The Speakeasy Blog offers our views on various developments in the beverage, food and hospitality industries. Check back here for insights on the use of technology, trends in spirits, wine, beer, mixology and food, as well as what's new in hotel and restaurant concepts. And sometimes, we throw in some curious discoveries off the beaten path.
Our views are solely our own analysis, and we always try to point to other relevant sources that shed light on the topics we've chosen to highlight. We'll be adding content twice a month. Follow us on Twitter to keep up with new posts.
The Internet — and more particularly, the Internet via mobile apps — has continued to play a key role in how today’s most....
You’ve probably been to museums full of portraits and historical artifacts, but what about ones featuring beer, wine, and spirits? It might sound too good to be true....
The days of aimlessly driving around looking for a place to eat are over. Now that so many Americans own mobile devices, it’s easier....
On Aug. 18, 2010, Kevin Salvi had an idea. On this particular Wednesday, he planned to meet his friend Chris Ivy....
Synopsis: Because of the popularity of Meatless Monday and other vegetarian initiatives, wine pairings with vegetarian dishes have become much more popular. The article talks a little about the trend and mentions that more than 200 U.S. restaurants embrace people’s decision to skip meat one day a week. It also provides five sample pairings.
Synopsis: This article explores the influence of craft (and draft) beers on the market. According to a GuestMetrics representative, almost 3,400 smaller beer brands account for 40% of on-premise sales, and these brands are most often draft. It also looks into the pros and cons of draft beer entering the fine dining space.
Synopsis: A recent NetApplications report shows that Safari’s mobile browser share is growing to 61.79% in March (up from 55.41% from February). The Android browser is second with 21.86%. Also, one source shows iOS generating more than 2x the traffic that Google’s Android generates. iOS is probably the most popular smartphone platform in the U.S.
Synopsis: As one of the sources says, the technique of helping guests make mementos to bring home with them started with kids programs, and "extending this program to adults makes all kinds of sense because evoking happy memories of past vacations prompts travelers to repeat their purchases." One example program like this includes the InterContinental Montreal, which allows guests to learn cocktail-making with absinthe at the hotel’s bar for $49 a person.
Key Mobile Apps for 
5 Museums All About Alcohol
How Mobile Websites and Menus Can Change Your Restaurant
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