If you follow us on Facebook, you might’ve noticed this post that we recently shared about 3D-printed sushi! While sushi is generally considered a healthy option when it comes to food, a futuristic company is taking things to a whole new level.
So what is it all about?
Sushi Singularity is a restaurant concept by Japanese food technology company Open Meals.
"The world of sushi enters a new realm," Open Meals states on its website. "Through harnessing technology, scientific materials, structures and cooking methods."
The whole project aims at a complete and total food revolution with three main steps: a health identification to determine each diner's nutritional needs, a food fabrication machine equipped with tech like 3D printers, and a food operation system.
So dining at this high tech restaurant won’t be as simple as making a reservation or walking in, because you'll first have to submit samples of your DNA, urine, and other bodily fluids. They call this your 'Health ID' and the sample collection kit will be sent to your doorstep once a reservation is booked, approximately two weeks prior to the date of the meal.
Once the kit is received, it will be analysed, and nutritional matching performed to match nourishment needs with biometrics, thus providing diners with the optical diet.
Here's what you can expect to see on the menu:
Cell Cultured Tuna
According to Open Meals, the internal honeycomb-like structure is meant to mimic the texture and sensation of tuna muscle, and it is even possible to recreate the subtle differences between lean tissue and the highest grade tuna.
Powdered Sintered Uni
To achieve this unique shape and texture, a CO2 laser is used to harden uni powder and rice flour to shape it into a motif that resembles the shell of an actual sea urchin. The spines will also help evenly distribute flavor and create a melt-in-your mouth experience.
Negative Stiffness Honeycomb Octopus
Utilizing a structure in which materials exhibit a negative rigidity, biting into this octopus sushi will create a unique new experience in your mouth. As Open Meals describes it: "The sensation of, after first biting it, disappearing, and then bouncing back.” We’re so curious how it’ll actually feel!
Oze Tick Kappa Roll
This piece is laser-cut to process the seaweed into the Oze Tick structure. The windings have been tightly fixed to complexly curved rice to enable new designs.
Anisotropic Stiffness Steamed Shrimp
The incorporation of anisotropy changes the hardness of the creation according to the chewing direction. It is firm on top while soft on the sides, creating different textures and sensations in your mouth.
Squid Castle
Made of flash-frozen squid, the Squid Castle utilizes a 6-axis computer-controlled router to achieve all the minute, ultra-fine details in its design. The bed of rice below mimics the look of a stone wall, further adding to its ~aesthetic~.
Micro Pillar Saltwater Eel
Using ultra-fine 3D-printing methods, this saltwater eel sushi comprises of thousands of 'hairs' to create the gentle texture of quality eel, giving you a truly unique fluffy mouthfeel that entwines perfectly with a dash of sauce.
Dashi Soup Universe
Soup encased in a cube, made possible with 3D-printing, alginate acid coagulation and a calcium lactate membrane. Kinda looks like a futuristic snow globe to me!
Sushi Singularity is expected to open its doors sometime this year in Tokyo, although it is stated on their website that it is subjected to change, presumably due to Covid-19. We can’t wait for it to be eradicated so we can finally travel overseas!