Karen’s Diner pop-up in Hoofddorp and Leeuwarden
14-9-2023
Don’t you dare ask for the manager…. at Karen’s Diner. The popular concept is on tour and taking the world by storm. The concept revolves around the f*cking popular woman Karen, the one with a bad attitude. Karen’s Diner pop-up is coming to Fort NOXX, Hoofdweg Oostzijde 739 in Hoofddorp on October 14 and 15 and to FIZZ Leeuwarden at Zaailand 106 on November 4 & 5 November to give the Dutch the roast of their lives!
Neo-brasserie Gossler & Florin or in short brasserie G&F
12-9-2023
Opening – A new culinary destination in the heart of the Jordaan district in Amsterdam, Neo-brasserie Gossler & Florin aka brasserie G&F. Early September, Wesley van Haeften opened his a la carte brasserie with a range of international classics, each with a modern twist.
Trends we spotted | Week 36
12-9-2023
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 among others FoodGPT by AI Palette in Singapore, a one-of-a-kind generative AI tool, tailored explicitly for the complex F&B landscape. And an initiative to help revitalize historic downtowns and creating the American Dream for owning your own business: Own Your Own.
At BotBar Coffee in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, robot Adam serves the coffee! And in the Netherlands and Belgium the wines are of very good quality, 35 gold medals at the Wine Inspection of the Low Lands.
Chef Jonnie Boer of the Dutch restaurant De Librije (***) is the new ambassador of Urban Cultivator. They recently introduced ‘Librije Backstage’ and vertical farming by Urban Cultivator. And spotted in Paris, the GalBar. A crêpes and galette bar, which they serve in a scone.
Belgian startup Dripl raised 2.15 million euros of growth capital to accelerate their refillution. Their self-developed Refill Points have been offering a healthy alternative to soft drinks since 2021 and help companies reduce their waste and footprint.
During the renovation of restaurant RIJKS® in the Rijks museum in Amsterdam, you can enjoy the skills of their chefs at the RIJKS® pop-up on the Zuidas. And chef Guillaume de Beer opened Bar Gui in Amsterdam, his dishes look delicious!
Shichiken sparkling sake | The alternative to champagne during the holiday season
8-9-2023
As the holiday season approach, the Japanese sake brewery Shichiken is, in collaboration with Belgian importer Kaori, bringing a sparkling surprise: ‘sparkling sake’. Sparkling sake has been appreciated in Japan for some time, but is still relatively unknown in our country. This refined and tempting alternative to champagne is increasingly being put on the menu by sommeliers of gastronomic restaurants and is rapidly gaining popularity. You can already find this Shichiken sake in many fine dining restaurants, but also in the Kaori webshop.
New healthy hotspot Dam Tasty on the Zeilstraat in Amsterdam
8-9-2023
Opening – Dam Tasty opened its doors in Amsterdam South. The funky, colourful store is for everyone who is looking for a healthy, sustainable and quick meal in a concept where sustainability and awareness are the points of focus. Because eating healthy is not so hard, not so boring!
Latin American restaurant Selva opens on the 24th floor of the nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel
8-9-2023
Opening – A charming journey through the Amazon rainforest, this is what restaurant Selva offers. Amsterdam’s newest culinary delight opened its doors on the 24th floor of the iconic design hotel nhow Amsterdam RAI. This culinary destination is an ode to the rainforest – the lungs of the earth – and a creative fusion of Minor Hotels and Younique Concepts.
Theetje | Hard Iced Tea for and by students
8-9-2023
Two young entrepreneurs, Pieter Kronenburg and Andrew Trapman, have developed a new drink: Theetje, a Hard Iced Tea. The drink was made for and by students and has now found its way into various hotels, including the Moxy The Hague, the hotel where Pieter works.
Bagels & Beans is creating Strava-art | See the world from a different perspective
7-9-2023
Bagels & Beans is creating Strava-art and challenges all outdoor people to look at the world from a different perspective. From September 8 till the 24th, they have set out Strava walking routes in unusual figures in various nature reserves in the Netherlands. Besides a new perspective, participants will have a chance to win an off-grid weekend away in the peaceful wilderness of nature reserve the Veluwe at the Quadenoord estate. Read on to see what you need to do to qualify for this off-grid weekend!
Cold brew coffee anyone?
14-8-2023
This summer, I had the occasional cold espresso with an ice cube again. The first time I drank this cold espresso was in Spain, where an ‘espresso con hielo’ is a standard menu item. However, here in the Netherlands, cold coffee is not so popular as of yet. Of course, many drink a frappuccino or an iced coffee with vanilla ice cream, but the huge range of flavours and compositions you encounter abroad are still missing here. ^Marjolein
A short article filled with coffee inspiration! And at the end, an Instagram post featuring an espresso Barbietini!
Trends we spotted | Week 32
11-8-2023
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 including a couple of them on reservation fees at restaurants in the hope that this will reduce the number of no-shows. In New York, more and more restaurants are turning to this system. Leonie van Spronsen recently wrote a blog about this subject. It’s kind of a double standard that lots of guests don’t want to pay a restaurant fee while we pay, without any problem, in advance for tickets to Taylor Swift.
A unique combination; a Latin-American fine-dining experience on a London train, the Supperclub.Tube. Also in London: the Vagabond’s Wine Bars where you can choose from as many as 140 varieties of wines!
Aperol sorbet floating in prosecco, sounds delicious! It’s served at Il Terrazzo in department store Nordstrom in NYC. The sorbet is made by il Laboratorio del Gelato. And also in NYC – the hottest new sushi bar is hidden in The Vault of Saks Fifth Avenue. Great idea, an omakase inside a small corner of a retail outlet?
A touring mini club, Fandangoe Discoteca invites people to dance out their grief! Created by artist Annie Frost Nicholson and it will come to the Netherlands as well. And International Hotel Capital Partners is the new owner of Hilton Garden Inn Leiden Hotel.
Located 4.5 hours from NYC, in Watkins Glen, is the world’s smallest diner, which is also appropriately named ‘World’s Smallest Diner’. And we read about an Instant Noodle Factory in Queens, they serve 88 different instant noodles options with 30 different toppings.
The popular experience, Dining in the Dark, is returning to Amsterdam on August 31, this time it takes place at the NOMAD aan het IJ. And we love the design of the Costa Rican Suitree Experience Hotel with treehouse style rooms.
Paying in advance for Taylor Swift, not for your restaurant reservation
11-8-2023
Leonie van Spronsen blogs about how we find paying in advance completely normal (a year in advance!) for a ticket for Taylor Swift and prefer not to do so for a restaurant reservation.
This blog was previously published in Dutch at the website of Van Spronsen & Partners hospitality consultancy.
Tempo by Hilton Times Square has opened as part of TSX Broadway
10-8-2023
Hilton recently (August 8) announced the opening of the 661-room Tempo by Hilton Times Square, the first hotel from Hilton’s newest stylish and contemporary lifestyle brand. Located in TSX Broadway, a new 46-story tower featuring experiential retail, cutting-edge entertainment spaces and the historic Palace Theatre, the hotel matches the ever-evolving needs of the traveler whose ambitious spirit calls for both moments of relaxation and inspiration.
They have some special rooms like their ‘Wellness’ rooms including sports equipment but for the romantics among us: they also have 31 ‘ball drop rooms’ for New Year’s Eve!
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Fall season is almost upon us | Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil Caviar
8-8-2023
Chosen Foods, the maker of America’s #1 Avocado Oil and one of few on shelves that is guaranteed to be 100% pure, is getting in on the ridiculous fun of pumpkin spice season this year by launching the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil Caviar. This seasonal limited time offer in the USA is giving pumpkin spice lovers a chance to experience their favorite fall flavor in a way that’s anything but basic.
We would love to try this Pumpkin Spice ‘Caviar’ here in Europe as well!
Restaurant Iris at the Salmon Eye | Sustainable seafood in a spectacular setting
7-8-2023
Restaurant Iris, with Danish chef Anika Madsen at the helm, is a venue like no other. Iris opened late spring 2023, and is located inside the glittering, floating orb Salmon Eye in the Hardanger fiord, just outside the town of Rosendal. It will take guests on an exclusive Expedition Dining-journey, impossible to replicate anywhere else. The experience centre Salmon Eye, themed on sustainable marine life, was inaugurated in 2022.
Trends we spotted | Week 31
7-8-2023
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 among others a collaboration fit for a king by Sorted Food and The Earthshot Prize. And Vignerons du Terroir, the champaign tasting, will be held in the beautiful ConcertLab in the Dutch city Utrecht on October 1.
KFC Canada bids final farewell to its bland old fries with a fry funeral and funeral procession and McDonald’s in the USA has announced a new spinoff restaurant called ‘CosMc’s’.
Mel’s in NYC is officially kicking off their F.O.M.O (Friends Of Mel’s Oven) Pizza Series with limited-edition pizzas created by chefs Daniel Boulud, Gabriel Kreuther, Jean-Georges, and Junghyun Park. Although we have seen more of these kinds of collabs, we love them!
A colleague spotted the Dorian Speakeasy in The Hague on Instagram (see the post by Food Queen) and it’s high on her ‘go-to list’. More details in the link in this article. And South Korean brand LOTTE Hotels & Resorts opened the first overseas hotel in Vietnam.
Chick-fil-A has just announced the construction of the first 75-car drive-thru in Atlanta. According to the company’s Twitter, the concept features a four-lane drive-thru that’s split into two sets.
‘Art of the Espresso Martini’ and other experiences launch at U.S. Starbucks Reserve Roasteries
4-8-2023
Customers visiting the Starbucks Reserve® Roasteries in Chicago, Seattle and New York can explore the craft, theater, and innovation of Starbucks Reserve® coffee with three new, Starbucks Reserve® Signature Experiences: ‘Art of the Espresso Martini’, ‘Oleato™ Tasting Experience’ and ‘Coffee Lab: A Journey of the Senses’.
If you’re visiting one of the above Starbucks Reserve Roasteries it might be a great idea to combine it with shopping for some coffee knowledge!
First Porsche Charging Lounge in Bingen am Rhein has opened
4-8-2023
Porsche is planning to set up its own fast-charging stations along Europe’s most important routes, with a premium charging experience one expects of the brand. As a pilot site, the first Porsche Charging Lounge has opened outside Bingen am Rhein last week. Just two minutes from motorway junction A60/A61, it offers six 300-kW DC fast-charging stations and four 22-kW AC charging points. Further Porsche Charging Lounges are currently planned for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A Porsche ID is required to access the charging stations and the lounge area. This ID must be linked to the car.
Back in 2018 we published an article in which a designers firm and sports brand reimagined an adaptive reuse of gas stations across the USA as Fitness Hubs, where people can prioritize their mental and physical wellness while charging their electric cars. Although the first Porsche Charging Lounge is completely different, workouts can be done here as well, in front of a smart mirror to keep the driver fit for the journey ahead. Interactive Porsche content can also be selected here. Now it’s waiting for likewise charging lounges created for humans and cars of all brands! A collaboration between a fast charging specialist, hospitality and a fitness brand?
A ‘private cellar dining’-experience at Delamain Cognac
1-8-2023
An article for the real Cognac lovers! Delamain Cognac recently announced the launch of its ‘Cellar Dining’ experience, a first-of-its-kind, ‘single table’ opportunity for guests to explore some of Delamain’s finest cognacs as paired with regional gastronomic specialties prepared by a private chef and served amongst some of Delamain’s rarest cognacs in its principal cellar.
ICE! at Gaylord Hotels returns for the 2023 Holiday Season
31-7-2023
Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of 31 hotel brands, last week announced the return of its iconic ICE! event for the 2023 holiday season. ICE! At Gaylord Hotels – more than 2 million pounds of ice at each of the brand’s five resorts transform into colorful, larger-than-life, story-driven holiday showplaces featuring characters and scenes from beloved Christmas classics. It is all part of the brand’s So. Much. Christmas. extravaganza, featuring dozens of holiday activities, entertainment, unique dining experiences, and more.
With the start of August and a real autumnal summer week here in the Netherlands, we love to publish the first article for the Holiday Season!
Cher debuts ‘Cherlato’ | A world class gelato experience on wheels
31-7-2023
Cher and New Zealand’s renowned gelato artisan, Gianpaolo Grazioli (Giapo), announced the release of ‘Cherlato’. This is a new mobile gelato truck that arrived on the streets of Los Angeles beginning July 28.
Trends we spotted | Week 30
31-7-2023
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 among others the fact that cultivated meat and seafood can soon be taste tested under limited conditions in The Netherlands! The Dutch government, in collaboration with cultivated meat producers Meatable and Mosa Meat and sector representative HollandBIO, successfully created a ‘code of practice’ that would make tastings possible in controlled environments.
Books for Cooks, a very special cook book store! And on Instagram we came across a ‘Mystery Picnic Tour’, we think every city should have a tour like that! Now available in the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA.
Notorious for its creative culinary ventures, Domino’s Japan is back with its latest unconventional pizza: the Pickle Pizza, equipped with 1.32 pounds of sliced dill pickles. And Bar Vegan in Atlanta is introducing a Bubble Brunch – a new bottle service experience with dry ice, rubber duckies and literal ‘bubble baths’ to pair with the celebrated vegan brunch cuisine.
The Berkeley hotel will open its rooftop – usually reserved for hotel guests – for everyone for the rest of the Summer, with a brand new bar and great views of the sunset over Hyde Park. And in Amsterdam the Conscious Hotels Group is taking a 100% stake in Hotel V & The Lobby, stronger together through shared ambitions hospitality & sustainability.
Illustrator Hedof designs designer glass 2023 for Duvel and the famous cookies from Amsterdam, the Eberhardjes, named after the deceased mayor Eberhard van der Laan, are now available throughout the Netherlands.
Celebrate a spectacular Pride 2023 | #YOUAREINCLUDED
27-7-2023
Amsterdam is getting ready to fill the city with love, diversity and pride. From the 1st till the 6th of August, we can once again enjoy a spectacular Pride in Amsterdam with the theme #YOUAREINCLUDED. We have compiled a small collection of Pride 2023 events, parties, food dishes, ‘cocktails for a cause’, make-up workshops, an exposition, bingo, parade initiatives and the #TakeAStance initiative for sharing views and proposing solutions for inclusivity.
Trends we spotted | Week 29
25-7-2023
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 among others, global game-changers like Proveg International join forces to increase bean consumption with a ambition ‘Beans is How’ campaign.
Reservations to taste and experience UPSIDE Foods’ Cultivated Chicken at Bar Crenn are open! And the other approved cultivated chicken producer Good Meat celebrated the 100th birthday of the godfather of cultivated meat, Willem van Eelen, with a dish created by José Andrés at China Chilcano.
For those cocktail lovers living or visiting London, we have seen incredible cocktails on Instagram served by the Incognito Cocktail Company, they have 4 locations. And Lilly’s Café in the Covent Garden’s Piazza serves a ‘Bottomless Rosé’ brunch this summer.
From Friday 15 to Sunday 17 September 2023, the festival ‘Classical on the Amstelveld’ will be organized in Amsterdam for the 11th time. Visiting on Friday and Saturday is free!
In Rotterdam you can enjoy the Japanese Souffle pancakes at the Souffle Café, a lot of Wiggleness! And also spotted on Instagram: the Gâteau Mille-pressé by Gariguette in Japan, it looks delicious!
A new pop-up in LA by the luggage brand Béis, the BÉIS Hotel, is still open till July 29. And Burger King in Brazil introduced the Barbie Burger combo meal in pink.
Son Bunyola Hotel | Virgin Limited Edition’s newest hotel in Mallorca
24-7-2023
The Son Bunyola Hotel and Villas opened its doors for the first time following a historical restoration of a 16th century Mallorcan Finca, becoming the newest luxury hotel in Mallorca.
We love the breathtaking spot and the understated design!
TOMBSTONE® Pizza raises the bar with new Bar Snacks Pizza
21-7-2023
If anyone knows bar food, it’s TOMBSTONE® Pizza, which is why the brand that was born in a bar nearly 65 years ago in Medford, Wisconsin is paying homage to its roots with the introduction of the TOMBSTONE Bar Snacks Pizza for the International Beer Day 2023. Fans can enter for a chance to win the unapologetic, over-the-top bold flavour experience that features bar snack favourites all on one buttery, crispy crust. Topped with gooey mozzarella sticks, zesty fried pickles and fried onions, the pizza is finished off with spicy jalapeno slices and nacho cheese sauce, bringing the boldest, craziest bar bite straight to the homes of lucky winners.
A pizza with a crispy crust with crunchy mozza sticks, fried pickles and onions! We have spotted the Frikan’ Dutchman pizza by Domino’s here in the Netherlands with the Dutch bar snack ‘Frikandel’ or the Turkish pizza with our national bar snack ‘kroket’, called ‘Pizza Marjolein’, at a cafetaria in Utrecht (we couldn’t find it on the menu anymore). We think the mozza sticks and fried onions are more appropriate on pizza!