COOLHUNT - Bacon bar on wheels.

A lot of people are done with the hype around the superfoods. If you walk into a bookstore you will already see 10 or more books about what to eat and what not to eat. According to one food guru we should not eat gluten and according to the other diary is bad for us. The consumer is confused and we don't know what to do anymore. It's proven that superfoods are not always honest because 'De Consumentenbond' did a test with superfood labels and in half of the cases the labels were not honest. This reduces the confidence in superfoods. 

WHAT? As a countermovement to the reducing confidence in superfoods 3 students got an idea during their minor. They started the 'Bacon Bar'. They have already been on different events and they're a great succes. They go to festivals with a food truck and at every event they serve one dish that was chosen by the organization. Nowadays cheat moments are crucial moments and these three girls thought what better way then bacon as a cheat moment. It's a great countermovement because they want to give bacon the role that it deserves. Bacon is often a side ingredient and they want to turn it into a main ingredient. 

WHY? In this society there's a growing anger and distrust. Like I said we don't know what to believe anymore. At first superfoods were amazing and now they turn out to be a lie. So the Bacon Bar on wheels is a great example to show that we can eat what we want. There's a need behind this story, we want honesty. But also this countermovement ensures that we break the rules and eat what we want. It also has something to do with individualization. If we can't trust anything or anyone we rely on ourselves and we want to make our own decisions. I think that in the future we will let go of all the rules and there will be no healthy or unhealthy food, just food. 

https://www.facebook.com/thebaconbaramsterdam?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/thebaconbaramsterdam?fref=ts

Sources

http://www.foodinspiration.nl/article/2015-01-30-fris-the-bacon-bar

http://www.foodlog.nl/artikel/superfood-etiketten-niet-zo-super/    

COOLHUNT - The downside of the Internet.

We all know there are advantages and disadvantages about the Internet. The Internet allows people to be ridiculed and a lot of people can become unsure because of confronting images on the Internet.  The next story is a perfect example of this phenomenon.

WHAT? A few weeks ago I saw a video on Facebook that went viral about a fat man dancing. I just thought it was another video were someone was laughed at. But then I read an article in 'Metro' where that same man appeared. But this time his video was noticed by a lot of people. Many Internet users took action to support the man. And now he gets a dance party organized by 2.000 women with performances by Pharell Williams and Moby. Meanwhile with the help of crowdfunding there is almost 21.000 euros available for the fat man dancing. The money is to bring the man from London to LA for his party. The money that is left over will be donated to a foundation against bullying. Facebook has also created a page to show support to the #DancingMan.

WHY? I think this example is amazing because at first you see the disadvantage of the internet. But then it's turned around to an advantage. By using crowdfunding they make a statement about bullying. It's like a smack in the face for the people who made fun of the man whose name is Sean. Also the transparency plays an important role in this story, because everyone around the whole world can see this video and you can do anything with it. If we look at this in a greater picture we see Globalization. In this case the result is positive. But there are cases in which the result is not so bright. Therefore I think it's amazing that they donate the money to a foundation against bullying. This initiative is also a form of collaboration. Because people work together to give someone the time of their live. I think that in the future people there will be more initiatives like this because I don't think the bullying will stop just because of this example. 

'The original post'

Source
http://www.metronieuws.nl/koffiepauze/2015/03/dansfeest-voor-dikke-dansende-man-met-pharrell

COOLHUNT - Find the farmer

Last week when I walked in the supermarket I bought some fruits and veggies who had a label with 'from a biological farmer' on them. I thought to myself: "How do I know that that's true?" I haven't seen it with my own eyes. You can't know it for sure until you grow your own food or get it at the farmer. A sunflower oil brand found a great solution to this problem.

WHAT? Since November last year a brand of sunflower oil launched an app called Buitenmarkt. With the app you can find where in your neighborhood you can get fresh fruits and vegetables. The app shows local farmers who sell the product you're looking for. You can download it with IOS and Android. What most farmers notice is that they build their own clientele. People come back when they know where to get those delicious apples or carrots. 

WHY? This app is a great way to find fresh food in your neighborhood. It's something which is important these days. Because if we go to the supermarket and they say it's from a biological farmer you still don't know it for sure. But if you go to the farmer by yourself you can see where it's made and you will know it for sure. This form of confirmation and transparency is very important for most people. It's a collaboration between this brand 'Reddy' and local farmers. It's publicity for Reddy and the local farmers will get more customers. A win-win situation. I think that in the future more and more people will go to local farmers to get their fruits and veggies because it's extremely fresh and easy to get with an app who will track it for you. 

Sources:
http://iamafoodie.nl/vind-de-dichtstbijzijnde-boeren-met-de-buitenmarkt-app/
http://www.kokenmetreddy.nl/buitenmarkt-app?gclid=CjwKEAiAg_CnBRDc1N_wuoCiwyESJABpBuMXXhdgVN9aJ4-2BGHnRzZ9tWDd9ao4Se8rQUnp8d8W3hoCQ0zw_wcB

COOLHUNT - Hans Ubbink for Aduu Mal.

Dutch fashion designer Hans Ubbink, who had his own fashion label until last year, found his calling during a study trip to Mongolia.  He's going to design clothing and accessories that are made of sustainable Mongolian leather. 

WHAT? During his trip to Mongolia he saw the excess of skins of horses, sheep and cows that where not being used. He wanted to something with this. So now he's going to collaborate with Mongolian herders, tanneries and studios to make leather clothing and accessories from sustainable produced leather. And he's going to do that for the new leather label Aduu Mal. It's a label that has evolved from a Dutch project. The products will be made for various fashion and accessory brands. The first pieces will be available this spring, limited edition only in the Netherlands. 

WHY? The production of this leather is transparant and sustainable. The herds of horses, sheep and cows of Mongolian herders graze freely on the Mongolian highlands. They also follow every step in the process from the origin of the skins to the processing of the leather. They know exactly from which animal in the herd the leather is made of. I think it's amazing that they show people exactly what their clothes are made of. Transparency is something that people need, they want to know what they're wearing or eating. It's a need that comes from the fact that people feel betrayed that they don't know where it's from. I think that these kind of initiatives will do great in the future because the need of transparency will grow. 

"Hans Ubbink"

Sources:
https://fashionunited.nl/nieuws/mode/hans-ubbink-stort-zich-op-label-met-mongools-leer/2015012122834
Metro Newspaper 5 Maart 2015

COOLHUNT - Crowd fund your restaurant

 In Nijmegen Natasha is busy to open a durable diner at the ‘Honig complex’. It has been a while that she has this plans and for the renovation of the building but she’s still looking for investors. ‘The Honig Complex’ in Nijmegen is a breeding place for creative entrepreneurs lately, like the big events in ‘Waalhalla’.

WHAT? A durable diner, which is something we see a lot lately. Many restaurants attach more value to sustainable products because there is a need that comes from consumers. Natasha hopes that there are more people who believe in the development of conscious life and food. Her idea began half a year ago when she found out that in the east of the Netherlands there is a growing need for vegetarian food. To fulfil this need she wants to start this green kitchen and therefor she needs help from other people. She’s started a crowd funding campaign on crowdaboutnow.nl. But that’s not all will also give workshops about living durable and together with other enthusiastic people in Nijmegen she wants to make Nijmegen more ‘green’. Novia Verde means: the green friend. The investors get an interest of 5% each year and the more money you give the more chance you have to get lovely rewards.

WHY? I think this is a great idea because there is a need for more biological durable food. What I notice on different people is that they prefer little restaurants over the large chains. Natasha is also going to grow her own herb garden on the square in front of her restaurant. Another cool thing is that Natasha uses this platform to collect money for her idea. In that way she involves other people in her idea and she can make other people enthusiastic. I think people will love this place because it responds to the need of biological and fair food, which Natasha says herself. This has to do with the fact that the world around us is more transparent then ever. We now know what’s in our food and what is bad and good for us.  

Sources:

https://www.crowdaboutnow.nl/NoviaVerde

https://www.facebook.com/NoviaVerdeNijmegen?ref=ts&fref=ts