Coffee Lab at Gran Caffe L’Aquila in Philadelphia, PA
Bluestone Fine Art Gallery helps history meet modern day design amid multi-million dollar renovations at Normandy Farm Hotel and onference Center in Blue Bell, PA
right now - local. Consumers are focused on locally grown/sourced foods more than ever; and this movement might just be here to stay.
Sofitel Philadelphia used this trend to transform their rooftop space into a garden, including a beehive, to supply and harvest fresh herbs, vegetables and honey for its on-site restaurants. Angela Bauer, general manager at the hotel, says one of the uses of these local ingredients to develop new cocktails with fresh seasonal ingredients, “[The ingredi- ents] are used in cocktails such as the 13th on Sansom with jalapeño and homemade honey, or the 75006 with rose- mary.”
Gran Caffe L’Aquila describes local a “little bit” differently. Originally, Gran Caffe L’Aquila was actually in Italy, but moved its award-winning restaurant’s authentic bar (after an earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy destroyed much of region) over- seas to Philadelphia. Riccardo Longo, founding partner, maintains his passion and decides to “stay local” by choos- ing ingredients and flavor profiles from the restaurant’s country of origin.
“In my case, that means going to Italy every few months and immersing myself in Italian food and wine culture, and shar- ing what I've learned with guests through the food, wine and culture classes that we offer,” notes Longo. Guests enjoy their experience and tell their friends. Those friends having a great experience and tell their friends, and so on, and so on...
78 July z August 2017
Whichever way you describe local, it doesn’t only apply to food. This hot new trend also includes local entertainment. Carrie Zaruba-Creedon, sales and marketing manager for Hard Rock Café Philadelphia, says that aside from focusing on locally sourced ingredients and hand-crafted menus in their restaurant spaces, they also are on the lookout for local entertainment. “In the local music scene, we are always look- ing to engage with up-and-coming area bands to tap into local music trends in the area,” she says.
Michele Simpson, director of sales and marketing at Sonesta Philadelphia - Rittenhouse Square, also was looking to take “local” to a different level during the hotel’s 2014 redesign and repositioning. To complement their new vibrant, con- temporary vibe they also have included some local art.
Simpson says, “The hotel wanted to incorporate a local ele- ment, which involves a revolving lobby art gallery with the art supplied by local artists affiliated with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists.”
Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center in Blue Bell, PA also developed a similar concept, and is welcoming a new partnership with Bluestone Fine Art Gallery to trans- form its common areas into a farm-chic art experience that is designed to engage corporate retreat guests and meeting attendees.
Conference guests can experience active breaks featuring art tours that stimulate the mind for a more productive day
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