Miscellaneous

🍪 Cookie butter, made from speculoos cookies, is gaining popularity in restaurant menus, expanding from desserts to a variety of dishes and drinks, especially as a coffee flavor. Market research by Datassential shows 76% of the U.S. population is aware of cookie butter, 56% have tried it, and its menu presence has increased by 44% over the past four years, with the highest awareness among under-17s.

🍴 50% of UK holidaymakers try replicating a delicious meal from abroad at home. Research by loveholidays and SamsEats included 2,000 participants, with 41% going to "extreme lengths" due to cravings. 31% visit specialist stores, 24% watch local chef videos, and 19% seek expert advice while abroad. Top attempted cuisines: Italian (47%), Greek (30%), and Thai (19%). 15% stock ingredients for months, and 16% translate recipes. Despite efforts, 64% admit to culinary failures, with only 66% getting close to the original taste.

📖 Ron Ruggless, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) since 1992, previously worked at the Dallas Times Herald as restaurant critic, assistant business editor, among other roles (1982-1991). An expert in foodservice industry matters such as mergers, acquisitions, and supply chain, he moderated at events like MUFSO and spoke at the Horeca Expo in Madrid. Contact him at [email protected] or follow on Twitter (@RonRuggless), LinkedIn, and Instagram.

🌷 The iconic Mayfair venue sketch celebrates Jane Austen's 250th birthday from May 1 - June 1, 2025, transforming its spaces into a floricultural tribute. Floral designers Lucy Vail Floristry, Ricky Paul, and Rob Van Helden create installations inspired by Austen's world. A living portrait photo opportunity by artist Meg Boscowen and a special afternoon tea at £115 per person are offered. Penguin collaborates for exclusive Vintage Collector's Classics editions of "Pride & Prejudice" and "Emma," each limited to 200 copies. The Lecture Room and Library feature a central wisteria tree installation by Rob Van Helden, priced at £150 for a 3 Michelin Star lunch. Champagne Pommery partners for a special cocktail menu, and new staff uniforms are designed by Sonia Taouhid.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, hosted podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn." Wrote "Kitchen Dish" column for The New York Sun (2005-2008), articles in Thailand for Manager magazine and Asia Times (1992-1997). Magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and in China. Winner of 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, inducted into Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Expert in food and beverage trends, French cuisine, and Asian cuisine, especially Thai. Lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact: [email protected], LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

🏖️ Bethesda, Maryland—Marriott Bonvoy launched "You Are The Greatest Souvenir" campaign, developed with Wieden+Kennedy New York, focusing on travel's transformative power. The campaign, directed by Fleur Fortuné, features outdoor lodging, dining, and boutique hotel experiences. Launching on April 5, it will appear during the NCAA DI Men's Final Four and Women’s Championship, on Netflix, Hulu, in airports, and on United Airlines. Marriott Bonvoy Moments offers exclusive experiences, including a collaboration with Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour.

🎨 Legendary investor and mathematician Jim Simmons advocates for an aesthetic approach to all kinds of work, stressing the beauty of doing things right. The unnamed author resonates with Simmons, believing that artistry can be infused in any work through care and investment. They lament the loss of meaning and craftsmanship in modern society but suggest starting small—with acts like planting a tree or having meaningful conversations—to make a positive change.

🛂 LinkedIn displays a sign-in modal prompting users to sign in or create a free account to continue using the platform. The modal includes an input form, a link for password reset, and a "Join now" option for new users. Users are informed that by signing in or joining, they agree to LinkedIn's User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy. The modal emphasizes convenience by offering a visible password toggle and a simple "or" divider between sign-in options.

📖 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award. He authored for The New York Sun (2005-2008), wrote for Manager magazine and Asia Times in Thailand (1992-1997), and worked for ABC News during the Tiananmen Square protests (1989). Thorn graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University in 1990 and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris (1986). Inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier (2014), he's based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact him at [email protected] and follow on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter (@foodwriterdiary), and Instagram.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, also joined Restaurant Hospitality's staff in 2016. He hosted the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" and wrote "Kitchen Dish" column for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. Previously, Thorn reported on business, banking, finance, and food in Thailand for Manager magazine and Asia Times (1992-1997). A magna cum laude graduate from Tufts University, he completed his bachelor's in history, learned traditional French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and studied Chinese language and culture in China in 1988-1989. Thorn was in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square events in 1989, working for ABC News. He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award for his editorial column and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY, and specializes in food and beverage trends, French cuisine, Asian cuisine, and restaurant operations.