Miscellaneous

🏠 Staempfli House, located in Cadaqués, Spain's Costa Brava, is on the market for €9,500,000 via Sotheby’s International Realty. Built in 1958 for Swiss art dealer George Staempfli, the house was redesigned by architects Peter Harnden and Lanfranco Bombelli. It served as a retreat and art space for artists Dalí, Duchamp, and others. This mid-century home blends traditional tiles with modern features, maintaining its artistic legacy. Staempfli's gallery in New York operated until 1988.

✈️ Christian Nolle is an aviation-focused maker and editor of *Direction of Travel*. He tested Heathrow's Terminal 5 before it opened and collects route maps. In a podcast episode, Christian discusses his projects, including *Tickets to Everywhere* and his latest reveal, *Airline Atlas*, which caused a one-week delay in the episode's release. The discussion covers historical airline influences and his discovery of abandoned Olympic Airways aircraft at Ellinikon, the former Athens airport.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group, in 2026, unveiled "Long Stays by Radisson Hotels," targeting increased demand for extended stays. This initiative, aimed at B2B partners, standardizes booking with tiered pricing, unified service, and structured commercial terms to enhance corporate partnerships. It supports markets like Dubai, Riyadh, Zurich, and Amsterdam with personalized services and flexible solutions to optimize revenue and boost partner loyalty.

🌽 CocoKami, a vegan coconut flesh product, offers versatile cooking options as a frozen, ready-to-cook ingredient in strip, chunk, and roll formats, akin to squid or cuttlefish in texture. Well’B initially supplied raw flesh, but in-house processing improved practical use. CocoKami’s single-ingredient profile targets health-conscious consumers, distinguishing it from complex plant-based alternatives. It’s adaptable in Asian cuisines, providing a white meat alternative with no additives, aligning with founder Youle's minimalist philosophy.

🍽 In 2023, China had approximately 240 million single adults, with projections suggesting this will surpass 300 million. These demographic changes, including later and lower marriage rates and more individuals living independently, have influenced dining trends. Traditionally communal, Chinese dining now increasingly accommodates solo diners, prompting restaurants to adapt their service and marketing strategies. This shift reflects evolving societal norms in urban China, with solo dining becoming a mainstream experience across various dining settings.

🧑‍🔬 In 2024, North America led the nutricosmetics sector with a 90.05% revenue share, driven by a rise in health-focused beauty products. Nestlé launched Nestlé Vital, offering drinks for energy, sleep, and vitality. Vital Proteins and Moon Juice are notable for collagen supplements and adaptogens, respectively. Challenges include regulatory complexities and ingredient dosage concerns. Emerging trends highlight NAD+ precursors, creatine, and gut health ingredients as consumer interest propels industry innovation.

📜 Across the Asia Pacific, traditional ingredients are making a comeback in mainstream product development, combining cultural familiarity with new functional benefits. These ingredients are being offered in convenient formats and backed by scientific research, according to Greeshma Kasturi, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData.

🍴 During the COVID-19 era, restaurants mastered takeout and delivery. Steve Starr, CEO of StarrDesign, notes the shift from social dining to convenience, impacting dine-in revenues. Despite higher dine-in checks, restaurants lose out on experiences and sales, like alcohol. Starr emphasizes creating engaging experiences beyond food to draw patrons back. Simple, intentional designs foster connection, countering the device culture. Restaurants must focus on unique experiences that delivery can't offer to remain relevant.

🍎 Technomic’s 2026 report shows growing demand for high-protein and high-fiber foods. 35% of consumers now consume more protein than a year ago, while 45% of those aged 18-34 do so. 7-Eleven, based in Irving, Texas, sells 62,000 protein drinks daily and expands its protein snack range. Fiber consumption increased for 27% of consumers. Robert Byrne highlights that 95% of Americans lack sufficient fiber intake, with just 58% meeting daily recommendations.

🎤 Five years ago, Live Oak Lake opened after construction hurdles in 2021. Airbnb suspended it but gained popularity on Instagram. Forrest Frank, a musician, rose to fame online, bypassing labels. In December, tickets for his new tour were released. Relocated to Mexico, a giveaway was made, nominating William for tickets, a friend of Zach, who died after a four-year cancer battle diagnosed at age five. William supported Zach throughout his illness.