Gastromarket Food from Heaven
25-4-2014
Ten Dutch top chefs will work together during the Gastromarket ‘Food from Heaven’ on Thursday 29 May and Friday 30 May. Ten top chefs from ten restaurant in The Hague will serve ten dishes at Michelin star level, in combination with music and a food market. Participating restaurants are: Zwetheul, Savelberg, Calla’s, Hanting, Brasserie NL, Savarin, Villa la Ruche, Des Indes, Pearl and Brasserie Brut. A ticket costs € 100,=, you can find more information here.
Haagen-Dazs vegetable ice cream
25-4-2014
In May Haagen-Dazs will introduce two special ice cream flavors in Japan. The ice cream brand comes with the surprising flavors carrot-orange and cherry-tomato. These ice creams contain only 8.5 percent milk fat and are a lot healthier. We already know juices with the flavor carrot-orange so why not ice cream? With these flavors the brand responds to the current hype of healthy food.
Aperol Chef Brunch Officer
24-4-2014
Looking for a new job? Do you love brunching for free and Aperol Spritz? The ‘Aperol ® Brunch Society’ in America is looking for a new ‘Chef Brunch Officer’ (CBO). The CBO will visit several restaurant hotspots to taste the Aperol Spritz cocktail and makes sure the staff makes the right Aperol Spritz cocktail. The recipe: 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda. The CBO will visit restaurants twice every weekend, all summer long, gets a free brunch with friends and get paid for it! To apply, people need to upload an Instagram video of 15 seconds with #Brunchforaliving @AperolUSA and tell why they have to become the new Chef Brunch Officer. Click here to see a number of applications. Nice inspiration for restaurant owners: as restaurant you can invite a regular guests to taste new dishes.
Hotel video made with a drone
24-4-2014
To create a good image of a hotel, a video is often used. A great way to promote the hotel is by a drone, like the video above. A drone can capture angles and views of the hotel that couldn’t be captured before and is relatively inexpensive to use.
Relax, this can contains a one week vacation
24-4-2014
#Throwback Thursday. We started in August 2007 with horecatrends.com / hospitalitytrends.eu, in July 2009 we posted an item about the Slow Cow drink from Canada. This brand advertised with the slogan: “This can contains a one week vacation”. A drink with soothing ingredients to relax, so the opposite of energy drinks. The drink has been working since 2008 to conquer the world from Quebec, Canada. On their website, they even posted that the drink will be sold in more than 50 countries in 2025! So they do think that the world really needs to relax.
Freedom dinners on 5 May
23-4-2014
On 5 May people in Amsterdam eat together during the “Freedom meals”. In restaurants, parks, homes and on the streets of Amsterdam thousands of citizens share tables. Various organizations and initiatives connect people through food. There are five StreetDinners organized by Bite Me throughout the city, where fifty volunteers cook in ten kitchens and collectively serve it for the visitors of these local events. Next to that, a huge dinner is organized at the IJ (1000 pax) and in several other local dinners are organized in the districts, see this link (Dutch) for an overview.
DOMunder discovery center
23-4-2014
In Utrecht there is a discovery center developed by ‘Initiatief Domplein’ together with the municipality of Utrecht and the ‘Rijksdienst voor Cultureel Erfgoed’ (National Heritage Board). The DOMunder is located beneath the Domplein and it’s a place where visitors learn more about 2000 years of history through Roman, Carolingian, Romanesque and Gothic remnants in about 75 minutes. With a special flashlight, visitors can explore archaeological findings. The DOMunder is open for visitors from 3 June onwards.
Opening Salt & Tasty Rotterdam
23-4-2014
In Rotterdam, the collaboration between Bjorn van Dijl and ‘Schmidt Zeevis Rotterdam’ resulted in culinary hotspot ‘Salt & Tasty’. The restaurant measures a hundred square meters and has a large outdoor terrace as well. Salt & Tasty is located opposite to the new Rotterdam Central Station, at the Kruisplein. The refrigerated display is daily filled with fresh fish by Schmidt Zeevis and there are various salads and sandwiches available in the restaurant.
Why not serve water this way!
22-4-2014
Today, Earth Day is celebrated around the world. This day positive attention is requested for global issues surrounding nature, the environment and climate change. With the main focus on reflection and enjoyment. In the hospitality industry, we are seeing more and more examples of less food miles, organic and local products, but also the processing of ‘forgotten’ vegetables and meat such as rooster, goat and goose. In addition, we have the debate about whether or not to serve tap water (in Europe). Yet we still see that ‘special’ water is served from glaciers from the other side of the world ….. But you can also make “special” water in a simpler and more sustainable way. Last weekend I served my ‘special’ waters at our Easter dinner. Several courses, with each course another water. I just used tap water and added herbs, lemon , rhubarb and beetroot, depending on the taste of the dish. Nice and simple. And just like wine, it’s nice to see if the taste actually blends well with the food. The water with beetroot / lemon and mint tasted great with the starter of smoked eel and the water with rhubarb was very subtle which combined well with dessert. A nice sustainable gesture; the water from the tap and the herbs and vegetables from nearby! And even for those who do not drink alcohol, it’s a party! My suggestion for Earth Day.^Marjolein
Hotel offers guests unlimited access to newspapers
22-4-2014
Traders Hotels has launched its digital newsstand ‘PressReader’ in 15 hotels in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. Guest only have to connect with the Wi-Fi network and don’t need an account or log in. Through the ‘PressReader’ they get unlimited access to more than 2,500 global newspapers and magazines in 60 languages from 100 countries. They can read a newspaper or magazine at any time of the day, from anywhere in the hotel: a great gesture from to hotel to its guests.
Obey and get free vitamins of the vending machine
22-4-2014
Sociallab, a digital marketing agency in Greece placed a vending machine with the name ‘Greek Mama’ in a large shopping mall in Athens. ‘Greek Mama’ is known for her wisdom she knows best, so you’d better listen to what she says. Visitors of the shopping mall got the change to meet the ‘Greek Mama’ in person. The vending machine had a dozen quotes to encourage people to play along. The only thing they had to do; obey the orders of the vending machine and they would get a free vitamin drink.
Real WINE gums: wine in edible form
18-4-2014
The real WINE gums: no sweets for children but adult luxury food. Vinoos by AMS introduces edible wine in the shape of a wine gum. The real WINE gums are invented at the art academy and are now being produced. In July 2013 Vinoos AMS was selected as finalist of the Rabobank Entrepreneurship Award for ‘Best business plan in the Netherlands’. This innovative product contains natural ingredients, no animal substances and are vegetarian. The sweets come in two flavors: Merlot and Chardonnay. Nice to serve on a cheese platter in a restaurant, instead of a glass of wine. The real WINE gums will be available from May at the ‘Bijenkorf Flagstores’, the Bijenkorf web shop and through the web shop of 9-straatjes in Amsterdam.
Winning dish chef Tim Bosch on menu at Landal parks
18-4-2014
The Diabetes Foundation and fund ‘Variatie in de Keuken’ (variation in the kitchen) challenged the chefs of Landal parks in the Netherlands to serve the healthiest and tastiest dish during the ‘Chefs’ Challenge’. Chef Tim Bosch of Landal Coldenhove surprised the jury and won the ‘Chefs’ Challenge’ with his main course and dessert. His main course of ‘skin fried mackerel filet with cauliflower couscous and coriander oil’ and his dessert ‘green tea with citrus, poached pear with vanilla yoghurt panna cotta’ will be on the menu at several Landal parks from June.
Pay with your fingerprint
17-4-2014
From tomorrow it is possible to carry out mobile payments with your fingerprint. Consumers can use the fingerprint scanner of the new Samsung Galaxy S5 to pay through PayPal. The fingerprint is converted to a key that has been encrypted and gets access to PayPal. To activate the fingerprint, consumers must give permission once via an e-identifier. A lot easier for the consumer, it’s not necessary to fill in any data or remember the passwords, but simply swipe a finger across the screen.
The Pasta Sauna
17-4-2014
The Italian book ‘Futurist Cookbook’ condemned pasta as the worst food on earth. This inspired artist Marije Vogelzang to create a place where people can enjoy pasta, but can also feel like pasta. She created the Pasta Sauna for Performa in 2009 in New York and made an improved version for Dordtyard in April 2013. The Pasta Sauna is a place where consumers can eat pasta while they enjoy the steam of the sauna. Marije Vogelzang used the steam from boiling pasta to create a place where consumers will feel as lazy and heavy as the food they’re putting into their bodies.
Connecting coffee machine
16-4-2014
At many companies the coffee machine is the place to socialize with others. Conferences often lack this social moment because of the abundance of coffee. The Coffee Connector by the ‘Economic Development Board (EDB)’ from Singapore brings back the social moment in coffee drinking during networking meetings. The impressive machine only works if two people order a coffee at the same time. With a few short questions you get to know your fellow drinker over a cup of coffee. Watch the video.
Easter brunch in antique store
16-4-2014
The Wildschut antique shop in Amsterdam organizes a pure Easter brunch in collaboration with Alice den Boer (Alicious Food) on Monday 21 April. With a maximum of 15 guests, it is a small and intimate event where craft is the key ingredient, both on the plate as in the store.
Hotel Droog at Bijenkorf Amsterdam
16-4-2014
A special Droog design pop-up store opened at the Bijenkorf on the Dam Square in Amsterdam. The store on the 3rd floor of the warehouse is open to 4 May and offers various products for living room, kitchen, bedroom and garden. Most of the items are known from the Hôtel Droog at the Staalstraat. Here all activities by Droog Design come together and are the services focused on care and hospitalty instead of spending the night. The additional services in a regular hotel like a dining room, bar and tea room, gallery and store cover the majority of the hotel. The 700 square meter building only has one bedroom: The One and Only Bedroom. In addition to the pop-up campaign, it is possible to win a night at this room by sending in a slogan.
TonTon Club at Hotel Bloom
15-4-2014
Warsteiner celebrates the introduction of the brand at the Hotel Bloom! in Brussels in a special way. The beer brand provides a platform for art projects in the hotel under the name ‘Warsteiner Art Space’. The first project is a Blacklight Air hockey Room in cooperation with the TonTon club from Amsterdam. Warsteiner will start a (secret) project with pop artist group ‘De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig and in September 22Tracks comes along with three events.
Hospitality game for Utrecht
15-4-2014
Utrecht Tourism has developed an online game for the hospitality industry. Entrepreneurs can train their personnel more easily with this game and track their progress. Utrecht had an average score at the ‘Most Hospitable City’ research last year, with an 11th place from the 21 cities studied. Watch the video by Shapers for an impression.
Food pairing with cookies and cheese
15-4-2014
In November last year, we’ve written about food pairing by biscuit manufacturer Jules Destrooper. The Belgian cookie bakers have consulted cheese specialist Betty Koster from fromagerie L’Amuse to create new flavor combinations. One of the combinations she has created are the ‘Virtuoso Chocolate Cookies with goat cheese’. The recipe combines chocolate cookies with roasted peppers and goat cheese. We are huge fans of the open minded taste approach from our Belgian neighbors and will definitely try the recipes.
Contactless payment at NS retail stores
14-4-2014
Starting this week, it is possible for the consumer to pay contactless with a Maestro debit card at the NS retail stores in the Netherlands. Tomorrow, NS retail introduces the contactless payments in collaboration with MasterCard in the NS retail stores like ‘Broodzaak’, Smullers, Kiosk and Julia’s. The consumer can pay by holding the mobile phone or the debit card against the payment terminal. For an amount below € 25,= there is no PIN required. This method of payment saves time, particularly at the stations, where consumers are often in a hurry.
Napkin origami
14-4-2014
In our publication ‘Royal hospitable gestures‘ we wrote an article about in old-fashioned origami with towels in hotels. But also restaurants can have a folded napkin on a set table. Duni napkins has some instructional videos folding napkins on their website, like the feather napkin in the video above. For every occasion and theme, a matching folded napkin.
The espresso boys
14-4-2014
Tough guys and fresh espresso. The ‘espresso jongens’ (espresso boys) can be hired for any type of event, party, wedding or exhibition. The espresso served is made of sustainable coffee beans and they use a hand-operated pump to generate the pressure to serve the espresso. With the belt with cups, stirrers and sugar they have everything needed. The espresso boys can be combined with the ‘meisjes met smaak’ (girls with taste) to make a combination of coffee with something sweet and delicious. The ‘meisjes met smaak’ are known of the oyster girls, but can also be hired as macaron girl, pata girl, sushi girl, ice cream girl, brullee girl etc.
General Store and Co
11-4-2014
The quirky bar concept ‘General Store & Co’ in Melbourne sells goods, groceries and grog. The concept is inspired by the old American Trading Posts where grocers sold food, clothing and household items. Later this evolved into General Stores that sold everything including alcohol, groceries and all sorts of retail products. The General Store & Co in Melbourne has a full service bar and café, in-house barber, shoe and clothing store, a bookstore, a private courtyard garden and a grocery with a wide range of organic products. A meeting place for people, that starts in the morning with a cup of coffee and ends in the evening with a drink in the bar.
