Miscellaneous

🍴 Big Dill Hospitality, led by Omar Flores and the Marshi family, started with Whistle Britches in 2016, now has three locations, and opened Muchacho in 2019, which has two locations. Even Coast, focused on seafood, steak, and pasta, opened in Addison, Texas on August 19, seating 150 people inside and 75 on the patio. The group plans to open steakhouse Casa Brasa in University Park in spring 2025, featuring Mexican and Japanese elements, and a Mexican seafood concept in the Design District in summer 2025.

📊 Thirteen sectoral employers' organisations formed the European Employers' Institute (EEI) to bolster competitiveness amid economic challenges and an ageing population. The Brussels-based EEI, including Ceemet and ECEG among others, will research common interests to influence EU social and employment policy. The Draghi Report shows that nearly 70% of European workers favour government AI restrictions to protect jobs. EU employers' AI adoption lags, with Dutch employers' 75% citing lack of knowledge, and 40% finding it inapplicable. The EEI advocates for balanced employment policies.

🧀 In the U.S., 36% of consumers are lactose intolerant according to the National Institutes of Health. Vegan cheese, often made from oil, starch, colorings, and flavorings, is gaining popularity, found on 4.2% of U.S. menus—a 78% increase over the past four years. Technological advancements allow almond milk and other alternatives to curdle and ferment, creating more authentic vegan cheese products. Gen Z and Asian consumers show the highest awareness of vegan cheese, which is rapidly becoming a staple in pizzas, sandwiches, and more.

✈ Sabre and Icelandic low-cost carrier Play airlines have entered a multi-year distribution agreement, allowing Sabre-connected travel agencies access to Play’s flight network across North America and Europe. Play is expanding in the Nordics, US, and Canada, offering cost-effective transatlantic travel with Iceland as a hub. The airline boasts an all-Airbus fleet and plans to serve up to 40 destinations by 2024. New routes include Aalborg, Denmark (June 2025), Toronto, and Washington D.C. Alessandro Ciancimino, VP at Sabre, emphasizes the strategy to increase low-cost content in Sabre's marketplace in 2024. Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO of Play, highlights the partnership's role in market expansion and visibility.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality since 2016, has built a prolific career in food journalism. He was a columnist for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008 and previously contributed to Manager magazine and Asia Times in Thailand from 1992 to 1997. A magna cum laude Tufts University graduate, Thorn studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and Chinese language and culture at universities in Beijing and Nanjing. His work earned him the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and an induction into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Thorn also hosts a podcast, has written for encyclopedias, and was IFEC president in 2005. Email: [email protected] Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

🌶 Hot mustard, known by 85% of consumers and tried by 58%, appears on 1.4% of U.S. menus, marking a 44% increase in the last four years. Popular in Chinese cuisine, it's now found in McDonald’s sauce and as a Doritos flavor. Its popularity spans consumer demographics and is a staple in regional and casual-dining restaurants.

🔔 Los Angeles-based vegan chain Hart House, backed by comedian Kevin Hart, closed all four locations on September 10 after two years. Despite no official reason for the shutdown, Hart House had plans for expansion to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and saw a 350% sales increase in 2023 due to two new locations. The brand, led by CEO Andy Hooper, developed its own meat substitute proteins and didn't partner with external vendors. The broader restaurant industry is similarly struggling, with one-third of top 500 restaurants reporting unit declines over the past year.

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🏃 Adventure travel brand WeRoad launched a new advertising campaign in the London Underground, created with agency DUDE, featuring 1100 ad locations. The campaign, starting this week, aims to promote group travel as a way to forge friendships, coinciding with WeRoad's largest annual sale. Destinations include Amalfi, Maldives, Morocco, and Kenya. The initiative also features billboards in London and Manchester, as well as "WeMeet" events across the UK for community engagement.