Miscellaneous

📖 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, excels in spotting food trends. With a BA in history from Tufts University and culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu, Thorn covers food trends across the U.S. He was a columnist for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. He resides in Brooklyn, NY. Thorn's career began in Thailand, writing about business and food.

📲 Who? Brands and influencers engage in social commerce. When? Published on August 8, 2021. Where? Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, eBay, Depop. What? A study on social commerce's integration of culture, community, and shopping. How? By blending sellers, buyers, and influencers into dynamic ecosystems, creating cultural currency. Why? To enhance product identity, social standing, and trend amplification. Examples: Sephora, Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Crocs emphasize community and cultural relevance in retail strategies.

✈️ Online banking app Revolut has partnered with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), allowing users to convert RevPoints into SAS EuroBonus points at a 1:1 ratio, without a minimum transfer. Since RevPoints launched in 2024, 17 billion points have been redeemed. Revolut serves 65 million customers worldwide and now offers loyalty redemption across 14 programmes and 45 airlines. Customers can earn up to one point per pound/euro spent on purchases.

🏛 Westminster Abbey launches its first group booking portal for travel operators and Blue Badge Tourist Guides, allowing easier pre-booking of discounted tickets with guaranteed timed entry. This change prepares for the upcoming King Charles III Sacristy. Group tickets cost £29 for adults, £25 for seniors/students, and £12 for children (6-17 years). The Abbey, hosting over a million visitors annually, has been a key historical site since 1066, housing tombs of figures like Charles Dickens and Isaac Newton.

🍳 Casa Brasa opened on October 27 in Dallas, marking Big Dill Hospitality’s fourth concept. Chef Omar Flores and the Marshi family researched grills and sushi across Latin America, Dubai, Europe, Miami, and NYC. The 10,000 sq. ft. space features an open-fire grill, raw bar, and sushi counter. Menu highlights include Hokkaido scallop aguachile, the signature Casa Brasa Roll, and a 40-ounce tomahawk rib eye. The Kamilla bar offers creative cocktails and hosts DJs. Maroma, a coastal Mexican concept, opens in December.

🍴 The Barrière Group, led by Grégory Rabuel, has 150+ restaurants and bars in 33 casinos and 20 hotels, including locations like Saint Barthélemy, Marrakesh, New York, and Switzerland. Over the past two years, they've invested in strategic repositioning. In summer 2025, they served 680,000 meals in July and August, marking an 8% increase from 2024 and a 12% rise from 2023, setting a historic record. Consistent quality is ensured by standardizing key dishes.

📅 Attended the Main Street Summit & Capital Camp in Columbia, Missouri, where 1,200 founders, investors, artists, and athletes gathered over three days for impactful business insights and networking. Notable speakers included Tim Tebow. The event was set in cinemas, theaters, coffee shops, and university halls. Columbia showcased rural America's beauty. Upcoming events include the Homestead Fair in Waco during Thanksgiving, drawing up to 20,000 attendees, featuring talks, food, and music.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor, joined Nation’s Restaurant News in 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. He previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and worked in Thailand for Asia Times (1995-1997). A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate, Thorn has studied at Le Cordon Bleu and served with ABC News in Beijing in 1989. Awarded the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, he is also a published author in food encyclopedias. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

🌊 Crete, Kefalonia, Naxos, Corfu, Rhodes, Zakynthos, and Paros offer thrilling adventures for travelers. Crete's Samaria Gorge and Elafonissi's waters beckon explorers. Kefalonia's Melissani Cave and Mount Ainos promise natural wonders. Naxos blends adventure with tradition on Mount Zas and Mikri Vigla. Corfu and Rhodes offer diverse experiences on their trails and coastlines. Zakynthos' Blue Caves and Navagio Beach provide breathtaking moments. Paros is an adventure paradise with windsurfing and hiking trails.