Top restaurant Fitzgerald | Accessible for all
9-1-2024
Rotterdam’s top restaurant Fitzgerald has a new owner. With more accessibility, a reopened bar and reduced prices, while keeping the quality of the cuisine at the same level, the restaurant is entering a new phase. Managing directors of the Michelin-starred restaurant are familiar faces chef Michael Verhagen and maître-sommelier Bas van Beveren.
Mastercard Hotel Night | Fashion parties in hotels
9-1-2024
The Marjority of the program of Mastercard’s Hotel night 2024 has been announced. Not only will Amsterdammers sleep in the city’s finest hotels for a special price, they can also go to exclusive parties, workshops and special dinners on 13 & 14 January. The predominant theme this year is ‘fashion’.
Restaurant Izakaya DUKI | Eating, drinking and singing in Japanese ambiance
2-1-2024
Just before the end of the year 2023, on December 29, Izakaya DUKI opened its doors at Hofplein in Rotterdam. The restaurant is part of the recently opened karaoke bar the Duke of Tokyo.
The Genius Amsterdam sells sausage rolls originated from the south of the Netherlands
2-1-2024
On 1 October 2023, ‘The Genius’ opened its doors on Amsterdam’s Kinkerstraat. The owner, originally from the Dutch region Brabant, Marcel Ginus found that sausage rolls were very scarce in our Capital and decided to do something about it. The Genius serves handmade sausage rolls made by Bart Houben, a baker from the region Brabant. They also sell ‘star boxes’ with sausage bread creations by top chefs!
Happy New Year
29-12-2023
Cheers to 2024!
The team of Horecatrends and the Van Spronsen & Partners Group wishes everyone a happy new year and a healthy, successful 2024 filled with love.
Trends we spotted | Week 52
29-12-2023
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 social media posts about:
- ‘Pints’ of wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever.
- Quality Bistro has a love story with butter. They even serve a Birthday butter!
- A new Japanese store and restaurant, iRASSHAi, opened in Paris. They call themselves: ‘Le rendeze-vous des amateurs de cuisine Japonaise’.
- Santa’s Teddy Bear Tea is a special tradition at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. We love it and think that it’s inspirational for many other hotels!
- The Savoy introduced their first Christmas Shop, a hidden treasure trove of festive delights nestled away beyond the Front Hall.
- The Daily Kneads serves a croissant filled with soft serve ice cream, we spotted a croffle before but this simple recipe of a croissant and soft serve ice cream looks delicious as well.
- The Landmark hotel in London introduced a Broissant in their Cake Shop. Check out what a broissant is in the Instagram post about it!
Enjoy reading!
Trends we spotted | Week 51
22-12-2023
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:
- Inspiration from Instagram: the beautiful courtyard garden of the Plaza Athénéé, including a small ice rink! Serving bread with a butter candle and pink hot chocolate bought outside at Harrods’ food truck!
- Recently opened in Hangzhou, KFC China’s 10,000th store. Built up by Yum China Holdings over the past 36 years.
- In the Netherlands, New York Pizza celebrates their 30-year anniversary and the opening in Breda of their 300th outlet!
- DiscoDip – Dutch tv chef Miljuschka Witzenhausen does organize a Culinary festival, it will take place on 24, 25 and 26 May 2024 in recreation area Bussloo at the Veluwe. Tickets are on sale now.
- The ‘Limited Edition Cinnamon Christmas Buddy’ cookies are on sale now at the store of the ladies of Dynamite in Amsterdam. Tomorrow, December 23, they will treat you to a hot cup of coffee or chocolate milk in their store.
- Two Dutch restaurants in the 50 best Italian restaurants in the world, Pianeta Terra in Amsterdam at spot 23 and restaurant Aroma in Vaassen as a newcomer at spot 43!
- Recently the third location of karaoke bar Duke of Tokyo opened at Hofplein in Rotterdam.
- Eating ‘Mac ‘n Cheese Balls’ or ‘Chicken & Waffles’ at the popular brunch spot Miss G’s is now also possible at dinner, and they have a new interior.
- We came across an article about the Barraquito, a hot version of an espresso martini from the island of Tenerife. It looks great and delicious!
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Slurping caviar | Boom, you crush the fish eggs in one go
21-12-2023
In English they call it a caviar bump – in Dutch: ‘Slurping caviar’. According to House of Caviar & Fine Foods: the trend of this year. Our colleague Leonie van Spronsen wrote a blog about it in May this year, unfortunately in Dutch. In this blog, she also gave another delicious recipe that should be served on hand, a combination of pata negra and foie gras. Both products must be at the right temperature; fold a slice of the pata negra and place a cube of foie gras on it!
Murder at the Grand Resort | Grand Resort Bad Ragaz launches a crime thriller radio play
19-12-2023
A murder case at the Tamina Therme, six suspicious guests and a master detective. This is the basis of the first fictional crime podcast from a Swiss luxury hotel. The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz launched this audio experience yesterday in Bad Ragaz. The five episodes of ‘Murder at the Grand Resort’ were produced in collaboration with the Winterthur-based company Podcast Schmiede and are based on the famous crime story ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie. The postcast is in the German language and is officially called “Mord im Grand Resort’, good to practice your German.😉
BECOME WHAT YOU WANT | Maritim Hotel Amsterdam is looking for pilots, musicians and F1 racers
19-12-2023
Maritim Hotel Amsterdam will open its doors next year. This week they launched a unique campaign to recruit team members. The hotel is going to help its employees to realize their dream job, even if it is outside the hospitality industry.
Contest for Holiday Cheermakers around the U.S. by Starbucks
18-12-2023
December 14, Starbucks started their search for five of the merriest homes in the U.S. – and the stories behind the people who bring cheer to their neighborhood during the holidays. This holiday season, Starbucks is teaming up with singer, songwriter and actress Christina Milian. From December 14 through Sunday, December 17, Starbucks invited everyone to share how their home’s holiday display brings cheer to their neighborhood. Everyone could submit an image of their very merry home to holidaycheermakers.com and share their story and inspiration for a chance to be selected as one of Starbucks Holiday Cheermakers. Five winners will receive Starbucks Cards for their neighborhood to enjoy.
The contest already closed but we think it’s a great idea to organize a contest like this as local shops! Even in the Netherlands where most Christmas decorations are modest in comparison to some streets in the USA!
The Mac & Cheese Nibblers of White Castle
18-12-2023
In America, Mac & Cheese is hugely popular and available with all kinds of ingredients, even with crab and lobster! Why this dish isn’t as popular here in Europe, we really don’t understand. Recently, we came across the Mac & Cheese Nibblers from White Castle, an American fast food chain. They are putting their beloved Sloppy Joe, Smoky Joe and Spicy Joe Sliders, along with the Mac & Cheese Nibblers, back on the menu during the winter months until February 4.
Their Nibblers look like our famous ‘bitterballen’ with a creamy content of macaroni and cheddar! We think a lot of Dutch people would love them as well!
New biodegradable cup for hot beverages | SOFi Hot Cup
15-12-2023
After four years of research and development, SOFi Products is excited to reveal its new 100% plastic-free, biodegradable cup for hot beverages that doesn’t require a separate lid. The SOFi Hot Cup features three flaps that fold together to form a spill-proof spout. This design eliminates the need for a separate plastic lid, saving businesses money, storage space and freight costs. The company’s breakthrough patent-pending locking mechanism also ensures unmatched spill protection, while its proprietary water-based coating eliminates soggy sips.
Parma Food Valley | UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
15-12-2023
Parma Food Valley is a unique land where food is the key to memorable experiences, as an example of effective promotion and enhancement of the area and its products of excellence. Creativity, excellence, future, and events are the pillars on which the Parma Food Valley brand rests, serving as a container of stories with food as protagonist.
Pleun’s Regenboogijsje and Horeca Vakbeurs Hardenberg join forces
14-12-2023
Pleun’s Regenboogijsje (rainbow ice cream by Pleun) will have a special place on the exhibition floor at the Horeca Vakbeurs Hardenberg. Pleun’s Regenboogijsje is an ice cream that draws attention to Batten disease (CLN3). Pleun is a 9-year-old girl from Deventer who suffers from this rare metabolic disease. Trade fair organiser Easyfairs of the Horeca Vakbeurs is keen to help raise awareness of the disease and reach even more hospitality outlets by providing an exhibition space during the Horeca Vakbeurs on 29, 30 and 31 January 2024 at the event location – Evenementenhal Hardenberg.
EVERY® Egg unveils liquid egg made without a hen at Eleven Madison Park
14-12-2023
Last week ingredient innovator EVERY did debut its flagship EVERY® Egg – the world’s first liquid egg made without the hen – at an exclusive dinner at world-renowned restaurant Eleven Madison Park in New York City. Made by yeast fermentation, EVERY Egg will be unveiled following nine years of product development by EVERY, which has raised over $233 million from notable investors including actress Anne Hathaway, AB InBev and Grupo Bimbo.
Domino’s® is Plowing for Pizza | Snowy roads shouldn’t get in the way of hot pizza
12-12-2023
As an innovative response to winter snow challenges, Domino’s Pizza in America is introducing the campaign, ‘Plowing for Pizza’. This particular initiative aims to ensure that, even under harsh winter conditions, hot pizza delivery will continue in certain zip code areas. The philosophy behind it: by contributing to snowplows from 20 cities, Domino’s Pizza is contributing to the ability to deliver quickly in wintry weather. In America, local businesses also often contribute to bits of road maintenance.
Winning Foods | Belgian startup starts trial of their ‘Lego for food’
11-12-2023
Winning Foods from Belgian entrepreneurial duo Jef Cavens and Frederik Van Dessel is launching their promising mealprep startup ‘Lego for food’ for their first customers. Winning Foods supplies frozen building blocks to assemble meals – ‘like Lego’. Currently, the first 30 test families are ordering Winning Foods packages and switching to this innovative and healthy lifestyle. Winning Foods is providing 16 building blocks, with 60 possible recipes and will expand their ‘Lego for food’ campaign on a larger scale in 2024.
Trends we spotted | Week 49
11-12-2023
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 amongst others:
- An emission-free and energy-efficient coffee roasting line will be built in Belgium – a collaboration between Sucafina, Beyers Koffie and the Belgian cleantech company CEE.
- A recent study by the University of Wageningen researched the Dutch supermarket sector and reports a significant decrease in food waste.
- SVH (The Dutch foundation for professionalism in the catering industry) has announced the Top 3 Best Hospitality Training Companies and Best Trainers for 2023/2024.
- Fletcher Hotels, the largest hotel chain in the Netherlands, expands with the acquisition of Hotel Restaurant Oud London in Zeist.
- Mercure Hotels celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of ‘Discover Local: The Bucket List Edition’, a selection of 50 unique culinary experiences worldwide.
- Relais & Châteaux, a leading association of world-class chefs, has committed to protecting the critically endangered European eel by immediately removing it from their menus. #EELNOTANKYOU
- From Instagram: Christmas tree croissants as a festive delight; espresso Romano and gilded holiday splendor at Le Bristol Paris.
Enjoy reading!
After Dinner Sip | Extend the holidays and skip your dip
8-12-2023
On December 28 and 29, there probably isn’t a whole lot on your calendar. The days between Christmas and the turn of the year are generally days to recover from Christmas and prepare for a festive end to the year. To make these days even more fun you can go to ‘After Dinner Sip’ in Utrecht this year.
A party to make the dip between Christmas and New Year’s Eve more fun and one of the last parties before the start of the healthy or vegan January regime!
A new spin off by McDonald’s, CosMc’s
8-12-2023
In August of this year we read about the first rumours that McDonald’s would introduce a new spin off called CosMc’s. Now the news is in the open and they started to trial in the first location Bolingbrook, Illinois. It’s opening today! The concept is based on CosMc, a McDonald’s-craving space alien, who first appeared as a character in the late 80’s and early 90’s promotional advertisements. CosMc’s is a new small-format, beverage-led concept that’s inspired by nostalgia and powered by a menu of bold, refreshing beverages and tasty treats.
The Berkeley offers a gift-wrapping service this December
8-12-2023
The Berkeley launched its very own gift-wrapping service for Christmas shoppers as we enter the busiest time of the year. From gifts big to small, little and large, guests staying at The Berkeley will have access to the hotel’s Wrapper in Residence throughout the month of December.
A great small gesture for the guests of The Berkeley Hotel in London! Inspiration for luxury hotels in other shopping areas? And if you stay at this hotel. check out Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley most certainly if you have a sweet-tooth.
Taco Bell at Home | Limited-edition ‘Taco Bell SOS kits’ for students
8-12-2023
As finals season begins across college campuses nationwide, thousands of students find themselves without a Taco Bell® restaurant within walking distance – leaving them in distress when study session cravings hit. Recently Taco Bell at Home came to the rescue with the new ‘Taco Bell SOS Kits’, designed to give students on these campuses the mouthwatering Taco Bell goodness, even without a restaurant nearby. The kit features the newest Taco Bell at Home essentials from Kraft Heinz to recreate fan-favorite menu items.
Great idea to focus on students in their finals season!
During the holidays it snows fresh ‘Brammetjes’ at Bram Ladage
7-12-2023
During the holiday season everyone is always busy and part of it is last minute Christmas shopping in crowded and busy shopping streets. Bram Ladage, known for its delicious fries, is giving shoppers in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) a great surprise this December. “To surprise our Bram fans while shopping, we sprinkle the month of December with free ‘Brammetjes’ or in English Bramlets. To warm up while shopping, or to give away to family or friends under the Christmas tree. Convenient, because then you don’t have to go into the stores for other presents,” says Isabeau Ladage, responsible for the marketing.
Now on Airbnb | Spend the holidays at Santa’s Official Post Office
7-12-2023
Santa’s Official Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, is expected to receive over 30,000 letters daily from children and adults around the world this year. In a bid to attract novice elves, a magical cabin stay has been listed on Airbnb for guests – free of charge – to roll up their sleeves, lend a hand with the backlog of letters and experience the joy of the holiday season from the Arctic Circle. Booking for this special festive stay opens December 11 at airbnb.com/santa. Check out the exact time it opens in the article.
Grandma McFlurry limited edition by McDonald's
Grandma McFlurry Pink Cup by McDonald's USA
