Fortunately for Italy, many Americans drink Italian wines (32.4 percent) as it generates $1.65 billion (January – November 2016) for the Italian economy. In fact, Americans consumed 5.9 percent more Italian wines in 2016 than they did in 2015. People who live in New York, California, Florida, Illinois and Texas drive consumption, representing 50 percent of the market. These consumers are spending $20+ per bottle demonstrating a strong interest in rose, organic and lesser-known indigenous...
Miami Beach has long been known as a nightlife hotspot, but over the past 10 years, the city has witnessed a gastronomic transformation of gourmet proportions. From the arrival of James Beard Award winning chefs to vibrant food tours, Miami Beach is now an international hub for epicurean experiences. “Miami Beach has truly become a foodie’s paradise,” says Peggy Benua, Chair of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). “Guests can expect nothing short of...
Thailand has secured a record nine entries in the influential Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017. Gaggan restaurant, famed for its progressive Indian cuisine, took the first spot on the list for the third consecutive year, winning the dual titles of the Best Restaurant in Asia and the Best Restaurant in Thailand. The record number of entries on the 2017 list means that Thailand now ties with China, Japan and Singapore who each have nine restaurants in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S...
Growing in size and stature every year, the 5th edition of World Tea Coffee Expo comes back to Mumbai from 16th Nov – 18th Nov 2017 with a host of enhanced features and activities covering the entire gamut of the Hot Beverage sector. Globally recognized at a complete trade show for Tea, Coffee and allied sectors, the three day annual event shall witness about 90+ exhibitors from 8 countries showcasing latest innovative products, machineries, equipment, packaging, technologies, vending...
October 2017 will see the birth of one of the largest food markets ever seen in the world, so it is promised – a permanent food and agriculture site comparable to a mini expo. The given name remains within the theme: FICO, which in Italian is the name of the “fig tree.” Here, the acronyms stands for Fabbrica Italiana Contadina (Italian Rural Factory). Its location will be in the Bologna district, an area known for its excellence for food and produce. FICO will replace an...
Delta is introducing complimentary meals on some of its longest domestic flights, including transcontinental routes between New York’s JFK and Los Angeles/San Francisco. The airline will be the only U.S. carrier to offer complimentary fresh meals from nose to tail on select coast-to-coast routes. Beginning March 1, Delta will offer complimentary meals in the Main Cabin on flights between JFK and LAX/SFO. On April 24, the airline will expand complimentary meals to 10 other major domestic...
The city of Buenos Aires is enjoying a special year with its designation as Ibero-American Capital of Gastronomic Culture. Tourists will now be able to join free tours alongside locals and get an insider’s view of the city’s restaurants and eateries, including perennial favourites and hot new discoveries. The tours will take place on the third Saturday of each month at 5pm, each one focussing on a particular neighbourhood and theme, and accompanied by a different specialist...
With the big freeze, a snowstorm, and torrential rainfalls in Spain last month, the supermarkets in the United Kingdom, are now showing empty shelves in the grocery’s produce section. The solution? Send lettuce. Best before the summer and to help our all-year-round salad consumers to survive, make restaurants happy, and keep sandwiches crispy fresh. Some supermarkets are rationing the number of iceberg lettuce and broccoli that customers can buy, reported the BBC, blaming poor growing...
Union Des Grand Crus de Bordeaux The Union includes 134 chateaux who are passionate about the unique personalities of their Bordeaux wines – along with 6 million French and international visitors who found their way to this special part of France in 2014. More than 50 percent of the travelers selected the destination primarily for wine tourism – to experience the appellations that include Pessac-Leognan, Graves, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Pomerol, Listrac-Medoc, Moulis – En – Medoc, Haut-Medoc...
In honor of Scotland’s gift to the world, to the spirit that has long drawn people in through its status and style, this Friday February 10th 2017 the inaugural International Scotch Day will be celebrated worldwide. The day invites people everywhere to raise a glass of Scotch to celebrate a drink that’s made to be enjoyed with good company, wherever and whenever. Ronan Beirne, Global Marketing Director from Diageo commented, “Scotch is the world’s favorite whisky. No...
The name of this Italian hill town in Tuscany, Montalcino, is derived from the Latin “Mons Ilcinnus,” or mountain of holm oak and it is the oak tree that appears on the commune’s logo. In the Middle Ages (5th – 15 century), the area was dotted with tanneries used for shoes and leather goods. Today the area is covered with olive orchards, vineyards, fields and villages that have not changed since the beginning of time. This charming hill town is located 68.35 miles from Florence, and 93.2 miles...
airberlin is extending its globally unique airgusto restaurant service. From 1 February 2017, it will also be available on all long-haul flights from Dusseldorf and for the first time on flights from New York and Abu Dhabi. airberlin introduced the restaurant service on long-haul flights from Berlin in October 2016 – and it soon became popular with passengers. Thanks to airgusto, passengers who have booked a long-haul airberlin flight in Economy Class can choose from a selection of more than 20...
The European Union and the Vatican have voiced their disagreement with a controversial travel ban recently issued by US President Donald Trump against seven Muslim-majority countries. “We disagree with the executive order Trump issued on January 27, as many do in the US”, said European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini while addressing a European Parliament debate on the restrictions on Wednesday. Trump issued the executive order to impose a 90-day entry ban on citizens from Iran...
Members of the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa’s award-winning kitchen brigade have once again proved their incredible skills on an international platform by taking on other top chefs at the International Salon Culinaire and returning victorious. In fact, the team – which included six competing chefs and two mentors – returned with no less than 16 honors, including four gold medals. “The International Salon Culinaire at the Great Hospitality Show is the UK’s largest and most prestigious...
The ultimate cure for the winter blues is planning a vacation and for those interested in wine destination travel, the options are endless. While more traditional wine regions like Tuscany and Provence continue to pop up on itineraries, more and more travelers looking for a truly unique and equally picturesque experience are choosing Sicily, Italy. As Sicily’s wine tourism grows steadily, the destination was just named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2017 10 Best Wine Travel...
One of the country’s top food, wine and spirits festivals, Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit returns April 27-30 with one-of-a-kind experiences and a world-class lineup of renowned celebrity chefs, master sommeliers and cutting-edge mixologists from Caesars Palace, The Cromwell, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International, The Palazzo and The Venetian Las Vegas. Presented by sponsor Chase Sapphire, the 11th annual epicurean indulgence will continue its tradition of bringing...
Food tourism is all the rage. Just look at the last decade’s vast surge in consumer interest in food and cooking as documented by popular television shows like Iron Chef America and Chopped. There are dozens more examples. What is food tourism exactly? At the most basic level, food is a quintessential component of local culture – just like art, music, architecture, film, literature and so on. Unique and memorable food and drink are exciting and even essential components of travel for most...
Restaurants that are part of a hotel are frequently considered a convenience rather than a gourmet dining destination, however, Randolph’s at the Warwick Hotel distinguishes itself as a really good place for lunch on Manhattan’s Westside. Curious Name The restaurant is named for William Randolph Hearst, a Harvard College drop-out who was infamous for his extravagant life-style, trysts, and prejudices. He was also a media-mogul who printed paid-for columns by two European dictators in the 1930s...
Jamie Oliver can say goodbye to his self-acclaimed title: “The naked chef” because it’s just been taken literally by somebody else. The celebrity chef Mark Morales prepares, cooks and serves in his birthday suit on the transformational retreat NAKED. But he isn’t the only one. Participants of this unusual retreat are invited to drop all their stories, identities, dramas and clothes if they so will, to discover the bare truth about themselves in 7 powerful days...
Dusit International (Dusit Thani Public Company Limited), in partnership with Bangkok Bank, Boon Rawd Brewery, Central Group, Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Jim Thompson, Siam Piwat, Thai Airways, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has published a new book detailing the history of the tourism industry in Thailand and the pioneers behind its early development. Written by Thailand-based journalist and lecturer Mr Steve Van Beek, and edited by Mr Roy Howard, the original Advertising...
Kuwait’s National Aviation Services (www.nas.aero) has been providing premium departure lounge services at the Kigali International Airport since 2011, when the Pearl Lounge initially opened before being tripled in size as the airport underwent expansion and modernization in subsequent years. The company, also active in four other African countries besides a strong presence in the Middle East, is now reportedly working on the completion of a premium arrivals lounge for First and Business...
As United’s Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport continues its $120 million re-imagination, new concepts helmed by chefs including Alex Stupak, Mario Carbone, Alex Guarnaschelli and Dale Talde have debuted. Now Chef Amanda Cohen, feted for her beloved Lower East Side restaurant Dirt Candy, joins those ranks with the opening of Thyme, a hot new all-vegetarian restaurant inside Terminal C. Ms. Cohen is the chef and owner of Dirt Candy, the award-winning vegetarian restaurant on New...
Searcy’s at The Gherkin, which occupies the top three floors of one of London’s most iconic towers, has strengthened its team with the appointments of Emily Kendall as Events Manager, Erin McGowan as a Sales Executive and Kate Baxter as Private Dining Events Manager. Emily Kendall joins the team from Party Ingredients, the private caterers, where she held the role of Wedding and Events Sales Manager. Prior to this role, Emily worked as an Events Assistant, also for Party Ingredients, and has a...
The result? Cheap, delicious soup. A Chicago-area cafe, Mather’s — More Than a Cafe, is offering a cold-weather deal at its three locations that will have anyone hungry for a bargain checking the weather forecast. If temperatures dip below zero in Chicago over the next two months, thrifty if not freezing residents can get paid to eat a bowl of split-pea soup. If it’s a little higher, they’ll only have to hand over some spare change. Whatever the day’s temperature...
Responding to new market developments and to further enhance relations with the travel trade, Brussels Airlines reinforced its commercial structure as of January this year. Mr. Emmanuel Menu re-joins the company and will be in charge of Sales for Europe, the US and India. Meanwhile will Mr. Frédéric Dechamps focus entirely on the Benelux market and Mr. Patrick Artiel will lead the corporate sales team for the home market in Belgium. More than ever does Brussels Airlines want to position itself...
London Heathrow’s on-board meal sales reveal how passengers have responded to the rise of clean eating. 2016 data shows a trend towards lighter meals with sushi now taking the number one place for dining at 30,000 feet while more refillable bottles than ever are being recharged in the departure lounge. Lighter luggage While delicate sushi meals have been crowned king of the skies, sandwiches and salads under 500 calories still feature in the top five as the second and third items most craved...
China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in China and a member of the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, is hosting a #ChinaSouthernFoodies social media contest to find the next inflight food sensation. Whether you are a professional or home cook, foodies and flyers across the world are encouraged to enter their own original recipe via social media. A number of entries will be chosen to compete in the final taste-testing event at BREAD® restaurant in the Nolitan Hotel on January 26, 2017. BREAD®...
While there may be challenges for travel to Lebanon, there are no problems in celebrating the wines of a country that has been producing wines since the beginning of time. Prophet Hosea (780-725BC) is noted as urging his followers to return to Yahweh so, “they will blossom as the vine, (and) their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.” The Phoenicians are recognized as promoting wine and viticulture throughout the Mediterranean during this period. When the country became part of the...
The World Tourism Organization Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, hosted today the presentation of the 3rd UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. The event will be held in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, on 8-9 May 2017. The Forum is organized by UNWTO in collaboration with UNWTO Affiliate Member, the Basque Culinary Center, as part of the activities of the UNWTO Gastronomy Network. The third edition will be dedicated to the links between gastronomy tourism and sustainability in the framework of...
Each year, the National Restaurant Association surveys nearly 1,300 professional chefs – members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) – to explore food and beverage trends at restaurants in the coming year. The annual “What’s Hot” list gives a peak into which food, beverages and culinary themes will be the new items on restaurant menus that everyone is talking about in 2017. According to the survey, menu trends that will be heating up in 2017 include poke, house-made...
