Will Gourmet Restaurants Be the next 3D printing companies?
One of the most intriguing aspects of food 3d printing services is that you can decide what shape the food product will ultimately be, meaning that you can craft some truly unconventional dishes. Much like cake-making, or baking altogether, presentation plays a big part in whether or not a prospective customer picks it up at the store. Today, we can submit photographs to a shirt printing company in order to acquire custom apparel, for an important event or a startup business. This same model is sure to apply to the world of food, making it more personalized and expressive than ever before. In this sense it is sure to better the experience of dining out, into something more fun-loving and novel as well as something that will draw on the imagination.
A chef can use a 3D scanner and select a particular shape to utilize in a creation. This may be done in such a way that it improves the presentation of a dish considerably. As time goes on, we may see the profession of Chef turn into one that requires more and more aesthetic consideration and decorative acumen. It´s pretty neat to think that it will become more and more common to consume a work of art, rather than just a meal.
3D printing services could very well change the way we celebrate and pay tribute to the things in our lives that give us meaning across the cultural spectrum. It´s pretty cool to think that special occasions, like birthdays, can become an even more unique time of the year as individuals will be able to have a real say in the type of cake and/or treats to a degree that has never before been quite so possible. Imagine being able to bring in a personal item into a 3D scanning company, scanning it and later that evening having it for dessert.
It´s pretty cool to think of dishes that we´ve enjoyed on countless occasions as being presented, and therefore prepared, in newer, more innovative ways. Many chefs from all over the world may find their craftsmanship drifting into an ever more digital realm. The biggest challenge is being able to incorporate the right degree of must and viscosity. However, unsurprisingly there are a number of chefs that are taking this challenge head on. For instance, with the ChefJet Pro 3D printer, Chef Josiah Citrin, who oversees the restaurant Melisse, has prepared a French onion soup, but with an intriguing twist. It features a printed onion powder cube that is set in a bowl that dissolves as hot oxtail broth is poured atop it. He has also produced a pumpkin-shaped maple and pumpkin waffle that cradles a quail egg. Not your typical breakfast presentation at all.
It is also interesting to contemplate the more intertwined relationships that are sure to develop between different industries, in particular hospitality and food service. For example, artisans may be relied upon more readily and across a wider landscape to mark and commemorate events.
And the possibilities extend beyond food. Mixologists are getting in on the action. Matthew Biancaneillo, a specialized cocktail chef has created new cocktails with special 3D additions such as a printed crystal of smoked salt and a candy-cap mushroom printed garnish. There is sure to be a wave of new drinks when one considers how many there are, and how many there could be with 3D printing services on their side. In this way it is pretty exciting to think of how exactly new foods can be when they appeal to as many senses as possible.
The rule of thumb is, if it can be pureed, it can be printed. This means that basically the entire flavor spectrum may be printed, to different degrees of course. There are even advances being made in meat printing, so desserts are just the beginning. The only thing is that the texture isn´t going to be quite like a well done steak, which in turn is actually being welcomed by senior citizens who would find this type of meal ideal. In Germany it is already commonplace for thousands of senior citizens to dine on what is marketed as ¨smooth food.¨
From a nutritional standpoint it is also of great importance the role these printers could play in shifting the production of processed food, which accounts for the vast majority of food consumed all around the world, to more wholesome options. It seems only natural that the fast food industry should and would change right along with this new technology. Lynette Kucsma of the Foodini 3d food printing company sees it this way and hopes for a future with more nutritious fast food like products. It´s in the interest of these companies to provide the healthiest meals possible to have the best clientele possible. The Italian food printing company WASP is trying to seize this very opportunity by producing gluten-free versions of some of the most popular foods we consume.
With this new technology there will be an explosion of classes and symposiums eager to learn the countless possibilities of this ever-growing technology. There´s a good chance that collaboration will be the name of the game in order to explore the possibilities of how food crafted in this manner may change our relationships, for example to other materials such as metal and ceramic.
It´s a new frontier and all we have to do is give it our very best shot. That and dig in!