It’s Real And It’s Here: A Paella-Making Robot!

Well, this is a bit of a shock: the terrific newspaper The Guardian is reporting that a “paella-making Robot” is here!

“What The Friday!?!?!?”

OK, let’s unpack this bag of culinary sacrilege – how can a Robot possibly create a work of culinary art like this?

In case you are wondering:

This is a traditional “Paella” I had on the Costa Brava in Spain. It’s a national treasure in Sapin and is described this way:

Paella (pai·ei·uh) is a classic Spanish rice dish made with rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, and seafood cooked and served in one pan.

The marriage of fresh seafood, meat and spices is one that must be coaxed and sweated over…there is nothing mechanical about creating food art!

Unless you are a Robot.

As The Guardian reports:

“Since it was unveiled at a hospitality industry fair last month, the world’s first robotic paellero has been causing a bit of a stir. Set the programme, load the sofrito, rice, stock and seafood, leave it alone and the robotic arm, which is hooked up to a computerised stove, will do the rest.”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

The robotic Paella making Chef is a joint project between a company called “br5” (Be A Robot 5) and a Paella stove manufacturer called Mimcook – and they say there is interest from hotel and restaurant chains,

Check out their promotional video:

Look, robots are part of our world – they have been for awhile and are becoming more a part of our daily lives everyday in the future – but there is something to be said about the “creative artistry” of cooking that can’t be mechanized like this…

I simply don’t see how a dish with this much flavor and passion can be broken down into a “combine all ingredients and stir” mentality.

Still, thanks to The Guardian for reporting the story.

You can read more of it, with lots of great interviews about the process – and the controversy, by clicking on their story here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/28/robot-that-can-cook-paella-causing-stir-spain-mimcook-br5

Of course, I made some traditional Spanish Paella recently:

I love it so much – I use Langoustines, Mussels, Clams, Chorizo and Chicken Thighs and of course lots of Saffron and Smoky Paprika as well! You can see the entire recipe here:

I’ve shared stories of Robot Chefs before – remember this ramen-making and serving “Chef” from China?

It’s the wave of the future so get used to it – you can see the entire story here:

Just to prove I’m not “Anti-Robot”, I have also shared what I thought was a fun idea:

Robot Bartenders!

This I can understand: the basics of a mixed drink are simpler – and anyway, it’s in Las Vegas so what do you expect?

Click here to see more pictures and a video of a Cocktail-making Robot:

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And for all of you Chefs out there, let me know if you think this could possibly be a good idea!

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