Miscellaneous

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, resides in Brooklyn. He graduated magna cum laude from Tufts in 1990 and studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. He worked in Thailand before joining the New York Sun (2005-2008). Thorn authored entries in the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012, 2015) and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014, he presided over IFEC in 2005.

🍳 Former chef with 17 years of experience shares insights on menu design in hotels. He argues that chefs shouldn't write menus, emphasizing comfort food over cleverness for guest satisfaction. Highlighting kitchen pressures like staffing and equipment issues, he advises against chef-focused menus in favor of guest-preferred dishes. Chef-led restaurants have their place, but most hotel dining should prioritize guest cravings for repeated patronage.

🔹 Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father, was assassinated last week in front of thousands, sparking widespread grief. Despite controversy surrounding him, he inspired many with his debates and beliefs. Approximately 1,000 followers unfollowed the author for mourning Kirk's death, emphasizing a call for love over hate. Kirk's death highlights the need for unity, transcending political divides, and fostering beauty and kindness. The author, a follower of Jesus, urges creating beauty and living by values worth dying for.

✈️ Partners of GO7 can now activate reciprocal interlining with 300+ carriers globally through FLEXFLIGHT. FLEXFLIGHT recently joined IATA’s Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreement (MITA), simplifying airline cooperation. This allows access to 190+ markets worldwide by signing a one-page MITA concurrence via IATA's portal. Peer Winter from GO7 highlights the streamlined process enhances connectivity and revenue. FLEXFLIGHT, a W2-coded carrier, recently achieved IOSA certification and full IATA membership, reinforcing its global aviation standards.

📩 PKFARE partners with Argentina's Flybondi, a leading low-cost carrier, to offer exclusive rates via its API to over 2,000 distribution partners. Flybondi can now extend its reach to key markets in LATAM, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Intra-regional travel in 2025 has increased by 10.2%, with Flybondi's routes covering Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. PKFARE has direct connections with over 40 airlines, enhancing competitive fares and broadening travel options globally.

🍴 Arthur's Market opens this autumn on King’s Road with unique offerings. It features premium groceries, an exclusive fish counter, and a butcher. ASA Izakaya, a 12-seat sushi bar, extends to a 30-seat dining space by night, with dishes like Squid Kasudzuke Nigiri. Salvador offers 25 counter seats and European small plates. Chef Shaulan Steenson leads ASA, focusing on fresh Japanese cuisine. Arthur's Market collaborates with Prince Arthur for unique wine and supplies premium local and imported produce.

🎄 Yorkshire-based Peach Hampers offers a 2025 Christmas range, collaborating with brands like Jaguar and BBC to deliver luxury hampers. Starting at £29.99, hampers feature gourmet items from Cartwright & Butler, and are customizable with free branding. Eco-friendly, each order plants a tree and uses recyclable materials. Options include vegan and gluten-free. Inspired by the owners’ daughter, Tilly’s Christmas Tree Hamper is a standout design. Managing Director Brendan Pallant emphasizes personalized, thoughtful gifting.

🎁 Yorkshire-based Peach Hampers launches its 2025 Christmas range, collaborating with brands like Jaguar, EE, and the BBC. Hampers, starting at £29.99, feature gourmet goods from Cartwright & Butler and more, emphasizing luxury and personal touch. Tailored with free branding, they use recyclable materials and plant a tree per order. Options include vegan and gluten-free items. Brendan Pallant, Managing Director, aims for thoughtful gifting that feels personal.

🍴 Jason Atherton's ROW on 5, opened in November 2024 in London's Saville Row, topped Harden's London Restaurants Guide 2026. The restaurant, acclaimed for its food and ambience in the £130+ category, earned a Michelin Star in its first three months. Featuring a 15-course tasting menu, it serves 28 guests with a team of 22 staff. Executive Chef Spencer Metzger and Executive Sommelier Roxane Dupuy lead the culinary experience. Atherton expressed gratitude for the recognition.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, has been with NRN since 1999. He served as president of IFEC in 2005 and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate, studied at Le Cordon Bleu. He worked for ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn wrote for New York Sun (2005-2008) and contributed to Oxford's food encyclopedias in 2012 and 2015.