Chef Kate Austen Inaugurates Sodexo’s Flagship Modern Recipe

Chef Kate Austen Inaugurates Sodexo’s Flagship Modern Recipe Restaurant

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on September 30, 2024

Sodexo UK & Ireland has officially opened its flagship Modern Recipe restaurant, a new concept in workplace dining, with a launch event led by renowned chef Kate Austen. The restaurant, located at the global head office of a major PLC, marks a key step in Sodexo’s commitment to transforming corporate dining by offering healthy, sustainable, and exciting meal options tailored to today’s workforce.

The Modern Recipe concept emphasizes the use of responsibly sourced ingredients to create a wide variety of dishes, ensuring that customers can enjoy flavorful, nutritious food throughout the day. This all-day dining model provides flexibility to suit the needs of modern employees with changing schedules, offering everything from breakfast to lunch and snacks.

With the capacity to serve up to 1,500 people daily, the restaurant has been designed to provide a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere. The newly renovated space features digital screens and wayfinding tools to enhance the customer experience. The restaurant is organized into three main serving areas, including a large salad bar with a hot protein section, ensuring a wide selection of meal options.

The menu, which reflects global culinary trends, includes dishes such as Panko chicken Katsu, sweet potato Bobo with Brazilian rice, and a range of bistro-style offerings like Teriyaki tuna steak and grilled lamb Kofta. A Chapter & Verse coffee bar also serves premium coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Brazil and Colombia, alongside sandwiches, wraps, and baguettes for those seeking quick bites. Additionally, the café provides a click-and-collect option for employees on the go.

Chef Kate Austen’s involvement brings a fresh perspective to the Modern Recipe brand. At the launch event, she shared her culinary expertise, offering tips and discussing her vision for creating dining spaces that nurture both the body and mind. “Modern Recipe is all about bringing people together through food, creating memorable moments, and offering a space where employees can relax and connect,” she said. Austen also previewed some signature dishes she is developing with the Sodexo team, which will be introduced to the menu later this fall.

Lynsey O’Keefe, CEO of Corporate Services and Energy & Resources at Sodexo UK & Ireland, emphasized that the restaurant embodies the company’s commitment to sustainability and employee well-being. “This flagship Modern Recipe restaurant is a significant step for us in delivering sustainable and valuable dining experiences. We aim to offer a place where people can come together, enjoy good food, and build a sense of community within the workplace,” she said.

Sodexo’s Modern Recipe brand is already present at more than 30 locations across the UK, catering to various industries such as energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and technology. These outlets range from large restaurants and cafés to smaller formats like kitchenettes, micro-markets, and smart fridges. Each location reflects the brand’s ethos of offering high-quality, sustainable food while enhancing the workplace environment.

The launch of this flagship restaurant highlights the continued expansion of Modern Recipe, with plans to extend the brand’s presence across more Sodexo client sites in the near future. By incorporating elements from popular high-street food concepts into the corporate setting, Modern Recipe aims to make dining at work both enjoyable and convenient.

Fusion Resorts Celebrate Global Wellness Month with Enriching Experiences

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 28, 2025

Fusion, the wellness-inspired resort group, is set to welcome June with a vibrant month-long celebration of health and mindfulness across its properties in Vietnam and Thailand. Honouring Global Wellness Day (June 14) and International Yoga Day (June 21), Fusion's resorts will offer guests enriching wellness experiences, from beachside yoga to guided meditations and spa rituals.

The Fusionlife loyalty program enhances this celebration with exclusive perks on accommodation and dining. Guests can explore more about these wellness benefits at: fusionhotelgroup.com/fusionlife.

Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang

This resort begins its journey on June 14 with outdoor yoga and an evening painting meditation at Maia Spa, fostering mindfulness and creativity. On June 21, International Yoga Day will feature early morning yoga and meditation, followed by a blend of yoga and painting in the afternoon—creating a thoughtful balance of movement and reflection throughout the month.

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh

Guests can enjoy a full day of activities on June 14, including tai chi on the beach, family yoga, detox sessions, and a kids' yoga class. The afternoon brings an organic hair conditioner workshop and chi nei tsang therapy. For International Yoga Day, the schedule includes surya namaskar by the ocean, vinyasa flow, nidra yoga, and more—designed to promote emotional balance and deep relaxation.

Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion

Nestled in the Trường Sơn Mountains, this resort offers a nature-immersed experience. Global Wellness Day begins with a forest hike and meditation, followed by a joyful "nature dance" and a healing hot spring soak. On Yoga Day, guests are invited for sunrise yoga beneath trees and a tranquil evening sound healing session using singing bowls.

Maia Resort Quy Nhon & The Ocean Resort Quy Nhon

The sister resorts are teaming up to offer a multi-day wellness retreat. Activities such as breath meditation, tai chi, qigong, and wellness workshops will take place in scenic venues, offering a deeply holistic wellness journey.

Fusion Suites Vung Tau

The “A Touch of Peace” workshop on June 22 will feature yoga breathwork, a singing-bowl meditation, and a reflective journaling session. The experience is designed to leave guests feeling calm, aware, and renewed.

HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong

From June 9 to 15, guests can enjoy a complimentary perilla juice with any dish—a refreshing mix of perilla leaves, ginger, and orange—celebrating wellness in simple, flavourful ways.

GLOW Mira Karon Beach (Thailand)

A sunset yoga session by the beach, just steps from the ocean, will be held at this Phuket resort. Led by a professional coach, the experience is complemented by rejuvenating spa treatments and a tranquil setting, ideal for family-friendly wellness escapes.

This June, Fusion welcomes guests to reconnect with their inner selves, soak in natural beauty, and celebrate a mindful lifestyle, one moment at a time.

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Western Sydney Convention Centre Partners with Encore for Next-Gen Events

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 27, 2025

The Western Sydney Convention Centre (WSCC) at the Panthers Precinct has entered a landmark partnership with Encore, a global leader in event technology and creative production, to serve as its in-house event production partner.

This collaboration comes on the heels of WSCC’s recent expansion, bringing its total event space to over 4,000 sqm, strengthening the region’s role as a premier destination for business and tourism, especially with the Western Sydney International Airport set to open next year.

Encore’s involvement further raises the bar for the precinct, bringing in advanced AV and production equipment, particularly to upgraded spaces beyond the main 1,000-seat WSCC venue.

With access to AI-powered event technologies, bespoke production services, and the largest LED inventory in APAC, clients can expect seamless, immersive, and high-quality event experiences. The Encore team will work closely with WSCC’s planning teams to ensure every event is personalised and flawlessly executed.

Charles Young, General Manager of WSCC, stated,

“Encore brings an unmatched suite of cutting-edge technologies to help us deliver elevated client experiences. This new partnership reflects our commitment to excellence and forward-thinking conference and event hospitality.”

Katherine Pfahl, Senior Director of Strategic Commercial Partnerships, Encore APAC, added,

“Our advanced production capabilities and innovative services will elevate every event at the venue. We look forward to making a significant impact together.”

As Western Sydney continues to grow as a major events destination, this partnership represents a shared commitment to delivering quality, innovation, and premium service.