Miscellaneous

🌱 In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the plant-based food trend. This movement is driven by health, sustainability, ethics, and curiosity. Consumers increasingly prefer plant-based ingredients like beans, lentils, nuts, and mushrooms, leading to the popularity of veggie burgers and vegetable-based ready meals as alternatives to meat products.

🍴 Hotel Indigos in Warwickshire have been shortlisted four times for the Coventry and Warwickshire Foodie Awards 2025. On 3 June, awards will be announced at Squab Hall Farm, Leamington Spa. Nominations include Hotel Indigo Coventry's Cogs Bar and Kitchen for ‘Best Burger’ & ‘Best Restaurant’ and Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon’s The Woodsman for ‘Best Restaurant’ and Greg Newman for ‘Best Chef’. The awards, in their fourth year, honor local food and hospitality excellence.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior editor for Nation's Restaurant News, has been reporting on food trends since 1999. A Tufts University graduate, he studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu and Chinese culture in China. Thorn has authored food entries for the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012, 2015) and won a journalism award in 2006. Based in Brooklyn, he was president of IFEC in 2005 and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

🍾 Nonalcoholic beverages are gaining traction as they cater to guests who moderate or avoid alcohol, enhancing inclusivity and boosting check averages. Spirit-free cocktails are a branding opportunity, requiring balance and complexity akin to alcoholic drinks. With a growing variety of N.A. options, creating flavorful alcohol-free drinks is becoming easier. Leith Steel, of Carbonate, a top-ranked creative agency (#45 on 2025 Inc. Regionals: Midwest), emphasizes the importance of diverse flavor profiles and strategic brand communication.

🏨 Maison Souquet, Hôtel & Spa, located in Montmartre, Paris, celebrates its 10th anniversary with RG2 Communications leading its media strategy. Maison Proust, Hôtel & Spa La Mer, inspired by Marcel Proust, offers 23 rooms with Belle Époque elegance in Le Marais. Both five-star hotels, designed by Jacques Garcia, boast luxurious, immersive experiences. Maison Souquet features a 10m x 3m pool and has been voted France’s 'most romantic hotel.' Both properties emphasize Parisian heritage and intimate luxury.

🦲 Monument offers a unique and irreplaceable haircut experience that customers highly value, enough to pay double the usual price. Located in an old house, the barber shop is run by Nic, whose authenticity and genuine curiosity make the place special. Monument’s success lies in its intentional design and focus on providing grace rather than just service. By staying small and not scaling, Monument maintains its magic and has created a beloved business that customers cherish.

🍺 The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair, introduces "Our Way" menu. Crafted by Salvatore Calabrese and Mixology Director Federico Pavan, it offers 13 reimagined classic cocktails. Highlights include the Marimo Martini with seaweed infusion, and the Bellini Colada with frozen cucumber. The Eau de Martinez features Seventy One Gin and Don Julio 1942 Tequila. The Margarita Blush combines mezcal and purple carrot. This menu emphasizes elegance, consistency, and substance over extravagance.

🗺 CLAP HOUSE Ibiza, developed by S15 Group and AlphaMind, is set to open in Talamanca, Ibiza in 2025. Spanning 16,000 square meters, it combines holistic fitness, luxury hospitality, and al fresco dining. We Are Indigo, a global PR agency, is partnering to launch this wellness hub. Key features include a Japanese restaurant, pool club, and a wellness club. This partnership highlights We Are Indigo's expertise in luxury lifestyle and hospitality PR.

☕️ Arighi Bianchi partners with Grind coffee in May 2025 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, marking the first time Grind coffee is served outside London. Grind, known for its ethically sourced and sustainable coffee, becomes available at Caffè AB. Arighi Bianchi, a 170-year-old furniture store, embraces this partnership to enrich its in-store experience. Previously, Grind had cafés in London, Soho House, and plans to open in Manchester. Grind is also available on British Airways and online.

📶 Dense Air rebrands as IONX Networks to enhance mobile coverage solutions. IONX, led by CEO Jim Estes, focuses on resolving poor cellular coverage issues with scalable, secure solutions. With a customer-first approach, they target enterprises, operators, and property owners, offering improved connectivity through small cell technology and shared spectrum. Chief Revenue Officer Mark Meuleman emphasizes their commitment to fast, cost-effective solutions. IONX aims for seamless mobile experiences by addressing connectivity challenges. More at [IONX Networks](https://www.ionxnetworks.com/).