Small gestures in hospitality 2
4-10-2013
With the publication of “Small gestures in hospitality” we want to provide hospitality entrepreneurs with hospitable gestures that are usable without having to make large investments.
We have examples from the Hotel Mainport in Rotterdam, The Mark Hotel in New York, het Pulitzer hotel in Amsterdam and the Palais Hansen Kempinski in Vienna. Download the free publication here.
Proefwerk
3-10-2013
We are full of prejudices when it comes to food, this unfortunately affects our kids as well. In their eyes something can instantly be disgusting or weird. At ‘Proefwerk’ children are challenged to do blind tastings and describe the taste of for instance a cucumber or a raisin. Because the children built up confidence during the tastings initiator Fleur Derogee often ends with exciting insect tastings. ‘Proefwerk’ takes place at the Future Food House during the World Food Festival in Rotterdam and starts every half hour on Wednesday from 13.00 – 17.00 o’clock.
Badoit transforms the Rue de Rivoli in a Rue de la Gastronomie
2-10-2013
In September 2013 the French water brand Badoit did a sequel on the marketing stunt Badoit express of 2012. In cooperation with Chef Thierry Marx** the lucky drivers of the Rue de Rivoli were surprised with a first-class gastronomic performance. The travelers of the street were treated to a 4-course dinner consisting of a ceasar salas, a veal ossobucco, a pastrami pressé and a Paris-brest. Chef Thierry Marx himself walked in the middle of the street collecting views and comments of the drivers. The action promotes Badoit water as the water that best accompanies meals.
Casa Barcardi
2-10-2013
Bacardi organizes cocktail parties in a classy art-deco building along the Rue Defacqz in Brussels. These cocktail nights are from 27 September to 19 October and limited to 70 guests only, who are chosen from registrations through a special phone number. The lucky few can prepare themselves for world class bartenders like Roman Falton (Artesian, Londen), Shingo Gokan (Angel’s Share, New York) and Elizaveta “Lizzy” Evdokimova (Delicatessen, Moskou). The concept refers to the exclusive cocktail parties in ‘El Edificio Bacardi’ at the Avenida de Bélgica (Havana) during the beginning of the 20th century.
Boxing at the Marriott Hotel
1-10-2013
The Amsterdam Marriott Hotel offers the ‘Future of Meetings’ concept with boxing and bootcamp trainings for companies. During the BodyFit meeting arrangement world champion kickboxing Fouad Tijarti introduces various boxing techniques. The training is a mix of stamina, power, speed and technique practices.
Bello Limoncello measuring card
1-10-2013
There are Bello Limoncello bottles with a measure card on the tables at café restaurant Braque and Mata Hari in Amsterdam. This makes it easier to pour a glass of Limoncello (or a few more) and you don’t have to buy a whole bottle. The idea for this service sprouted in Italy, where limoncello producer Natwerk found out that local restaurants estimate the amount of booze you’ve had from the limoncello bottle on the table. Thus they’ve made small addition to adapt the service for the Netherlands: a measuring card to ensure a fair price if you ‘Go Dutch’.
Vegetables menu at restaurant De Keuken van Gastmaal
27-9-2013
Restaurant ‘De Keuken van Gastmaal’ in Utrecht, the Netherlands has a special 4-course vegetables menu. The restaurant chose to use vegetables from the region to promote the use of local products. It is the first restaurant in Utrecht that services a full vegetables menu. All dishes are presented with self-picket herbs. The restaurant is nominated for the best vegetarian dish of the Netherlands.
Healthier fries at Burger King
26-9-2013
Burger King has introduced a healthier version of the French fries in the United States. The SATISFRIES™ are French crinkle-cut fries and contain 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories. According to Burger King the SATISFRIES™ are healthier because they used another batter that absorbs less oil. To launch the healthier French fries, Burger King has started the campaign #WTFF (What The French Fry). Large French fry pods where placed in high traffic areas in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago to encourage passersby to take pictures to post on social media using the hash tag #WTFF.
Cooking with licorice candy
26-9-2013
Lakrids and Cool green events are organizing a mini workshop with licorice candy on Saturday September 28th at the World Food Festival in Rotterdam. During the workshop you will discover the many possibilities of cooking with licorice. Lakrids has a wide collection of licorice products, from beer to syrups. With these products will be experimented during the cooking and baking. To conclude the workshop a special dish will be served with matching drinks.
Solo per Due
25-9-2013
Romantic diner for two? The smallest restaurant of the world ‘Solo per Due’ is located in the Italian town Vacone. The restaurant has only one table with two chairs and two red armchairs by a fireplace. Guests don’t have to wait long for the food and the attention of the staff is completely focused on the two guests. The restaurant is located in a building dating from the nineteenth century in a historic town. The location offers a beautiful view across the valley of olive trees. ‘Solo per Due’ offers exclusive Italian dishes for € 250,= per person, drinks excluded.
Edible flower with crystals
25-9-2013
Koppert Cress has introduced a new edible flower, the BlinQ Blossom®. The BlinQ Blossom® is a succulent herb with a salty taste and goes well with smoked meat or fish dishes. The flower has tiny crystals and is an eye catcher on a dish. The flower has its origin in South Africa and is year-round available. Watch the on James Bond inspired introduction of the flower.
Food tours
24-9-2013
Recently we published an article about Food Sherpas; local people who take tourist on a local culinary discovery tour. Food tours along local culinary hotspots for tourists are becoming more popular. Like in Washington culinary tours are given by companies. For example DC Metro Food Tours gives tours in 13 different neighborhoods in Washington. The food served during the tour are a reflection of both residents and the history of the area. During the Food Tours architecture, culture, history and food are combined. The website Skift published an interesting article about these food tours.
Flemish Kitchen Rebels
24-9-2013
From 1 October to 15 November for the fifth time, young talented chefs from Flanders will be promoted both domestically and abroad. 38 Young chefs were elected last year, but this year the jury selected 45 young chefs. As well as last year, people from 18 to 30 years can enjoy a three-course menu for € 45,=. The chefs will also be promoted abroad this to give an impression of the young Flemish gastronomy. This is an initiative by Vlaanderen Lekker Land and Tourism Vlaanderen, Horeca Vlaanderen and 5 Provincial touristic organisations.
Circus themed fast food restaurant Biribildu
23-9-2013
‘Biribildu’ is a Greek fast food restaurant in Alimos, near Athens. In ‘Biribildu’ you will find yourself in the magical world of the circus. ‘Biribildu’ is the Basque word for turn, to make a round. This appears frequently in the design. Like a traveling circus goes around from town to town, it is a fitting theme for the fast food restaurant that offers gyros made with meat of a vertical rotating roaster. There are two circus horses and the kitchen, toilets and the shed are hidden behind three wooden boxes in which the circus can be transported. The cash register is located in a tiger cage. The fast food restaurant is designed by Minas Kosmidis and every little circus details has been thought of.
How much food do you drink?
23-9-2013
Do you order a glass of red wine, because you think it contains less calories? Then you can equally eat a slice of cheese. The video shows how many calories you really consume when drinking and compares those number of calories with food. A Margarita is equal to a taco or a Piña Colada is equal to a cheeseburger. Maybe you’d better order a vodka soda?
Hotel suites with spectacular views
20-9-2013
Telegraph gives an overview of 24 hotel suites with spectacular views. Ranging from hotel suites with a view over a city to a view over a national reserve. The pictures above are from Grand Hotel Tremezzo. The five star hotel is one of the oldest hotels located on Lake Como. The two Front Suites of the hotel are stylish and modern. The rooms have a living and a dining area and a stunning terrace with a heated Jacuzzi. Because of the unique location, the suites have a beautiful view of Lake Como and the Grigne mountains. For more hotel suites with a spectacular view, check the article of Telegraph.
Watch movies on a smartphone during your flight
20-9-2013
The airline Virgin Australia has developed a new app that allows passengers to view movies and programs directly from their smartphone, laptop or tablet during a flight. Before the airplane leaves, passengers can download the app from iTunes or Google Play and get access for 300 hours movies and programs of Virgin Australia. At this moment the app is tested at 37 airplanes, both domestic and international flights.
The stories begin here…
19-9-2013
A beautiful example of storytelling. Waldorf Astoria shows unforgettable stories that have a link with the hotel through their youtube channel. The video above shows the story of the relationship between Michelin-starred head chef Pierre Gagnaire and chef de cuisine Roel Lintermans. They surprise the guests with high quality food at the new restaurant Les Solistes at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin. Watch more unforgettable stories on the youtube channel, like the story of exectuive chef Heinz Beck at restaurant La Pergola in the Cavalieri hotel in Rome or the fashion journalist Eleonora Attolico, who shows another site of Rome, within reach from the hotel.
How taste Umami?
19-9-2013
The Danish professor Ole Mouritsen will give a presentation about Umami in the Future Food House, part of the World Food Festival on Sunday 22 September. Ole Mouritsen is specialist in the field of Umami, the fifth taste after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. He will show the audience what Umami is by explaining the theory, giving examples from the Japanese kitchen and from fast food. Three Dutch chefs, Remco van Erp and Pepijn Schmeink (Restaurant Eendracht) and Hiroaki Yamamoto (restaurant Huson), will cook small dishes during the presentation to show the taste of the mysterious flavor Umami.
A taste of Stockholm Arlanda Airport
18-9-2013
Stockholm Arlanda Airport has renewed the cafés and restaurants at the airport. There are new cafés and restaurants located at the airport. To raise awareness of the new F&B concepts, the Arlanda food trucks are visiting multiple locations around Stockholm. The food trucks sell samples of the cuisine available at the airport. Via the website Consumers are kept informed about the route of the food trucks and the dishes being sold. This is an innovative way to give potential passengers a tasting of the cuisine at the Swedish airport.
Have a steak breakfast at McDonald’s
18-9-2013
McDonald’s added steak to the breakfast menu in the USA. Besides the regular breakfast menu, customers can now for example choose a bagel with steak, egg and cheese. At this moment the steak as breakfast is available at approximately 9,600 locations in the USA. Besides this heavy breakfast item, McDonald’s is also testing the bundled ‘Blitz Box’ in Kansas City. Customers can order the Blitz Box for $ 14,99, it contains two Quarter Pouders with cheese, two medium orders of French fries and 10 Chicken McNuggets with dipping sauces. The Blitz Box is tied into a promotion with the Kansas City Chiefs and will be available during the football season. If the Blitz Box is successful, McDonald’s might introduce this bundled menu at multiple locations.
World Food Festival
17-9-2013
Mr. Aboutaleb, the Mayor of Rotterdam opens ‘The World Food Festival’ on Thursday September 19th. More than five weeks hospitality, scientists, food producers and chefs will show and let you taste what Rotterdam has to offer. Festivals, markets, tastings and trips through the city will bring the visitor in contact with food. From a Maroccan food court to the Rotterdam meatball. In the Future Food House designers, scientists and artists give their predictions about the future of food. The Italian culinary movie ‘Pranzo di Ferragosto’ will be shown at the ‘Museumpark’.
Cycling for an ice cream
17-9-2013
At the ice cream parlor Peddlers Creamery in Los Angeles, customers can make their own ice cream by cycling. The ice cream parlor sells both dairy and non-dairy organic ice cream, made of local sustainable products. Instead of using electricity to make an ice cream, the motor is connected to the bicycle device that uses the energy to churn the ice cream. Customers can contribute to the production of their own ice cream. The focus at Peddlers Creamery is on sustainability, environmental friendly and local products.
The story of KETEL1
16-9-2013
The authentic Dutch gin brand KETEL1 presents ‘The story of Willem de Bruin’, one of the singers of the Dutch hip-hop formation ‘The Opposites’. With the online video campaign, KETEL1 brings stories, history and ambition of Dutch artists in the picture. Recognizable elements are: craftsmanship, character and pure authenticity. In the video of Willem de Bruin you will see the story of the successful rapper. The reason for this campaign were the personal stories of people sent to the gin brand.
The story of… KETEL1
16-9-2013
The authentic Dutch gin brand KETEL1 presents ‘The story of Willem de Bruin’, one of the singers of the Dutch hip-hop formation ‘The Opposites’. With the online video campaign, KETEL1 brings stories, history and ambition of Dutch artists in the picture. Recognizable elements are: craftsmanship, character and pure authenticity. In the video of Willem de Bruin you will see the story of the successful rapper. The reason for this campaign was the personal stories of people sent to the gin brand.
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