Neat Burger | First location in London for this plant-based sustainable burger chain
10-9-2019
Five-time FIA Formula One World Champion, Lewis Hamilton is collaborating with hospitality organisation ‘The Cream Group’ and investors including UNICEF Ambassador and early backer of Beyond Meat, Tommaso Chiabra, to revolutionize fast food when they launched the new concept Neat Burger, a plant-based sustainable burger chain. They opened their first site on September 2nd just off Regent Street in London. Neat Burger promises to transform the way people see plant-based food by appealing to not only those who follow plant-based diets, but any individuals, meat-eaters included, who want to eat delicious meat-free dishes that are more sustainable, healthier and ethical. The team has ambitious plans to expand the concept globally with 14 franchises planned in the next 24 months.
We have been spotting a lot initiatives which include the burgers or other products by Beyond Meat. Burger King recently tested Beyond Fried Chicken™ which was sold out in no time and this September Subway will introduce the Beyond Meatball Marinara sub in 685 participating restaurants in Canada and the U.S. for a limited time only. As far as we know Neat Burger will be the first plant-based sustainable burger chain serving unique patties, specially created by their team of chefs in collaboration with Beyond Meat.
#PearPizza campaign | USA Pears promotes pears on pizza
9-9-2019
The pear season is about to start and as part of the kick-off for the 2019-20 Northwest pear season, USA Pears launched a campaign centered around #PearPizza. As it seems the beginning of 2019 was marked by the great pineapple pizza controversy, and now USA Pears is proudly declaring that there is nothing wrong with using fruit as a pizza topping. That being said, now it is time for pineapples to step aside for pears to triumph as the ultimate fruit to use as a pizza topping. The quest for their world pizza domination begins at FEAST Portland on September 14.
I love to make flammkuchen with blue cheese, hazelnuts and pears, so I can imagine enjoying a #PearPizza although I don’t like to eat a pizza with pineapple. In the past we even spotted pizza’s with chocolate so there are a lot of people enjoying a touch of sweetness on their pizza! In this article a link to more recipes with pears from USA Pears! ^Marjolein
Trends we spotted | Week 36
6-9-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about a ‘walking chocolate trolley’ at restaurant ‘El Celler de Can Roca’ with a Dutch element to it and a ‘High Tea with a twist’ at the Lobby Bar and The Restaurant of the Williamsburg hotel in Brooklyn, New York.
In 2020 Starbucks will deliver throughout the U.S. via Uber Eats and this fall a Dutch book called ‘Water, coffee beans & milk’ will be published in English as well.
Did you ever attend a Tank Party at a brewery? We never even heard of it, but the Camden Town Brewery Tank Party is held September 7 for the seventh year in a row!
Open house by JO&JOE moves in with IKEA at Vienna West Station
5-9-2019
JO&JOE moves in with IKEA at Vienna West Station, two innovative concept unite in one project. On the two upper floors of the planned city IKEA, near the Westbahnhof train station in Vienna, a JO&JOE open house arises. The JO&JOE brand (part of the Accor Group) combines hostel and traditional hotel elements with an attractive array of restaurants and services.
‘Not Native’ Guest Series | Tasting menu with undesirable species
5-9-2019
Native, London Bridge’s foraged-focused restaurant will launch the ‘Not Native’ guest series. Inviting chefs from across the UK, the series will highlight the UK’s edible non-native species by creating tasting menus formed primarily from undesirable species such as Japanese Knotweed, Grey Squirrel, Signal Crayfish and Wild Native Fal Oysters.
Launching this September, Head Chef and Co-founder Ivan Tisdall-Downes will work closely with a stellar line up of chefs including eco-chef and food waste activist Tom Hunt, award-winning food writer Olia Hercules and Sam Bryant & Alicja Specjalna of Whole Beast, famed for their nose-to-tail dining. Each will shine a spotlight on the versatility of wild British ingredients through the lens of global cuisines including Korean, Filipino, Ukrainian and Polish.
A nice way to process local products and products that are not desired in an area, into tasting menus. For example, did you know that you can eat the Japanese knotweed? At restaurant Native they create a delicious sorbet from it! We already reported that the gray squirrel is being eaten more and more in the UK, but it remains a special dish. Cool idea to seek collaboration with colleagues for a sustainable way of cooking!
Trends we spotted | Week 35
30-8-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to 2 articles with inspiration for bakeries, such as ‘Pie Night’ from Dominique Ansel Kitchen in New York and small, bread cubes from ‘MilkCow in Boots’ from Korea.
But also inspiration for pizzerias, like a pizza & prosciutto tower from the Luigia Group and in the USA Beyond Fried Chicken ™ passed the test, within 5 hours all vegetarian pieces of chicken were sold during a test!
The Belgium/Dutch restaurant ‘Frites Atelier’ sells the tastiest fries in Europe according to Big Seven Travel. And inspiration for hotels: have you already received a request from an influencer to livestream a ‘mukbang’ at your place? The W hotel in Washington D.C. has created the ‘Sip & Slurp’ arrangement!
Beer meets gastronomy | Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’ from brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’
26-8-2019
The new Dutch brewery ‘De Goede & De Stoute’ (The Good & the Naughty) was awarded at the World Beer Awards and the International Beer Challenge at the beginning of August with their first gastronomic Brut Beer ‘Vuurzee’. ‘Vuurzee’ has been voted the country winner for best taste in the category ‘Specialty Beer: Brut Beer’ at the World Beer Awards 2019. ‘Vuurzee’ is an elegant blond beer (tripel) prepared with the Pinot Noir grape and champagne yeast.
At the International Beer Challenge 2019, ‘Vuurzee’ won gold for the best design & packaging of the bottle in the category ‘Newcomers: Individual Product’. Both beer competitions are among the most professional beer competitions in the world. De Goede & De Stoute brewery can make extra investments to expand the production process and thus meet the increasing demand through a crowdfunding campaign (funded for more than 100%).
Trends we spotted | Week 34
23-8-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about the Taco Bell hotel in Palm Springs and about a gnocchi sandwich at Luzzo’s Pizzeria in New York, comfort food to the max!
In addition, the delivery service Deliveroo has recently withdrawn from the German market. Optimus Ride has started an extensive test with self-driving vehicles in New York, with which they consciously try to increase confidence in these systems. And we have spotted a new ‘Instagrammable’ ice cream parlour in London, Taiyakiya.
Domino’s® Pizza and Rad Power® Bikes | E-Bike program for delivery in the US
23-8-2019
Domino’s Pizza, the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, knows a thing or two about pizza delivery, including the fact that cars aren’t always the most efficient way to get hot, delicious pizzas to hungry customers. A bike is often a better solution to traffic congestion and parking challenges. Domino’s stores across the nation will soon have the option to use custom e-bikes for pizza delivery through a partnership with Rad Power® Bikes – North America’s largest e-bike brand.
Domino’s Pizza has also tested Robots for delivery but don’t you think that e-bikes are more likely to be used in the short term? In the Netherlands we spotted a couple of delivery services that use e-bikes as well.
Rad Power® Bikes is also located in the Netherlands (Utrecht) from where their team is working to build similar partnerships with European companies as well. For example, a fleet of their e-bikes are used in three European cities in a program called ELVITEN that demonstrates how electric light vehicles can improve mobility in urban areas. Below the article a video about this project that already started in cities like Bari, Genoa (both Italy) and Málaga in Spain.
Cleanyst | A ‘sodastream’ for cleaning and personal care products
22-8-2019
Cleanyst recently launched an at home mixing system for creating natural home and body care products with minimal plastic waste. In May 2019 their product, developed by industry professionals, was backed for more than 200% for their crowdfunding at Kickstarter. The ‘reusable bottle system makes plant-based cleaning and personal care products with concentrated ingredients shipped in minimal packaging.
Great product for households but we could imagine that it might be a great asset for B&B’s and small luxury hotels as well! You could create your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and tub and tile cleaner.
Plant based Sushi | Pop-up store Amsterdam
16-8-2019
Until the end of August, a pop-up ‘Plant Based Sushi’ restaurant is open on the 3rd floor at De Ruimte in Amsterdam North (Distelweg 83). The sushi they serve is far from boring. How does miso-marinated tofu with bimi and onion jam sound? Or grilled eggplant with berry rice?
Inspiration from 2018 | Matcha
13-8-2019
In 2015 we wrote about Leonie van Spronsen who had a Matcha latte in Paris at the Maison Kitsuné, i.e. green coloured latte. Lately, we have also seen lattes in other colours passing by. In this article you’ll find some inspiration in regards to coloured lattes.
Inspiration from 2018 | A list of alternatives to replace your plastic straws
12-8-2019
The use of plastic straws has already been abolished in several American cities. Last year, the European Commission also proposed to ban the use of plastic disposable items per 2021. Several parties have now taken the initiative to ban plastic straws permanently. They came up with sustainable alternatives. In this article from 2018 we came up with some alternatives!
Pop-up stores at your summer destination
8-8-2019
Lately, pop-up stores seem to be everywhere. Curious if there will be one at your summer destination? In this article you’ll read which pop-up stores we have seen passing by and which ones will still be there coming period.
Inspiration from 2018 l The (arcade)games are back
6-8-2019
These last few years we see them more and more often, arcade games in the hospitality and leisure industry. Pinball machines, air-hockey and pool tables, it’s all coming back. Cool concepts that focus on a specific game or sport and where eating and drinking does come in second.
The rise of ping-pong bars has been going on a while now. In all major Dutch cities there are now bars where people can enjoy a game of ping-pong with friends. The last few years also pétanque bars seem to have joined this movement (such as Mooie Boules in Amsterdam and Rotterdam), Airhockey concepts (Puck) and even some more “fancy” places (Flight Club Darts Londen).
Besides this, concepts like TonTon Club really try to take their guests back in time with games such as Mortal Kombat and Time Shooters to relive their childhood memories. On the other hand there are places that really focus on the younger generation and their needs. E-sport bars like Meltdown are places where you can both play e-sports and watch big live e-sport events.
In summary, it can be concluded that for the people who love games this movement is more than amazing!
Inspiration from 2018 (and 2019) | Non-alcoholic drinks
5-8-2019
Not just demand for healthy food is increasing, but also demand for healthy drinks. In 2018 we have seen a lot of product releases of non-alcoholic beers, drinks and cocktails. In this article you will find an overview of all non-alcoholic drinks we have seen. Which one is your favorite?
Inspiration from 2018 | The Dirty Cookie, coffee or tea shots served in cookies
5-8-2019
Inspiration from 2018 – a very Instagrammable cookie cup! Based on the American dessert ‘Milk & Cookies’ but the other way around. We didn’t spot those cookies cups in the Netherlands yet.
Located at the Union Market Tustin in Los Angeles, The Dirty Cookie, a unique cookie shot glass concept. They sell all kind of flavours in Cookie shots that are made in-house. We even read at FoodBeast that they make purple Ube Cookie Shots and Matcha Green Tea Cookie Shots. The basic remains the same, instead of dipping your cookie in milk, coffee or any other liquid at The Dirty Cookie the liquid gets poured in the cookie.
Inspiration from 2018 | The Moonshine Raceway at ‘The Four Thieves’ pub
1-8-2019
Inspiration from 2018 with a very current touch, the Moonshine Raceway, which we spotted in the ‘The Four Thieves’ pub in London. The current touch is for the Dutchies, with the arrival of the racing circuit in Zandvoort and the successes of Max Verstappen, such a racetrack might be a big success in your pub!
Moonshine Raceway is a sporting activity which provides the opportunity to experience the thrills and spills of REAL motorsport. It’s safe, inexpensive and great fun! Drivers will be invited to take the wheel of one of 10 perfectly performance matched top range super-cars, using real steering and pedal controls to pilot their cars to victory. The first Moonshine raceway opened in 2017 at the pub and microbrewery ‘The Four Thieves’ in London.
Burger Pride| Ter Marsch & Co celebrates Gay pride with pink burger buns
1-8-2019
In honour of the Amsterdam Pride Ter Marsch & Co takes a colourful approach. Besides the eclectic interior existing of powerful patterns, colours and flowers, they now also offer high-profile colours on a plate. This week, Ter Marsch & Co will be serving colourful pink burger buns from her own bakery, prepared by the great baker Edwin Klaasen. And who knows this may be integrated, after all it’s not their first controversial activity. To follow up on this matter, everyone who shows their pink panties on the third of august stands a chance of winning a free pink burger.
Are you going to London this summer? A number of ‘trendy’ places to visit!
31-7-2019
We spot a lot of inspiration in London for hospitality trends. Below is a short list with a number of great, ‘trendy’ places to visit. By the way, the Dominique Ansel Bakery in London where we wrote about yesterday is a great experience as well!
Inspiration from 2018 | What-a-Melon
30-7-2019
Inspiration from London: Dominique Ansel Bakery in London served soft serve in a slice of watermelon sourced from Italy last summer. The ice cream, called What-a-Melon, was made with fresh watermelon juice and ‘seeds’ made of dark chocolate. It first launched at Dominique Ansel Bakery in Tokyo in 2017.
Ice Cream served in lemons or oranges is quite common but in a slice of watermelon? It looks great and delicious though! Inspiration for ice cream parlors.
Inspiration from 2018 | Robots
29-7-2019
In the Netherlands restaurants, hotels and bars face a big shortage of staff! Many hospitality entrepreneurs will sometimes miss a robot in service! We wonder when we will see robots in the Dutch hospitality industry?
YOTEL, the affordable luxury hotel brand, announces their new hire in their Boston hotel, YO2D2. The Seaport hotel is known for its of-the-moment technology offerings which include super-fast (and free) WiFi, self-service check-in via mobile app and sleek cabins with SmartBeds™ and Technowalls. With this latest tech enhancement, guests can look forward to receiving amenities from and taking selfies with YOTEL’s newest crew member, YO2D2.
Would you like to eat in a robot-run restaurant? Or would you prefer a restaurant in which the waiter is being helped by a robot that helps them carry your food? Bear Robotics is designed not to replace human waiters but to act as an assistant. Korean restaurant Kang Nam Tofu House in Milpitas, California is the first to try out Bear Robotics.
Spyce is a Boston-based restaurant, founded by MIT graduates and backed by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud. At Spyce, robots produce healthy fast food at affordable prices. At the newly-opened establishment all bowls start at USD 7.50, the prices are lower than at similar restaurants as robots save on human labor expenses and the robots work fast! The robots prepare your meal in 2 minutes and as you can watch in the video underneath the article, they even clean up their own mess!
Trends we spotted | Week 30
26-7-2019
At hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the smaller trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about ice cream dumplings which are at the menu of Oddfellows in New York City and about The Grid, a combination of Escape rooms & cocktails in London. A new concept by Lollipop’s.
In Hong Kong Fairwood eSports Café will open and it will be the first eSports café in the city which will be a dining destination as well. In Croatia they spotted smart city benches which are also internet hot spots. Created by the firm Include. And Tokyo is getting its own ‘Bubble Tea’ theme park!
In an American article we have spotted the pre-dinner drink Haus, a start-up in aperitifs with a lower alcohol level than other spirits. Sounds delicious! And start-up Third Aurora is busy creating self-translating wine labels! With a link to a video how this works!
Starbucks Now | Starbucks unveiled their express retail store experience in Beijing
25-7-2019
Starbucks recently opened its first Starbucks Now™ store – an innovative, express retail experience that seamlessly integrates Starbucks physical and digital customer touchpoints. Combining the signature Starbucks café environment with Mobile Order & Pay and Starbucks Delivers™ customer experiences, this streamlined experience allows customers and delivery riders to conveniently get their favorite beverages and food at Starbucks.
Pick & Cheese | Pick your choice of cheese of their conveyor belt
23-7-2019
A new opening from the team behind The Cheese Bar, Pick & Cheese, a cheese-laden conveyor belt in Covent Garden. Forget your traditional cheese and wine bar: Mathew Carver, known for championing the best of British cheese, is ripping up the rulebook with Pick & Cheese, the world’s first cheese conveyor belt at the highly-anticipated Seven Dials Market from the team behind KERB.
Opening in September 2019, Pick & Cheese will give each guest a bespoke cheese experience: plate after plate of small producer cheese will wind their way around the restaurant atop a 40 metre-long electronic belt, as diners follow Mathew’s suggested tasting flights, or simply help themselves to that day’s selection as it passes their table.
Conveyor belts can be used for other food that just sushi! Are you going to London this fall and you love to try different cheeses from the UK? Pick & Cheese is where you should eat!