Miscellaneous

🍕 Ibérica Restaurants, with locations in London and Leeds, launched a delicatessen range on 31 July, available online and in selected Sainsbury’s. The offering includes 100% Ibérico jamón and chorizo, plus artisan cheese and cured meat packs. CEO Marcos Fernandez Pardo highlights the move as a bid to share authentic Spanish cuisine, following 15 years of redefining the sector led by Michelin-starred chef Nacho Manzano. The move reflects a larger trend of restaurants expanding into retail, like The Real Greek and Pizza Express.

🍣 Following its acquisition by Zensho in summer 2023, the multi-channel and international Japanese food business, formerly known as Snowfox Group, rebrands as Wonderfield Group. The consolidation merges brands like YO!, Panku, Taiko, Bento, Snowfox, Snowfruit, Zenshi, AFC Franchise Corp, Sushi Circle, SushiTake, and Sushi Izu under one name. The company employs over 5,500 people, operates across 16 countries, and supplies more than 7,000 stores and 9,000 kiosks. CEO Richard Hodgson emphasizes the rebranding as a step towards uniting the company's diverse brands and team.

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🍓 Pitaya, or dragon fruit, native to Southern Mexico and Latin America, with a bright pink exterior, comes in white or pinkish red flesh varieties containing edible black seeds. It is touted for health benefits, including aiding chronic diseases and promoting gut health, due to being high in magnesium, iron, and fiber. As per Datassential, pitaya's presence on U.S. menus has risen by 111% in four years, now appearing on 2.3% of menus, particularly in chain restaurants and fast casual dining spots.

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🔔 Audemars Piguet collaborates with designer Brigette Romanek for AP House Los Angeles, a 6,500-square-foot penthouse featuring a bar, dining area, watchmaking studio, and terrace with views of downtown LA. Inspired by Le Brassus, the space melds wood, velvet, brass, and glass in beige and green, offering a globally inspired yet locally rooted ambiance. Romanek highlights the watchmaking studio's green velvet and dark woods for its moodiness and texture.

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🍑 Wagamama launches Soul Club loyalty program, allowing users to collect digital hanko stamps with each visit and a minimum spend of £12. The program offers rewards such as free dishes and exclusive experiences, with the chance to win monthly premium merchandise. Members also get access to recipe and foodie videos by senior chefs and brand ambassadors like GK Barry, Alfie Steiner, and Rahel Stephanie. The initiative aims to thank guests and enhance engagement.

🏠 Portland mourns the passing of renowned chef Naomi Pomeroy, who died at 49 in a tubing accident. Pomeroy, a self-taught chef, opened Beast in 2007, influencing Portland's culinary scene. She was named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” in 2009 and received the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific in 2014. She also founded Expatriate in 2013, which closed in 2022. Pomeroy was a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition and recently opened Cornet Custard. Her cookbook, "Taste & Technique," was published in 2016. Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer noted her contribution of $28.6 billion to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund during the pandemic.