Magnum Pleasure Store Amsterdam
5-6-2013
The Magnum Pleasure Store opened in Amsterdam last week. The pop-up store will only be open this summer. Visitors can create their own, custom made, Magnum ice-cream. Customizing starts with a base of vanilla ice cream dipped in white/milk/dark chocolate. Then, toppings can be added such as hazelnuts, meringue pieces, coconut, nougat or brownie pieces. Visitors experience a moment of joy and peace in the store. Before, the Magnum Pleasure Store was already available in London, Paris and Milan.
Bombay Sapphire East
5-6-2013
Bombay Sapphire gin has recently introduced a new gin; the Bombay Sapphire East. This gin contains 12 different herbs. The recipe of the Bombay Sapphire East is based on the original Bombay Sapphire recipe with the same ingredients like the juniper berries, lemon peel, almonds, coriander and liquorice. For this edition oriental herbs are added: lemongrass and black peppercorns. The result is a light citrus gin in the nose and a complex spicy aftertaste.
Scrabble Wi-Fi
5-6-2013
In Paris you can get free Wi-Fi by playing Scrabble on your phone. Paris has got quite a lot of places where Wi-Fi is not available, so Ogilvy Paris introduced the game Scrabble Wi-Fi. Scrabble placed three Wi-Fi hotspots in the city where correct spelling and creative use of language was rewarded. Create any word using up to seven letters for the password and the score will be converted into free Wi-Fi minutes. So the higher your score, the longer the connection.
Safetray
5-6-2013
Sometimes it happens that the waitress in a restaurant drops the tray accidentally and knocks over all drinks. With the ‘Safetray’ this will not happen again quickly. There is a ‘All-important clip’ placed under the ‘Safetray’ where you can easily support your finger, so the tray will be much more stable. A useful gadget for restaurants!
Ice cream parlor Rocambolesc
4-6-2013
Jordi Roca, one of the three brothers behind top restaurant El Celler de Can Roca *** is the owner of the ice cream parlor ‘Rocambolesc’ in the center of Girona. In the ice cream parlor they prepare freshly made ice cream with the recipe and ingredients of top restaurant El Celler de Can Roca. The ice creams are available in six different flavors, in cones or tubs, combined with up to 34 funny toppings. They offer desserts with ice creams in a special take-away kit so you can prepare it at home. They create new products throughout the year. Such as hot ice cream filled buns or ice-cream muffins. The design of the ice cream parlor is inspired by the magical world of Willy Wonka. The ice cream parlor has a funny and playful look and everything is worked out to the smallest detail. Definitely worth to visit Racombolesc when you are in Girona!
Barburrito
4-6-2013
Morgan and Paul are on a mission to make the ultimate burrito and created Barburrito. The first Barburrito was founded in 2005 in Manchester city. Currently Barburrtio has multiple locations. Inspired by the street stalls of Mexico, fresh, honest and simple Mexican dishes are prepared. Guests can compose their own burrito, burrito bowl, taco’s or nachos with a meat of veggie filling, salsa and toppings. All dishes are available for take-away. Barburrtio has been nominated for the Restaurant and Bar Design Award 2013.
Forbidden fruit
4-6-2013
Fruit and chocolate is a familiar and popular combination, and it comprises a (bit) healthier sweet-treat too. The ‘Forbidden Fruit NYC’ shop offers a varied assortment of fruit dipped in white/ milk/ dark chocolate sprinkled with toppings such as walnuts, coconut and sprinkles. The range of fruit consists of bananas, strawberries, oranges dipped in chocolate. But also apple slices, raspberries, blackberries and pineapples are available as well. Each month there is a chocolate-of-the-month available, like spicy Mexican chocolate, cinnamon chocolate or peppermint chocolate. The fruit dipped in chocolate looks tasty, cheerful and will be especially popular among women.
Tomato wine
4-6-2013
Who says you need grapes to make a fine wine? Wine maker Pascal Miche uses tomatoes to produce the special Omerto tomato wine. Omerto is the very first aperitif tomato wine in the world. Four generations ago the family recipe for the tomato wine was invented in Belgium, but the wine is now produced in Baie St-Paul, Canada. The wine is made from a special blend of heirloom tomatoes. The entire process, from field to bottle lasts about nine months.
Twitter concierge
4-6-2013
The Manhatten hotel in Rotterdam adapts to the Twitter hype in the Netherlands. The hotel is the first hotel in the Netherlands who has a twittering concierge. The concierge Lesley Klavert keeps the guests informed by Twitter about tourist attractions, restaurants, nightlife and events in Rotterdam. Guests can also ask questions via the Twitter account @conciergeRTM. Through the Twitter by the concierge, the hotel can keep the guests informed even before they come to Rotterdam.
High Wine
3-6-2013
Restaurant Moerstede in Bergen op Zoom organizes a High Wine with culinary tapas on June 19. Led by a wine connoisseur, they will make a wine journey through different countries served with matching culinary tapas. A nice initiative that reminded us of the idea of a High Wine or High Bubbles from our booklet ‘Royal Hospitable Gestures‘. Based on the fact that in the Netherlands affordable High Tea is doing very well at restaurants and at various catering locations at garden centers. The success of these High Tea, Wine and Bubbles? You should just be able to walk in and order, so no reservations. It should be affordable and with lots of appetizers. It gives your guests the opportunity to pamper themselves (a bit luxury at an affordable way).
Swim-up bars
3-6-2013
Tripadvisor gives an overview of ten swim-up bars all over the world. The photos are of the Punta Islita Hotel in Costa Rica. The hotel is located on the beach and is built against a mountain. The hotel has a swim-up bar in the infinity pool. Order a drink at the swim-up bar and enjoy the view out of the infinity pool. Watch the website Tripadvisor for more swim-up bars.
Launch DJ Mag
31-5-2013
This Monday DJ Mag Netherlands launched its first episode at Club Air in Amsterdam. Thomas Cech and Jeroen Kiepe published the Dutch version of the infamous international magazine for the dance scene. Anthony Donner and Sarah Strijker are the editor of the magazine that has an interactive Layar app for extra video content and background information. The website is interactive, copiled according to user profiles. DJ Mag Netherlands will provide young DJ-talent a multichannel platform and will organize events as well.
Share your coke with a friend
31-5-2013
Coca Cola has launched a lot of different campaigns to share happiness. Like the vending machine you need to hug to get a coke, the vending machine where you need a friend to grab a can or a bottle with a name on it. But there was one thing you couldn’t share, the can itself. Therefore Coca Cola has introduced the ‘sharing can’. You can split this can into two separate cans and share it with your friend.
Kiwigerine, Bananaberry and Pinegrape
31-5-2013
Brazil is home to many exotic fruits, but even the locals at a food market where surprised when they tasted a (red) banana with the taste of a strawberry. To promote the new Philips blender, ad agency Ogilvy Brazil has developed new fruit: the Kiwigerine, Bananaberry and Pinegrape. They worked together with molecular gastronomist Clecia Ribeiro to develop three types of fruits with deviant flavors. A banana with a strawberry flavor, a kiwi flavored with tangerines and a pineapple with grape flavor. The exotic look and surprising taste aroused great curiosity among the locals.
Hands free Whopper
31-5-2013
The Burger King in Puerto Rico has developed a gadget for the Whopper to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The ‘Hands free Whopper’ offers the possibility to eat a Whopper without using your hands and having to stop what you are doing. 50 loyal customers of Burger King Puerto Rico got this gadget. But whether this gadget is really useful…?
Improve your cutting skills
30-5-2013
This particular cookbook helps you to improve your cutting skills, even before you start cooking. To open the book and see the recipes your have to cut carefully along a thin line. This cookbook was originally designed as a learning tool for a cooking class.
Mobile Orchard
30-5-2013
A special art object has been commissioned as the centerpiece installation for the City of London Festival this year. The ‘Mobile Orchard’ is a tree that consists of multiple layers of wood and the roots and branches offer sitting space and climbing adventure. The branches contain LED lighting that creates a cozy atmosphere in the evening. The tree holds 500 real apples, which visitors are encouraged to pluck. The shape of the tree provides shadow and is a great hang-out for visitors of the festival. Maybe it is interesting to place an art object like this in a city in the Netherlands to offer a hang-out for visitors.
Wi-Fi during flight
30-5-2013
KLM and Air France started offering on board Wi-Fi during a flight. KLM and Air France will run a pilot on board of two Boeing 777-300 aircrafts for one year. Thanks to the Wi-Fi service all passengers can use the internet through their smartphone, laptop or tablet to communicate with the outside world during the flight. Beside this, passengers can use a wide range of free services such as information about their destination and the airline or the latest news. Once the airplane is at a height of 6 km, the Wi-Fi is available. Passengers need to pay a fee of € 10.95 per hour or € 19.95 for the entire flight.
Banana Ambassador
29-5-2013
To attract more tourists to Ecuador, the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Banana Ambassador’ campaign. Bananas from Ecuador are shipped worldwide and therefore the ideal marketing tool. Each banana has a sticker with a QR-code, when someone scans the code the promotional video of Ecuador is played. After the video the website of the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism is opened. With over 24 millions tons of bananas leaving Ecuador, the campaign has a wide range. A similar promotion could be launched by cities to attract tourists, by providing the local products with a QR-code. And what would happen if we put a QR-code of Holland on every package of our tulips?
Flying store E-mart
29-5-2013
The Korean discount chain E-mart has launched a campaign which they want to attract more customers. E-mart developed a “flying shop” in the form of a truck balloon. The balloon flies around different locations, to reach customers not living near an E-mart location. People can connect to the balloon’s Wi-Fi signal and can directly download coupons with discount or purchase products via the mobile app. Through the action the sales in stores and the mobile sales increased.
Skinny coke vending machine
29-5-2013
Coca Cola shows in a special way that the diet coke contains no sugars nor calories. This vending machine is elegant and skinny and can easily be placed.
Midtown Pop-Up Hotel
28-5-2013
As a solution for the real estate crisis in Manhattan, the Copenhagen-based architects of PINKCLOUD have designed the Midtown Pop-Up Hotel. The PINKCLOUD Midtown Pop-Up Hotel is designed in such a way that it can easily transform an empty office space into a hotel. The clients can order different modules, varying from a hang-out for backpackers to luxury suites. This enables clients to create any hotel they want. The modules can easily be transported by truck and can easily be traced by the RFID tag.
Try the world
28-5-2013
‘Life is too short to not try everything that’s out in the world..’ Kat and David are both travelers and the founders of ‘Try the world’. The company wants to offer boxes with products from all over the world. The products offered are difficult to find in the United States and are composed by Try The World’s team of travelers as well as local experts. Because the founders have a personal connection with Paris, the first ‘Try the World’ box contains products from the suppliers around France. Hopefully the Americans will quickly discover the delicious Dutch treacle-waffle, licorice candy, croquettes and cheese.
Dinner in the sky
27-5-2013
Breakfast, lunch or drinking cocktails in the sky.. Nowadays it’s all possible. Approximately 40 sky high franchise around the world serve dinners at a height of 180 foot. A table for 22 people is lifted by a crane to a height of 180 foot with three staff in the middle (chef, waiter, server) who provide dinner. A second crane with a platform (or more if desired) at the same height as the table is possible, for entertainment such as music or presentations. This brings dinner to a totally different level. Dinner in the sky started as a publicity stunt six years ago, and has become a huge success. The company also offers marriage, lounge and showbiz in the sky.
Hotel allows guests to shop 24-7
27-5-2013
The Mark Hotel in New York recently agreed to an exclusive partnership with fashion store Bergdorf Goodman that will allow its guests to shop at any fashion store at any time. The hotel guests will have 24/7 access to a personal shopper in the fashion store. A hospitable gesture.. that is for sure!