delicacy in an ethical way. Great news for foie gras lovers, it looks like it and the chef who tried it says it also tasted the same.
The new pizzeria Pazzi in Paris is staffed entirely by robots, from order-taking to prepping the dough to putting the pizzas in boxes. Check out the video, as guests you can follow your pizza being made!
We love the idea behind the ‘random acts of kindness’, as does Domino’s Pizza in the USA, they started their ‘Surprise Frees’ Promotion. Until November 21, 2021, they are surprising randomly selected fans with free menu items.
And a link to an article about the new ‘Taco Bell Defy’. The 3,000 square-foot restaurant concept located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, utilizes a two-story model for “the frictionless future of Taco Bell”.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Cannibale Royale & Two Chefs Brewing homebrew competition | Love for beer, craftsmanship and collaboration
19-8-2021
Disclaimer: more interesting for Dutchies or those living in or visiting Amsterdam.
The recipes have been critically examined one last time; every bottle has been carefully checked. And the entire competition stock is perfectly cooled. This is not just any beer tasting. This is the Finals of the Cannibale Royale & Two Chefs Brewing Homebrew Competition! Five talented amateur brewers will compete at Cannibale Royale Du Nord on Sunday August 29 for the ultimate award. If the expert jury decides their beer comes out as the winner, Two Chefs Brewing will brew no less than 2.500 liters of that beer according to their original recipe. And to top it off, the beer will be sold in all five Cannibale Royale locations!
Do you want to be there and be part of the public jury? The finale of Homebrew Competition Extraordinaire will take place at Cannibale Royale Du Nord (NDSM), on Mt. Ondinaweg 21. The event on August 29 will start at 12:00 noon and last until 4:00 pm. Book a table quickly via the reservation system on their website. If you want to stay for dinner afterwards, reserve a table separately for dinner.
Reading time: 2minutes
Little Caesars® unveils their new Crazy Calzony™ | Combining Calzone and Pizza
17-8-2021
The new menu item at Little Caesars combines Calzone and Pizza for a delicious fusion of two classic pizzeria favourites. Crazy Calzony features a pepperoni pizza with a Parmesan and buttery-tasting calzone-like crust filled with garlic white sauce, cheese and julienne pepperoni, served with Crazy Sauce® for dipping. The product is available to order online for delivery or pickup starting August 16th, and available as HOT-N-READY® item starting August 23rd. Crazy Calzony is only available for a limited time.
Inspiration for pizzeria’s worldwide? It does look delicious, don’t you think? We spotted the stuffed crust by Pizza Hut back in January, a kind of calzone crust. They even sold a limited-edition ‘Nothing But Stuffed Crust’.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Late Rooms | Willy Wonka-inspired hotel room at the Chocolate Box Hotel
16-8-2021
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a holiday booking site has paired up with one of its hotel partners to create a Willy Wonka-inspired stay. Guests can expect the full experience in the novelty room at the chocolate-themed hotel, including lickable wallpaper, unlimited in-room treats including a chocolate fountain and if they wish, a chocolate bath.
Reading time: 2 minutes
