 |
|
|
|||||
The best part of last months MAD Symposium in Copenhagen wasnt chef Thomas Keller telling young chefs in the audience to stop chasing Michelin starsthough he did say that. It wasnt chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés breaking down in tears as he described his organizations work cooking in Gaza. And it wasnt chef-turned-actor Matty Matheson describing his rise to fame on FXs industry hit, The Bear. Instead, under a giant red circus tent in Copenhagen, the star power dulled as the next generation stood up. The brightest spot came as four young Icelandic fishing guides stood onstage and presented a compelling and heartfelt argument against sea-farmed salmon. The seventh-generation guides, two sets of sisters in their late teens and early twenties, are among the first female guides in their country, helping visitors find and catch wild Atlantic salmon on the Laxá river in northern Iceland. I found their story interesting, unexpected, and inspiringwhich, MADs leadership says, is the entire point. For chefs, by chefs The MAD Symposium, named after the Danish word for food, started 15 years ago. Its put on by a Copenhagen-based nonprofit, also called MAD, started by chef René Redzepi. Redzepi runs Noma, a restaurant consistently ranked among the best and most influential restaurants in the world. The Symposium is a kind of for-chefs, by-chefs event that also welcomes bartenders, servers, farmers, food producers, writers, and, this year for the first time, corporate sponsors. Attendees arrive by boat, gather under tents in variable Danish weather conditions, and eat a lot of exceptional foodthis year including recipes from Los Angeles hot spot Anajak Thai, Copenhagens Sanchez, and Londons revered St. John, cooked and served by a tirelessly hospitable team, including Nomas chefs. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/Expedite-Icon-E-white-background.jpg.jpg","headline":"Expedite","description":"Restaurant technology and the big ideas shaping the future of hospitality, by Kristen Hawley. To learn more visit expedite.news","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.expedite.news\/","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} Im in the middle of a 14-day shift, I heard one chef say during meal prep, though the people in the tented kitchen were (mostly) smiling. Industry challenges This years event, MAD7, returned after a seven-year hiatus, during which COVID-19 ransacked the restaurant business, grappling with a big question: Is it possible to build to last in this industry? If you follow industry news, at least in America, it might not seem like it. In the last two years, dozens of major restaurant companies have shuttered locations, filed for bankruptcy, or closed outright. McDonalds recently experienced its worst sales decline since the pandemic. Those are just the corporate chains. Independent restaurants, always a tough business, are facing challenges that include rising costs and wage pressures, inflation, changes in consumer spending, and disruptions and uncertainty caused by natural disasters, economic constraints, and political leadership. In the years since MAD began, the tone around chefs and restaurants has shifted dramatically. An industry-wide reckoning sent plenty of top names packing and caused othersRedzepi includedto reexamine and adjust the way they treat workers and run kitchens. Theres a sense that maybe its time for the gods of food, as Time magazine once called them in a feature that also included past MAD speakers David Chang and Brazilian chef Alex Atala (who once killed a chicken on the MAD stage) to step aside. Keller controversy The event itself was largely successful in its efforts to inspire important conversations about what should come next, even if it got off to a sleepy start. Legacy was the theme of the first day, but some speakers missed the opportunity to reflect honestly on reality. The biggest example of this was a conversation between chefs Redzepi and Keller that completely ignored the bombshell story, published a week earlier, by San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan. In it, she reveals Keller pulled her aside during a visit to the French Laundry, his Napa Valley fine-dining restaurant, for a lecture about the merits of restaurant critics before asking her to leave. (Spoiler: She stays.) Might one of the worlds greatest chefs address a bit of reasonable, if high-profile criticism in front of a friendly industry audience, we all wondered? Unfortunately, he did not. From supper clubs to pop-ups Thankfully, MAD managed to redeem itself the following day as talks turned to the future. Asma Khan, chef of London Darjeeling Express explained her businesss evolution from supper club to pop-up to permanent restaurant employingand empoweringimmigrant women. Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard spoke of his 2023 decision to, in his words, give away the company, transferring its ownership to a nonprofit foundation. And Emilie Qvist, a young Danish chef, talked about her own future in restaurants: a series of short-term projects that included revitalizing a coastal fish restaurant in northern Denmark before closing it to travel and later sign on as chef for a six-month projectshort-term stints are still excellent vectors for change and creativity, she explained. While the room was filled with bold-faced names of the restaurant world (even Keller stayed for the full program) the most impact came from those working more anonymously to create a better restaurant industry, a better legacy. As we filed out of the tent on Monday evening, first into a boat and then to a happy hour full of natural wine and caviar under a bridge beside a canalthis business has its perks!I again considered the fishing guides wild salmon pitch. A few years ago, they faced a catastrophic disaster when thousands of farmed salmon escaped from a nearby offshore farm. The escape threatened the countrys wild fish with disease, parasites, and reproductive challenges. If the practice of sea farming continues, the young women said, the countrys entire population of wild salmon is at risk of dying. Thats bad news for anyone who cares about fishing practices, but its worse news for the guides. Threatened also is their families legacyan outcome that loomed larger in a tent full of restaurant people than the fate of the fish. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/Expedite-Icon-E-white-background.jpg.jpg","headline":"Expedite","description":"Restaurant technolog and the big ideas shaping the future of hospitality, by Kristen Hawley. To learn more visit expedite.news","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.expedite.news\/","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
Well, its a sad day in the Aamoth household: Im thinking of getting rid of the 15-year-old Asus netbook thats been collecting dust in the corner of my office. Its sitting atop the Vizio laptop I bought in 2012. Yes: Vizio, the TV company. They made laptops for a hot minute. Ive got dozens of other relics stacked atop each other as well. I can safely say Ill never use them again. Dont be like me. Holding on to outdated computers, forgotten MP3 players, or Obama-era smartphones isn’t just about accumulating junk. These devices often contain valuable materials that can be recycled, and their improper disposal can harm the environment. So, as you embark on your own spring cleaning spree, consider these excellent online resources to help you give away or recycle your old computers, gadgets, and other outdated tech responsibly. Facebook Marketplace: easy, local gifting They say one persons trash is another persons treasure. And youre not even giving away trashyouve got gadgets! Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to buy stuff nearby, but its “Free Stuff” section is an even better way to get rid of things you dont need anymore but arent sure have any real monetary value. Simply snap a few photos, write a brief description of the item and its condition, and select the “Free” option. People in your area who are looking for items will see your post and can message you directly to arrange pickup. It’s a convenient way to quickly rehome items and clear out space without much hassle. Best Buy: convenient, (mostly) free recycling Sometimes, your tech is just too old, broken, or niche to be useful to someone else. In these cases, responsible recycling can be a frustrating ordeal. Tech retailing kingpin Best Buy offers a comprehensive in-store recycling program for a wide range of electronics, regardless of where you bought them. Most items can be recycled for free, and you can drop off up to three items per day. Theres even a mail-in service if you dont have a Best Buy location nearby. Its not free, but it sure is convenient: Boxes run $23 to $30 and include a UPS label, tape, and instructions. Earth911: local recycling hub For a comprehensive guide to local recycling options, Earth911 is an invaluable resource. This website provides a searchable database of recycling centers across the United States. You can input the type of item you want to recycle (e.g., “computers,” “cellphones”) and your zip code, and it will generate a list of nearby facilities that accept those materials. The site also has a ton of helpful content about recycling, upcycling, and other sustainability topics. A few helpful tips Here are some things to consider before giving away or recycling your old technology. Back up your data: Before you do anything else, ensure all your personal data is backed up to an external hard drive or cloud service. Wipe your device(s): If possible, perform a factory reset to completely eradicate all personal information from your devices. Check your items condition: If you’re giving something away, make sure it’s in working order and clean, or be very clear in your listing that its for repair or parts only.
Category:
E-Commerce
Start spreading the news: Theater’s biggest night is happening this evening (Sunday, June 8, 2025) in the Big Apple. The 78th Tony Awards will showcase this seasons best theatrical moments, from revivals to new works, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Let’s catch up on all the drama and how to stream the event live as the curtain rises at Radio City Music Hall. Who is nominated? Three musicals are tied for most Tony nominations this year. Buena Vista Social Club is inspired by real life events and tells the story of the four musicians in Havana, Cuba, who continue to play music despite a turbulent political climate. The Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending tells the futuristic story of two lonely abandoned helper bots who manage to find connection despite isolation. TikTok sound-bite sensation Death Becomes Her is based on the 1992 Robert Zemeckis movie of the same name. Meanwhile, two plays boast seven nominations each. Kimberly Belflowers play John Proctor Is the Villain takes a fresh look at Arthur Millers classic play The Crucible and the historic Salem witch trials. Jez Butterworths The Hills of California centers on the estranged Webb sisters who reunite to care for their aging mother and are forced to face past family secrets and traumas. Cole Escolas comedy Oh, Mary!, a farcical portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, boasts five nominations. On the musical revival sides of things, it is a tight race between Sunset Blvd and Gypsy. Many critics believe the winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical category is between Nicole Scherzinger and Audra McDonald. You can see the full list of nominees here. Who is hosting? Movie Elphaba herself Cynthia Erivo will host the festivities this year. She has her very own Tony for her work as Celie in the 2016 revival of The Color Purple. Fans are eager to see the conclusion of Wicked later this year, so maybe this will tide them over. Brian Stokes Mitchells smooth voice will help keep things moving as he is serving as the offstage announcer. Who is presenting? Many theater greats will help present awards. These include Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert, Allison Janney, Ariana DeBose, Danielle Brooks, Kelli OHara, Kristin Chenoweth, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Lea Michele, Lea Salonga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, and Sarah Paulson to name a few. Who is performing? Its tradition (cue Fiddler on the Roof ) for nominated musicals and revivals to perform at the ceremony. This means that beyond the ones already mentioned, you can expect performances from Dead Outlaw, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Sunset Blvd, Just In Time, and Real Women Have Curves. Beyond the present, Broadway loves to celebrate its past successes. Its almost as if history has its eyes on the industry. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Groff, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, and many other original cast members will reunite to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hamiltons Broadway debut at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. This special performance is not to be missed. What special Tony Award moments can audiences expect? Two new special awards have already been announced. The musicians in the band of Buena Vista Social Club will receive special awards as will the technical effects of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Harvey Fierstein will be presented the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. His impressive resume includes work as an actor and writer on projects ranging from La Cage aux Folles to Newsies. The 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be presented to Celia Keenan-Bolger for her offstage advocacy work. She has championed many important causes, such as hunger, same-sex-marriage rights, and arts education. She also works as an end-of-life doula, helping the late Broadway star Gavin Creel transition peacefully at the end of his life. How can I watch or stream the 2025 Tony Awards? Traditional cable subscribers can catch every kick ball change on the CBS broadcast network beginning at 8 p.m. If you have an over-the-air antenna, you can also watch it for free without cable. If streaming is more your style, the ceremony is also available on Paramount+, which also allows you to stream it on a computer or via its mobile apps. Several other live-TV streaming services also carry CBS, such as: YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream Just make sure to double check regional availability. If you just cant get enough Broadway action, tune into Pluto TV early for the pre-show The Tony Awards: Act One, hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, which begins at 6:40-8:00 p.m. ET.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||