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McDonald39s is updating its mascot39s look
<p>McDonald&#39;s is updating its mascot&#39;s look.</p>

5 must-know restaurant news stories: April 24, 2014

Nation's Restaurant News editors select the top industry stories of the day

Ronald McDonald gets makeover before Twitter debut (Chicago Tribune)
McDonald’s 51-year-old mascot has had a rough month, with rival Taco Bell finding real men who share his name to talk up its new breakfast. But Ronald McDonald will get a new look, with more stylish clothes in his familiar color palette of red and yellow, as the mascot’s brand personality will start appearing on Twitter this month and in new commercials later this year. Initially, Ronald’s musings will come from the chain’s corporate Twitter handle, @McDonaldsCorp, with the hashtag #RonaldMcDonald, but the mascot might get his own handle some day, like Rooty the Bear from A&W or Jack from Jack in the Box.

—Mark Brandau

World’s most expensive hotel restaurant to open at the Hard Rock Ibiza (Fox News)
The new Hard Rock Hotel in Playa de Bossa will house Michelin-starred chef Paco Rancero’s Sublimotion restaurant. The concept is being billed as an “unparalleled gastro-sensory venture,” according to a recent press release. The exclusive private dining room is limited to just 12 guests who pay 1,500 euros a head, or about $2,070.

—Ron Ruggless

Vermont will require labeling of genetically altered foods (The New York Times)
Products containing ingredients like canola oil, soy lecithin, dextrose and sorbitol would have to be labeled as genetically modified under the Vermont law. Labeling efforts are also underway in some 20 other states.

—Marcella Veneziale

Guidara and Rudolf plan Welcome hospitality conference (Eater NY)
There’s a new hospitality conference coming to New York. The Welcome Conference on June 17 will include a lineup of heavy hitters from the culinary scene there, including organizers Will Guidara of The Nomad and Eleven Madison Park and Anthony Rudolf, formerly of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

—Lisa Jennings

An entire restaurant with tables for one (Bloomberg Businessweek)
A new pop-up restaurant in Amsterdam aims to remove the social stigma of eating dinner without a companion.

—Marcella Veneziale

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