When you think of 3D printing, fine dining may not be the first thing that springs to mind. But enterprising restaurateurs are now experimenting with its potential in the kitchen.
Many upscale restaurants take as much pride in the presentation of their signature dishes as they do in their flavours. Using 3D printing technology gives chefs the power to achieve perfection at the push of a button, expanding the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to intricate designs.
Speaking last year at the London 3D Printshow, early adopter Mateo Blanch told the International Business Times that 3D printing has transformed the way he works with food at La Boscana, his restaurant in Lerida, Spain
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"I now work with the 3D printer to make forms and shapes that would have been impossible to make so quickly by hand. I am capable of a level of precision that would never have been possible before," he said.
"I like to use it in front of customers so that they can participate and see how I am making their food, and I've had really good feedback from my customers."
So far, only a handful of restaurants have begun exploring the new technology, but there is enough interest that one company has developed a 3D printer designed specifically for food – the Foodini.
Developer Natural Machines says the Foodini, which is currently only available to a select group of early access users, is suitable for professional chefs and home cooks who want to create spectacular culinary displays or simply automate tasks such as making ravioli.
"With suitable ingredients, the machine is capable of printing structures several centimetres high, making possible some quite elaborate 3D designs," the BBC reports. The Foodini can also be connected to the internet, so recipes and patterns can be uploaded directly.
"It's very interesting what today's technology is contributing to gastronomy," chef Paco Perez, who uses a 3D printer at his Michelin-starred La Enoteca restaurant in Barcelona, told the BBC. "Creativity is shaped by what technology can do".
