High-End Restaurant in the Netherlands Adding 3D Printed Food to the Menu

Chocolate ganache, hazelnut celery, fruit caviar and goat cheese are all dishes likely to be found on the menus at high-end restaurants, as will be the case for Dutch chef Jan Smink and his new restaurant opening in September 2018 in Wolvega. However, there’s a catch – the food is 3D printed.

Guests will have the unique opportunity to experience food in a new dimension thanks to the Focus 3D Food Printer from byFlow. About a year ago, Smink became the first Ambassador of byFlow, a Dutch company that since 2009 specializes in 3D food printing. In 2015, byFlow introduced the Focus, a printer that quickly captured the food industry as 3D printing comes into play in the culinary world.

“To surprise my guests with a new and unique experience, I want to be open to innovative technologies,” Smink said regarding the use of 3D printing in his new kitchen. “By using the Focus 3D Food Printer I’m able to experiment with traditional, local ingredients and serve them in forms and shapes that otherwise would not be possible. I’m excited that my restaurant will be the first in the Netherlands to do so.”

Smink actively experiments with new 3D printed food recipes and provides support to byFlow’s research and development team. His affiliation with the company gained interest after presenting at Horecava 2018, where they demonstrated that 3D printing can have practical application in a restaurant setting. This video by Food Ingredients shows Smink using the 3D Food Printer to prepare an innovative version of a traditional Dutch dish:

“Think of it as of an automated piping bag with almost endless possibilities. There is nothing artificial about 3D Food Printing, we use fresh ingredients and, to contribute to the fight with food wastage, ingredients that otherwise would have been thrown away. Everyone can either prepare their own paste for printing or, thanks to our new collaboration with Verstegen Spices&Sauces, buy a ready 3D Food Printing filling,” explained Nina Hoff, byFlow’s CEO, when asked how to understand the 3D Food Printing process.

Smink’s uncommon dining experiences will include meal preparation visible to his guests, as well as preparing dishes right at the table with the Focus 3D Food Printer. The name of the restaurant will be announced in mid-May with a website that will allow guests to start making reservations.

The Focus 3D Food Printer comes with 10 food safe cartridges, 4 nozzles in 2 sizes, 5 prepared designs to immediately start printing and access to multiple recipes and designs for 3D Food Printing.

What do you think about 3D printed food? Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.