What does the catering industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus | Inspiration March 27
Our perspective on the world has completely changed during the past couple of weeks, a true paradigm shift! At this very moment it’s important to constantly fact check all the news about the Coronavirus, a lot of fake and scary news has been spotted at the social media. For example at a website in the U.S. we came across a question whether or not food could be a source of the virus. Fortunately they also gave the official answer of the CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Protection) but please don’t believe strange advices!
We also spotted a lot of positive inspiration. So, we want to show you some small positive gestures and inspiration during these anxious times.
Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends
Very positive news is that we see a lot of people unite and not only in the health care. We even spotted an online game in which gamers can help the university of Washington’s Center for Game Science to create a medicine.
In France the Accor Group, a hotel chain, opened the CEDA (Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor) telephone helpdesk. They help to accommodate homeless people trough France in conjunction with the government.
We spot a lot of positive initiatives by restaurants, like for example #JREwhatsinthefridge and other ones to keep in touch with their guests. In the Netherlands, one of our chefs with two Michelin stars started a video making a delicious daily meal. And many more individuals give tutorials, which made us laugh is the reaction of a famous chef in an Instagram story: “After two days in quarantine and watching many cooking videos, I understand why so many of you come to restaurants” ?
In most languages there is a saying like ‘money can’t buy happiness’ but if you’re very rich you can buy a ‘Covid-19 themed exclusive package’ at Le Bijou Hotels & Resorts in Switzerland. But if you’re entertaining your kids at home, you could make them happy with a ‘toilet paper’ cake!
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
Online puzzle platform help scientists crowdsource coronavirus treatment
Foldit is an online puzzle platform that uses games to help scientists create new medicine. Created by the University of Washington’s Center for Game Science, Foldit is marketed for everyone to play, whether or not they have a scientific background. Players download the game, register a username and put themselves in the running to create a medicine which makes a difference to the lives of millions of people. Read the Takeaway about this initiative at the website of Springwise!
Check the idea behind the puzzle in this video! At the website of Foldit they will publish update videos, so if you love to play online games, join them!
Covid 19 | Mobilization of Accor Group
The CEDA telephone helpdesk – Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor – has been created in order to centralize needs and provide accommodation solutions across France in collaboration with Accor Group’s hotel owners and the relevant authorities. As a result, requests can be sent directly by email to ceda@accor.com. This platform means we can respond quickly to needs and emergency situations.
So far, more than 40 hotels (hotelF1, ibis budget, ibis, ibis styles, Mercure and Novotel) are offering a total capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 beds to accommodate homeless people throughout the country. Accor is continuing to work in conjunction with the Minister for Cities and Housing, Julien Denormandie, and Samu Social (emergency service for the homeless) to continue to identify additional needs and respond as effectively as possible to requests nationwide.
#JREwhatsinthefridge and other initiatives to keep in touch with your guests
JRE Chefs challenge each other to cook from their homes and show you how to prepare a healthy and delicious meal with what they find in their fridges. Follow #JREwhatsinthefridge on social media to find all Chefs videos!
We spot a lot of chefs that keep in touch with their audience by making dishes on video and share it on their social media channels. A great example in the Netherlands is chef Edwin Vinke of the restaurant ‘De Kromme Watergang’ with two Michelin stars. He started ‘Daily simply cooking with Edwin Vinke’, unfortunately in Dutch but why don’t you start one in your own language! In this video he is preparing Free-range chicken with apple sauce and toast with smoked trout.
Covid-19 exclusive package at Le Bijou Hotels & Resorts
Le Bijou Hotel & Resorts in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, Zug and Zurich started a Covid-19 exclusicw package aimed at wealthy guests who wish to quarantine in style. The package includes a luxury stay, meal delivery, medical services and a virus test! More at the website of Luxury Launches.
Just for the fun of it | Toilet paper themed cakes are a thing now
Toilet paper-themed cakes have now begun to pop up at various groceries and bakeries in the U.S. The cheeky cakes have been spotted at Albertson’s locations in Southern California as well as a ShopRite supermarket in New Jersey. Bakeshops are also getting in on the trend, with spots like B.Candy in Corona Del Mar, CA making toilet paper mini cakes and Two Fat Cookies in Delray Beach, FL serving up toilet paper cupcakes. Might be a challenge; creating toilet paper cakes at home!
