Miscellaneous

🎂 On September 12th, Le Cordon Bleu London celebrated its 130th anniversary with an Alumni Chapter event at CORD, Fleet Street. Over 100 global alumni attended, aiming for 130 to mark the milestone. The first Le Cordon Bleu London Alumni Awards were presented, recognizing Woongchul Park & Bomee Ki, Kerth Gumbs, Charlotte O’Kelly, Maciej Pisarek, and Salina Campbell. The gathering highlighted the institute’s global influence, with over 35 schools in 20 countries.

🌴 Sunrooms, historically rich across various cultures and eras, once served as sunlit sanctuaries. The Romans built south-facing courtyards for winter sunlight, and 17th-century European aristocrats popularized orangeries for citrus trees. The Industrial Revolution and post-WWII allowed middle-class access. Today, sunrooms symbolize the human need for light-filled spaces close to nature. Yet, modern society has replaced these with TVs and garages. In Wonewoc, a sunroom epitomizes the craving for simple, soulful spaces.

☀️ European aristocrats in the 17th century popularized orangeries with tall windows for citrus trees, influenced by ancient Roman sun-capturing courtyards. Sunrooms became accessible to the middle class post-WWII due to advancements in steel and glass production during the Industrial Revolution. Yet, modern homes prioritized larger spaces over sun-drenched corners, like solariums and conservatories. In Wonewoc, there's a call to rediscover these light-filled spaces for their coziness and connection to nature.

🍕 In fall 2023, Dave Ligas opened Casano’s Pizza Parlor in Rutherford, N.J., inspired by his late grandmother Marie Casano. No slices are available; pizzas are sold whole, with fresh mozzarella and dough made via a multi-day process. The retro-styled interior has vintage furniture and family photos. Ligas donates $2 per cheesesteak sale in October to breast cancer research. Formerly a delivery driver in Wallington, Ligas transitioned from Tavolino Pizzeria, which closed in 2022.

🎭 New York-based studios GLO and Present Forms converted a former tobacco warehouse in Hudson into "The Spark of Hudson," an arts and education hub. In 2020, a philanthropic couple bought the 1980s-converted office space. The team renovated the 10,000 sq ft building at 502 Union, adding 1,000 sq ft on the roof. The project involved new windows and a rooftop extension for light and air, creating a flexible community space with an open-plan second floor and a Solarium.

✈️ India's aviation industry saw passenger revenue increase by 9% to $18.3 billion in 2024, with a total of 191 million passengers flown. As of March 2025, the country had 855 aircraft, with plans for 1,600 more. Delhi's airport reached a capacity of 109 million. IndiGo is expanding internationally, while Air India merged with Vistara on November 12, 2024. Risks include the April 2025 Kashmir attack and the June 2025 Air India crash. India's aviation market ranks third globally.

🍴 Bret Thorn has been Nation’s Restaurant News’ food & beverage editor since 1999. From 2005-2008, he was a columnist for The New York Sun. In 2006, he won the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award. Thorn is a Tufts University graduate who studied at Le Cordon Bleu, Nanjing University, and Beijing University. He was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014 and lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. He covers food trends and was president of IFEC in 2005.

🏖 Lanserhof Tegernsee is a luxury health clinic located near Tegernsee lake, at the base of the Bavarian Alps, an hour south of Munich. Focusing on longevity, this resort offers a one-week personalized protocol emphasizing microbiome repair, mindfulness, quality sleep, and community engagement. Guests visit annually or bi-annually, aiming for significant health restoration. The clinic provides plant-based meals, spa treatments, and doctor-led seminars, creating a transformative hospitality experience. Lanserhof is part of the Lanserhof Group's three resort properties.

☕ © 2025 Franke Group. The website “Franke Coffee Systems” features a navigation menu with language options (English and German) and a footer promoting social media follows. The footer includes legal links such as “Imprint” and “Privacy & Cookies Policy.” The Franke logo is displayed in various sections, emphasizing brand identity. The site’s URL is “aline.franke.coffee” with sections dedicated to brewing.