Rent a smartphone in Hong Kong
15-3-2013
Hong Kong-based Handy is leasing Android smartphones out to visitors, pre-loaded with free calls, 3G internet access and apps to help them navigate their destination. Handy provides users with the most up-to-date information and the latest happenings in Hong Kong. The smartphones can be picked up from the Hong Kong International Airport and it is possible to connect the phones with laptops to the internet and helps tourist avoid spending time looking for free wi-fi. Earlier we saw that tourist can hire a tablet with free wi-fi in Singapore and guests of the London’s Stratford Holiday Inn can use a Samsung Galaxy S III during their stay.
Culinary cocktail lab
15-3-2013
A nice new concept of molecular chef cook José Andrés. The cook has several restaurants in Washington and opened a cocktail bar named ‘Barmini’ in the space adjoining restaurant ‘Minibar’. More than one hundred artisan cocktails are crafted and served with the combination of art and science as well as tradition and technique. Earlier we saw that José Andrés applied his innovative style to the American cuisine at restaurant America Eats Tavern.
Now you are cooking
14-3-2013
The new blog ‘Now you’re cooking’ developed by Electrolux, helps prepare the tastiest dishes. The blog collects cooking videos, exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ material and thus inspires food lovers. Often it is impossible to keep pace with the TV cook during cooking. You can turn the movies of ‘Now you’re cooking’ on the cooking mode, so you can easily cook at the same time as the chef cook. The video shows short pieces of text that will help you go through the cooking process and when you pause the video the cooking process is even step by step explained.
Classy red cups
14-3-2013
The famous red cups used in the United States are redesigned into a classy and fancy shape. The old red cups weren’t classy enough pouring wine into it so the Red Cup Living designed four new cups that debuted at the International Housewares Association show. The cups are also reusable.
You are not funny
14-3-2013
A great announcement of a comedy festival that takes place from 27 March till 21 April in Melbourne. Well, maybe her husband isn’t that funny, but this commercial definitely is!
Free access to the New York Times at Starbucks
14-3-2013
Soon people will be able to get free access to 15 articles a day of the New York Times through the Starbucks Digital Network. Starbucks customers will be able to view three articles a day from five different sections. This action approach benefits for both companies, because it attracts people to visit Starbucks over a local coffee shop and it widens the reach of the New York Times.
Limonchili with lemon and red pepper
13-3-2013
Milan Gennissen and Frank van Nieuwhuizen, two young Dutch entrepreneurs, have developed an innovative version of the famous Italian lemon liqueur Limoncello: Limonchili. Limonchili is made from organic lemons from Sicily and combined with biological red peppers. The lemons are all hand peeled. The Limonchili contains 24% alcohol and has a soft taste that is enriched with the touch of red pepper which gives a slight tingling on the tongue. For the restaurants, Limonchili can be added as an extra course and be served between the dessert and coffee.
Writing with wine
13-3-2013
The pens of Casa Mariol are filled with a special ink based on the winery’s best Cabernet Sauvignon instead of ink. These pens are great as a business gift by wine sellers. And if there are Dutch wine sellers who are going to sell these pens inspired by our article.. We would love to have one!
Applications of 140 seconds
13-3-2013
During an application procedure for the position ‘Manager Social Media and Digital Advertising’ the Pizza Hut kept interviews of 140 seconds. The Pizza Hut believes that people who can sell themselves in 140 seconds should be good at selling the company in 140 characters on Twitter. A special way to let people apply for a function and to put your company in the spotlight.
Cocktails by robot Bartendro
13-3-2013
We’ve seen robot bartenders before, but with the robot ‘Bartendro’ (designed by Kickstarter) you can make cocktails quickly and repeatedly. The ‘Bartendro’ can easily make cocktails within ten seconds. The robot machine can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet via WI-fi and with the special administrator screen you can manage dispensers, ingredients and drink recipes. It is also possible to view reports of the drinks made. Watch the video to see how the machine works.
A new edible flower by Koppert Cress
12-3-2013
The company Koppert Cress has developed a new edible flower, named Vananco Leaves. The purple flower with white accents has a neutral taste and is widely applicable. Because of the color the flower matches well with desserts, salads or both fish and meat. The Vananco Leaves are originated in the Asian rainforest and grows in moist places. Koppert Cress offers Vananco Leaves that are specially grown for consumption and can safely be used in dishes.
Pizza box with a live performance of a popstar
12-3-2013
Domino’s Japan has launched a packaging design for its pizza boxes and a special iPhone App featuring the virtual popstar ‘Hatsune Miku’. The iPhone app comes with a social camera function which allows you to take pictures of yourself and ‘Hatsune Miku’. When your pizza is delivered you can point your phone’s camera toward the box and it will turn into a dancing stage to watch and listen to Miku’s performance.
Fashion Saturday in Hotel Bristol Paris
12-3-2013
Watching a fashion show of one of the great Parisian fashion designers during a high tea with a glass of champagne on a Saturday afternoon in Paris,? That is exactly what is possible at the Salon Castellane in the Bristol hotel in Paris. Because of the friendly and accessible concept, they have been managed to persuade a few major fashion houses for a show. The designers from Celine, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Chloé, Christian Lacroix, Versace and Ungaro all showed their latest collections. The hotel also wants to give fashion shows by the designers of tomorrow. Something for the Amstel hotel or Krasnapolsky hotel in Amsterdam?
Apartment complex for large groups
12-3-2013
Singapore-based Wangz opened ‘The Forest by Wangz’ serviced apartments in December 2011. The apartments are designed to cater for single and couple travelers, be it for business or leisure. Each apartment has a kitchenette and communal dining area, allowing groups to cook or eat together. The building has also been designed with extra doors fitted in the corridors, so that several rooms can be privately sectioned off for slightly larger families.
CulinaryArtbazaar brings hospitality entrepreneurs together
11-3-2013
On 24 March 2013 the first CulinaryArtbazaar will be organized in the Netherlands, an event for and by hospitality entrepreneurs. During the CulinaryArtbazaar suppliers of quality product have the opportunity to be in contact with restaurant owners. In an informal atmosphere they can show their products. There will also be a live cooking and artists and retailers can present their products. A special part of the event is the auction for KWF Dutch Cancer Society. The event is an initiative of chief cook Roderick Rijsdam and artist Monique van der Meijden.
Destination Shibuya Station in Milan
11-3-2013
Fastweb, the second largest network in Italy, wants 20% of the Italian population to enjoy fast Internet via fiber by the end of 2014. This guerrilla action is set to announce the introduction. To visualize the speed Fastweb has created a unique experience in Milan: a trip to Shibuya Station, Tokyo within one stop of a subway station. Fastweb transformed the station in detail, displays, kiosks, audio information in Japanese and a Japanese audience. By using QR codes the experience could be shared through social media. Perhaps an idea for restaurants, to convert a bus stop into a mini-restaurant for one day and spoil the travelers?
Paint Your Pizza and then order it
11-3-2013
Paint your own pizza and then order it. This is possible at ‘Paint your Pizza’ a project by the Swedish artist Jonas Lund. New York-based ‘Paint Your Pizza’ arose from another project Lund created last year called The Paintshop, which offers a platform on which online users can collaboratively paint pictures and then sell their creations . ‘Paint Your Pizza’ offers an online “canvas” upon which visitors can create the image of their dream pizza. Through a partnership with New York City’s Famous Original Ray’s Pizza, customers can then order an edible version of their creation for delivery to the door.
Easy Morning Wiener Fruhstuck
11-3-2013
Viral by DDB-Tribal in Vienna, we only post it for those who have problems waking up especially on a Monday morning! An easy breakfast like this at McDonald’s looks really tempting.
Great, smaller portions for the same price
8-3-2013
In November 2012, 20 restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil, launched an initiative where their guest could choose for smaller portion sizes, while still paying the full price. ‘Satisfeito’ (‘Satisfied, in Portuguese) dishes were 1/3 smaller than the usual dishes. The money saved from serving these smaller dishes has been donated to the Instituto Alana, an organization fighting child malnutrition in Brazil. Satisfeito is a global movement that aims to alleviate child hunger and prevent food waste by providing restaurants and their customers with the chance to help organizations feeding starving children around the world.
LED light balloons
8-3-2013
These balloons are lighted by small LED lights. The LED lights are placed in the opening of the balloon and after that the balloon can be inflated (also with helium). The LED lights have multiple modes and are reusable. These illuminated balloons are great for decoration at a party, event or in a nightclub.
Wine list on the bottle
8-3-2013
The modern Greek restaurant ‘Lemonia’, located on the edge of Utrecht, presents their wine list in a special way. They put a wine bottle with a wine list label at each table. The label has a description of the wines and the price per glass / bottle.
Photo is looking for family
8-3-2013
Action by Go-Tan: the company collaborates with the ‘Tropenmuseum’ to start the action ‘Photo is looking for family’ to find the rightful owners of 335 family albums under former inhabitants of Dutch East Indies. Go-Tan put stickers with family photos on 80.000 ’emping’ bags to reach people who have lost an album, or can help identifying owners of an album.
Easter: Sea Beggars meal in an egg
7-3-2013
Easter is in the air! In the coming weeks we will occasionally publish remarkable recipes or action on horecatrends. For example, the trend of the last year Special Easteregg. Do you have a special recipe or does your restaurant or hotel plan a special activity, let us know by mail via tip@spronsen.com . Who knows your company might be on horecatrends.
Every year on April 1st the liberation of the Spanish occupation by ‘Sea Beggars’ is celebrated in Brielle, The Netherlands. During this day the people of Brielle wear historical clothing and they perform in the open air theater ‘the key to the city’. This year the activity coincides with Easter. Brasserie Hotel De Nymph serves the traditional ‘Sea Beggars’ meal consisting of marrowfats, bacon, fried onions, piccalilli, pickles, stewed meat and boiled potatoes. Because the festival coincides with Easter, Brasserie The Nymph combines Easter with the ‘Sea Beggars’ meal and serves the meal in egg shape.
New packaging design McDonald’s
7-3-2013
McDonald’s has launched new packaging designs on all carry-out bags and fountain beverage cups. The new packaging is designed to communicate brand stories in an engaging and modern way. The packaging is a blend of text, illustration and a QR code and will deliver interesting facts about de brand. It makes information easily accessible from mobile devices. The packaging is launched in the United States and will be rolled out worldwide through 2013.
T-shirts for the breakfast chef
7-3-2013
Fun t-shirts to be to be worn by the chef at the breakfast buffet..