Is this the restaurant of the future? 3D printing, VR headsets and AI composed music
Later this month, a 3D-printing pop-up restaurant, called “Food Ink”, will open in London. The restaurant promises to offer a completely different dining experience, rather than being served food that has been cooked and prepared by a chef, customers will be offered a selection of 3D-printed food items by the British tech company.
3D-printing food as a concept isn’t necessarily new, but Food Ink have taken it a little further with a pop-up restaurant where the food gets served by portable 3D-printers operated by chefs using their own original, 3D-printing specific, recipes. Furthermore, all of the restaurants furniture, including lamps and utensils will be specifically 3D-printed for the occasion.

Indeed, Food Ink has reportedly designed the entire restaurant to feel futuristic, including virtual reality headsets, visual projections on the surrounding walls and AI-composed sounds/music.
The 3D-printers used for the event are called Focus, designed by 3D by flow, a Dutch company. It is one of the world’s first portable, multimaterial printers, and it is company, mobile and can print with over 20 different materials. Anything that can be turned into an edible paste can be put through the Focus’ extruders. Original good stuffs will be printed layer-by-layer, with the expectation that they’ll offer a slightly different taste experience than regular gourmet dining, and they’ll be accompanied by more traditionally prepared side dishes and garnishes.