Starbucks gets Wi-Fi via Google
2-8-2013
Google will deliver wireless networks at Starbucks in the next year. Starbucks is planning to upgrade Wi-Fi in more than 7,000 of its stores in the United States over the next year, starting with the locations where the use of Wi-Fi is highest. Google will provide Wi-Fi access, the internet will be ten times faster and more accessible. In addition to speeding up the Wi-Fi, Starbucks and Google will also work together to improve the Starbucks Digital Network, a page where users are directed when accessing Wi-Fi.
Twitter hotel
1-8-2013
World’s first Twitter hotel is located on the Spanish island Mallorca. The Twitter hotel Sol Wave House opened a year ago and uses Social Media to offer guests a unique experience. The hotel has Twitter themed rooms, Twitter drinks and through the virtual community #SocialWave guests can start conversations or flirt. By logging in to the hotel network, guests can share photos, send private messages and they can see who’s online and their location in the hotel. Guests can also submit requests via Twitter, such as filling the minibar or offer other guests drinks and food.
Healthy Food Camp at festivals
1-8-2013
The demand for healthier food during festivals is increasing, the offer of healthy food needs to grown wider and bigger. Caterer ‘Adams Appels’ responds to this need by providing a Healthy Food Camp during the Mysteryland festival in the Netherlands. The Healthy Food Camp will consist of a healthy dining area with honest juices, slow Mediterranean food and an extensive healthy menu. There will be a natural nutritionist who can advise you on your food choice. Besides the Mysteryland festival, the caterer will also provide the Healthy Food Camp at other festivals.
Brand-free Mcdonald’s ads
1-8-2013
McDonald’s has launched an interesting campaign in France. The fast-food chain has used super close-up photographs of McDonald’s BigMac, French fries, Sundae ice cream and fish fillets without mention the names. The photos do not even have the signature logo but are instantly recognizable. This campaign shows the undeniable power and reputation of the brand.
Antwerp Beerwalk
31-7-2013
The Dutch-Belgian company Vonker (specialized in cultural activities) organizes a 2.5 to 3 hour ‘Antwerp Beerwalk’ this summer. A guide takes you through the beer history of Antwerp by visiting the most famous pubs in Antwerp. The beer guide lets you taste four Antwerp beers at four cafés and reveals some secrets of Belgian Brew Masters. The ‘Antwerp Beerwalk’ lets people discover and taste Antwerp in a unique way.
Plopsaland De Panne app
31-7-2013
Last week attraction park Plopsaland De Panne has introduced an app. This app is the perfect guide during a visit to the amusement park. The app includes navigation to find the different attractions and attractions can be selected based on the height of the children. It also contains information about meet and greets and the different shows. The visitor will also receive exclusive benefits and memories while visiting the park.
Bareburger
30-7-2013
Bareburger is a restaurant chain with organic burgers. The burger chain has more than ten locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. The menu of Bareburger includes organic burgers and sandwiches, shakes, fresh salads and snacks. Guests can compose their own burger by first choosing a burger and choose from several types of bread, vegetables, cheeses, bacon and sauces. But the burger bar also offers a reverse concept, where guests can first choose their own burger style (a combination of toppings) followed by choosing the burger and bun. Going to NY? You might be inspired by this organic burger restaurant.
10 Life Hacks
30-7-2013
10 Life Hacks you need to know for this summer! These Life Hacks are especially for consumers and we are looking for restaurant owners that would like to share some simple daily use tips with colleagues. If you do please send them to us. We would like to collect them and share them with the visitors of horecatrends. Of course with you as our source..
Tattooed meat
29-7-2013
Restaurant Grand Cabaret in Belgium serves tattooed meat with ink based on Belgian top beers, a culinary world first. Chef Vincent Florizoone experimented with his American chef Nicholas Harmon and they succeeded to develop an edible tattoo liquid based on squid ink and Belgian beer. The technique they have used impregnates the taste of the beer in a subtle way in the meat or fish. The chefs have learned how to make a tattoo during a master class of tattoo artist Tattoo Louis from Kortrijk in Belgium.
Incredibly unique hotels
29-7-2013
Tripadvisor gives an overview of ten incredibly unique hotels all over the world. The video above is from Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Spain. This hotel is located in Elciego in the province Álava of La Rioja. The hotel is designed by Frank Gehry and the stylish rooms have a beautiful view over the valley. On the top of the hotel a rooftop terrace at which a lounge and wine bar are located with a panoramic view of the vineyards. The hotel is built in complete harmony with the environment and represents an extremely modern grapes bush which fits well with the landscape. Design, art, gastronomy and wine are all combined to create an unique experience. Watch the website Tripadvisor for more unique restaurants.
Pop-up beach hotel
29-7-2013
During the summer months you can find the pop-up hotel Tender 2 at the beach of Knokke (Belgium). The pop-up hotel has two floors and is equipped with all the luxury and comfort. The hotel rooms are modern furnished and guests have the option of a personal butler, Michelin-starred food, a spa and a private beach. Tender 2 consists of plate glass and allows guests to enjoy the view of the sea in privacy. The pop-up hotel is located on the beach for the second year and will be open until 15 September.
Original Sayah liquor
26-7-2013
The Dutch Sayah drinks won silver with their spekkoek liquor during the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2013. Sayah is a real Indonesia liquor with the unique taste of spekkoek (a Dutch-Indonesian layered cake). Two Dutchmen’s with an Indonesian origin developed a liquor based on their origin, lifestyle and taste. Sayah has the taste of liquid cake, burnt sugar and spicy hints of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, anise, vanilla and nutmeg. The transparent liquor can be enjoyed pure with ice or mixed. Nice to drink with a rice table.
Les Halles NYC
26-7-2013
At this moment The French Bistro is very popular in New York. Leonie van Spronsen did visit one. She loves the French bistros in Paris so a small critical eye is unavoidable. But if you love the French bistro style and if you go to NY we recommend to try the French bistros with their American twists… Les Halles NYC – Park Avenue location.
You can see it from afar, the facade, the lanterns, even the tiny little terrace out front, there it is, Anthony Bourdain’s version of Paris! And yes, the food is delicious, prepared tableside, priced as it should in a French bistro and it is a lovely night out, don’t get me wrong I loved it, but I have to say, the feeling that I actually left Manhattan and stepped into Paris? Not really!
Alcohol free beverages and food pairing
26-7-2013
Alcohol free beverages and food pairing: Restaurant ‘In de keuken van Floris’ in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, provides a great example. They treat their guests, because of their their 7 year anniversary, on a free wine pairing during their nine-course dinner. For those who do not drink alcohol, they serve a freshly squeezed juices arrangement. They will treat their guests from Wednesday to Friday until August the 2nd 2013.
Portfolio-i
25-7-2013
Restaurant ‘t Schulten Hues (1 Michelin star) in Zutphen (The Netherlands) and Crystal Park New Media (also from Zutphen) presented the first Dutch interactive cook book for the iPad. With Portfolio-i you will meet the dynamic world around ‘t Schulten Hues in pictures and sound. De App is made under supervision of Chef Peter Gast, producer Gerbrand Pot (owner of Crystal Park New Media) and Paul Scholte (culinary redaction). On the app you will find interactive presentations of new dishes and recipes by Peter Gast; special wine-food combinations by host Jacqueline van liere; favorite recipes from 10 years ‘t Schulten Hues. With videos of local suppliers. Pictures by Peter Casell en Boy van Dulmen. Great to watch on your iPad during your holiday.
Foodtruck festival Haarlem
25-7-2013
The first edition of ‘Proefpark Haarlem’ will take place on 23, 24 and 25 August in Haarlem, the Netherlands. This festival is focused on food trucks, moving restaurants, chef cooks as artists, local produce and children festivities. Several moving restaurants will offer tastings and visitors are inspired to cook and eat more conscious and adventurous. The program includes cooking battles, cooking demonstrations of famous chef cooks from Haarlem and mini cooking workshops for children.
Douwe Egberts rewards yawns
24-7-2013
Douwe Egberts surprised travelers at the South African OR Tambo International Airport with a cup of coffee in a special way. The coffee machine has a special facial recognition program which treated yawning people with a cup of coffee. Douwe Egberts rewarded more than 210 yawns with a cup of coffee. I would like to see this coffee machine at the train stations in the Netherlands, for sure that I will get a cup of coffee when I am on my way to work! ^Laura
Tropicana city greenhouse
24-7-2013
The former swimming pool Tropicana will be converted into a city greenhouse where sustainability, creativity, entrepreneurship, food and coffee are the key. Where the old Wild Water Course was located, now rises a traditional coffee roaster and a coffee shop. The outdoor pool will be transformed into the summer terrace of restaurant ‘Picknick Rotterdam’. And at the mobile pizzeria Old Scuola you can order fresh pizzas made with mushrooms grown at the cellars of the former swimming pool. The new city greenhouse will be ready at the end of July 2013.
Creative variants of Gin & Tonic
23-7-2013
Bombay Sapphire asked five creatives and five enthusiasts of the hospitality industry to give their own interpretation of the classic Gin & Tonic. The result is ten interesting, creative and surprising cocktails. Like the cocoa hardcore of chocolatier Dominique Persoone or Hinky Pinky Robby by coffee roaster Eveline Hoorens. See all the creative approaches of the classic Gin & Tonic to get some inspiration here.
Urban Campsite
23-7-2013
Art and camping come together at the Urban Campsite. You can get acquainted with the Urban Campsite at camping Vliegenbos in Amsterdam from August 16 to September 30. Urban Campsite offers its guests the opportunity to stay in artistic, unusual and crazy mobile objects. They also offers all the other amenities like a normal camping. These six weeks are a pilot. It is thought that the concept settles in a number of years on a vacant ground in or around Amsterdam. For artists this is the ideal opportunity to exhibit their new objects and campers get the chance to camp near by a city in a special location.
Prepare meals with a drilling machine or hairdryer
22-7-2013
We all expect knives, forks and spoons in any kitchen, but what about hairdryers, drilling machines and paper shredders? At five restaurants in Chicago the chefs use power tools in the kitchen to prepare their meals. The cook at restaurant Primehouse uses a drill to drill off the ends of corn and makes cobs easier to hold. The cook at Bakersfield uses a paper shredder to cut tortillas into thin strips. Fun to see how to use these tools in the kitchen.
WineFoon Walk
22-7-2013
The first WineFood Walk was organized in Haarlem in 2010. In three years, this culinary discovery has become a success. This year there will be different WineFood Walks organized in nearly 30 cities in the Netherlands. The WineFood Walk is a culinary walk through cities, were all joining restaurants serve a wine food combination. For restaurants this is an ideal opportunity to increase their brand awareness and for hikers it offers the possibility to combine a city walk with food and wine.
Breakfast beer
19-7-2013
Martin House Brewing Company has developed a special breakfast beer with 5% alcohol, the ‘Day Break 4 Grain Breakfast Brew’. The beer is made of barley, wheat, oats, rye, local honey, milk and sugar. The honey, milk and sugar give the beer a unique sweetness. But whether this beer can really replace breakfast nor it is wise to have a drink before the afternoon starts… For youth at camp sites it might be a better breakfast than a beer to wash away their hangover.
Pay with your face
19-7-2013
A new payment system based on face recognition is introduced in Finland. The system is called Uniqul and guests can pay by showing their faces for the camera and wait for their profile to conform their purchase. No pin codes, credit cards, wallets or fingerprints anymore…. Uniqul wants to improve the safety and speed of transactions. We are curious how this technical system will develop the coming years. Who knows we will pay in a number of years with our face at a terrace or a hotel and we no longer need our wallet any more.
Restaurants with stunning views
18-7-2013
Tripadvisor gives an overview of ten restaurants with the stunning views all over the world. The video above is from restaurant Sierra Mar in California. The restaurant is located high at the cliffs, offering breathtaking views. The outstanding culinary dishes are complemented by wines from the award winning wine cellar of over 14,00 bottles. They have a 1,5 minute video on their website, showing us one of their biggest marketing values, their spectacular view during 24 hours. Watch the website Tripadvisor for more restaurants with stunning views.