Speaking of Cheese!
26-3-2024
A blog by our colleague Coen Pompe, about fun and inspiring ways to offer cheese. Even a few ideas that are easily applicable if you’re short-staffed.
Strandzuid starts summer season with their beer event on Good Friday
26-3-2024
From the Easter weekend onwards, Amsterdam’s city beach Strandzuid will be open daily for a relaxed lunch, drinks or dinner again. To celebrate the transition from the wintery South Pole to the warm Strandzuid, they will kick off terrace season on Good Friday (March 29) with their traditional Beer event.
‘Wij houden van Holland’ assortment from Patisserie de Rouw in Vught
26-3-2024
During the run-down to Easter, Patisserie de Rouw introduces a number of new creations. The distinctive chocolaterie Easter assortment has been expanded with three new chocolate figures filled with rice-crisp: the Heart Thief, Chickie and the pet hare Flappie. Furthermore, the “Wij houden van Holland” assortment will be available in their store and online after Easter. In addition, it has recently become possible to obtain the famous nougatine pie in pre-cut super tight pieces.
We think their ‘Wij houden van Holland’ assortment is absolutely great. Nice idea, if your restaurant or hotel is located in a characteristic building, to have a mini chocolate house made of this? Think KLM-style houses! 
Trends we spotted | Week 12
25-3-2024
At horecatrends.com 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:
- Nespresso UK opened on-the-go coffee bar concept in London.
- Subway’s sauces headed to grocery stores in the US.
- Freddy’s launches new TWIX® Salted Caramel Concrete for a limited time.
- Bill banning cultivated meat in Florida is on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis desk.
- Chick-fil-A is opening a 400 square foot grab-and-go location without registers and seats.
- Locale is a collaboration of small business in Dubai.
- Local collaboration between art gallery / donuts shop COPS and Michelin star restaurant Osteria Giulia in Toronto.
- Ice cream made from cauliflower by eat Kinda.
- Donuts printed by InnaPrint, edible food printer, and they look delicious!
- Check out which restaurants received one or more Michelin stars in France.
Enjoy reading!
Immersive dining experience in space with Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk
22-3-2024
SpaceVIP, which specializes in extraordinary luxury space travel experiences, announces that it will be hosting an immersive dining experience in space with Michelin-starred Chef Rasmus Munk from restaurant Alchemist.
HIRO izakaya | Grungy Japanese izakaya opened in Antwerp
22-3-2024
Opening – Antwerp is getting a new addition with the opening of Hiro izakaya. This brand new izakaya restaurant from chefs Bart Huybrechts and Thomas Van de Weyer opened its doors on the Napoleonkaai with a view at the MAS museum and brings Japanese izakaya, with an extensive sake menu.
Simavi and EARTH Water launch ‘100% Sex-free Water’
22-3-2024
Development organisation Simavi and social enterprise EARTH Water are launching ‘100% Sex-free Water’ today, on World Water Day. With this limited edition drink carton, the organisations are drawing attention to the uncomfortable truth that women and girls experience sexual violence due to the global water crisis in countries like Kenya and Bangladesh. ‘100% Sex-free Water’ forms part of Simavi’s ‘Stop Sex for Water’-campaign which highlights gender-based violence in relation to water and unsafe toilets and asks people to sign a petition.
Evermore Orlando Resort | 10,000-room Crystal Lagoons Project
21-3-2024
More than 10,000 rooms will surround the lagoon powered by Crystal Lagoons® technology, recently inaugurated in the United States. It is located just steps from Disney World and Universal Studios in the heart of Orlando, the most visited destination in the US, with 75 million tourists annually. This city offers a wide range of entertainment options but lacks a beach, an issue remedied in this great development with a crystalline lagoon of the multinational innovation company, Crystal Lagoons, founded by the scientist Fernando Fischmann.
The seductive lure of The SIREN leads to the Rokin in Amsterdam
21-3-2024
This spring, you won’t be able to escape the seductive lure of The SIREN. The SIREN is opening in the double, stately canal house on the brand new boulevard of the Rokin at the end of April or the beginning of May. This new culinary hotspot in Amsterdam comes from the team behind SECRET GARDEN and is a restaurant, bar and meeting place where you can enjoy the best that Southern European Mediterranean cuisine has to offer.
Bagels & Beans is celebrating spring with Rontbijt® and a bagel plant
21-3-2024
More and more people are eating their breakfast out and at different times around the Netherlands. At Bagels & Beans you have been able to enjoy breakfast throughout the day for years. During their spring campaign Rontbijt®, (ontbijt = breakfast) this Dutch espresso bar formula goes one step further with a competition for breakfasters. Furthermore, a new plant species is emerging: the bagel plant.
Poké Perfect Opens Largest Location in Rotterdam
19-3-2024
Opening – Poké Perfect is launched a new location on Oude Binnenweg in Rotterdam. The menu features healthy, fast, and delicious poké bowls, side dishes like tempura shrimp, and health boosters such as various vitamin shots. This will be the largest outlet for the successful chain, which continues to operate at full speed.
Lowlander Creates the Ultimate Beer for on the Terrace | Leftover Lemon & Elderflower
19-3-2024
The first rays of sunshine have been spotted, that calls for a toast. With an improved recipe, now more refreshing than ever, it’s making a comeback: Leftover Lemon & Elderflower alcohol (3.8%) and, for the first time, also in non-alcohol (0.3%). This ultimate fruit beer tastes like spring in a glass, the beer that was made to be enjoyed on the terrace. Vibrant and refreshing, with a floral finish.
Kwekkeboom Launches ‘Umami’ Oyster Mushroom Bitterballen
19-3-2024
As National Bitterballen Day on March 27th approaches, Kwekkeboom is proud to introduce the very first ‘umami’ Oyster Mushroom Bitterballen, now available for both oven and air fryer use. This marks a plant-based innovation from the Oven & Airfryer division of the quintessentially Dutch brand. Starting from week 15, updated versions of the beef and veal bitterballen and croquettes will also be available. These new and improved bitterballen and croquettes feature an incredibly crispy crust and the most flavorful ragout.
‘Plant-based für alle!’| Burger King Germany
18-3-2024
Since the beginning of March, Burger King Germany’s plant-based products have been cheaper than their meat alternatives. With the aim of making the plant-based alternative accessible to as many people as possible. We are curious to see whether this price reduction will also lead to an increased purchase of the plant-based products! During the campaign entitled: ‘Plant-based für alle!’ (Plant-based for all!), their plant-based burgers by The Vegetarian Butcher have been introduced in a new form, the ‘Flower Patty’.
Trends we spotted | Week 11
18-3-2024
At horecatrends.com 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:
- Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken wants to open restaurants in Germany.
- Pizza Hut rolls out a pizza-bagel mashup: The Big New Yorker Pizza Bagel, in NYC and Los Angeles.
- Empanada chain from Spain, Las Muns opens stores in Milan and 2 in Portugal.
- Inspiration through Instagram:
- Strawberry Garden Café in Seoul;
- Strawberry Afternoon Tea at Hotel Naru MGallery in Korea
- A coffee flight – available at the Junction by Common Ground in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- And at the Nuldam Space vegan café you can send a letter to your future self or somebody else.
- The Ruby Group announced their first hotel in Sweden, located in the heart of the island of Kungsholmen in Stockholm.
- Bastion Hotels chooses Mews as cloudsoftware for their 30+ hotels.
Enjoy reading!
abc kitchens by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten opens at the Emory in London
14-3-2024
The French Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten from NYC, will open his concept abc kitchens on Thursday 4th April 2024 at The Emory in Knightsbridge. A modern architectural masterpiece designed by the late Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour, The Emory is London’s first all-suite hotel and the latest opening by Maybourne, operator of Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, and other international, prestigious outposts.
We enjoyed our dinner at abcV in the Tin Building in New York last year and loved their vegan cuisine, the menu of the other concepts of abc kitchens sounds delicious as well! ^Robin
Minor Hotels announces the opening of the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam
14-3-2024
Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group operating more than 540 hotels in 56 countries, is introducing Avani Hotels & Resorts to the Netherlands in Q2 of this year. The rebranded 163-key Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam will provide a contemporary canal-side experience, blending Dutch art and history for business and leisure travelers.
Focus on ingredients at the new menu of the Bunk restaurants
14-3-2024
Bunk hotels in churches in Amsterdam and Utrecht likes to keep surprising guests. This spring, the restaurants in both cities will launch their new restaurant concept. The menu of Bunk restaurants has undergone a major overhaul with the new menu focusing mainly on traditional Dutch preparations presented in a special way. The drink menu has been expanded and guests are advised which drink best matches the dish for optimal pairing.
Café Van Zanten introduces culinary frikandel at ‘Frikandellenfeest’
12-3-2024
The frikandel does not exactly radiate haute cuisine or fine dining. Yet on March 15, Café Van Zanten (in Rotterdam) is going to change this: during the Frikandellenfeest (frikandel party) guests will have the opportunity to taste the frikandel in all its culinary glory. Thus no blob of curry, mayo and some shredded raw onion, but tantalizing taste sensations that will take the deep-fried meat stick to a new level.
Exclusive pop-up of MR PORTER Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge in Ibiza
12-3-2024
THE ENTOURAGE GROUP brings the renowned MR PORTER Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge as a pop-up to Ibiza. They will welcome guests starting May 17 for an unforgettable summer. Housed in the former setting of sister brand IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar, MR PORTER introduces a modern steakhouse. Already enjoying triumphs in Amsterdam and Barcelona and with an opening planned in London later this year, MR PORTER promises to bring an unparalleled fine dining experience to the enchanting island.
Independent Hotel Show | Boutique hotels more popular than ever
11-3-2024
We’re seeing a big increase in the number of boutique hotels globally. Not only are more ‘independent’ hotels emerging, but large hotel chains are also investing in these luxury lifestyle hotels. Coming Tuesday, March 12 and 13, the Independent Hotel Show is taking place in the RAI in Amsterdam. A ’boutique fair’ for owners and managers of this type of hotel.
Trends we spotted | Week 8
27-2-2024
At horecatrends.com 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 ‘inclusive spaces framework’ by Starbucks, their concept opened in Washington D.C.
- Korean scientists created cultured beef rice.
- Second store for Panda Express in Europe. They have over 2,400 stores worldwide with over 90 stores outside the USA.
- Have you ever heard of Coffee Omakase?
- A pop-up Pokémon Center is opening at the ExCel London International Exhibition Centre this spring.
- Enjoy your weekend treat for breakfast at Brioche Amsterdam – they sell brioche croissants.
- The legendary Connaught Bar of the Connaught hotel is publishing a cocktail book this April, you can pre order the book with 100 elegant signature cocktails.
- The restaurants of THE ENTOURAGE GROUP of Amsterdam celebrate International Women’s Day.
- De Kunstfabriek | Unit 699 recently opened in Rotterdam, it’s an art gallery with a natural wine bar.
Enjoy reading!
New culinary addition to Amsterdam North | Café Cress
26-2-2024
Opening – Café Cress is a new culinary addition to Amsterdam-Noord. Behind this concept are Jeffrey Klepper, Niamh Groentjes and Cyril Martineau. Klepper runs the front and Groentjes and Martineau are responsible for the kitchen. With Café Cress, the three want to create an approachable place where everyone feels at home. Like sitting with family or friends in your living room, but with good service and food at an affordable price. Cress maintains a small menu that changes every week with fresh products from the market. You can go to Cress for lunch, drinks and dinner.
2 minutes read
Welcome to WcDonald’s!
23-2-2024
For years, anime fans have been making McDonald’s-inspired ‘WcDonald’s’ restaurants a part of anime’s most memorable movies and shows. Now, in collaboration with some of the biggest names in anime, WcDonald’s will make the move from fiction to real life. Beginning Feb. 26 in more than 30 global markets, they’re building on their fans’ vision and imagination by unleashing this universe in their restaurants and beyond, with a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts and so much more.
Glass of ‘Zeeschuim’ anyone?
23-2-2024
Homeland Brewery and The National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) in Amsterdam are pleased to announce an unique collaboration. During the Homeland Special Beer Festival taking place on March 8th and 9th at The National Maritime Museum, the house beer named Zeeschuim (Sea Foam) will also be launched. This “good neighbour” collaboration brings together two neighbours in Amsterdam who share their passion for craft and history.