Photo: Homaro Cantu/Moto
A friend of mine sent me this recent article on Homaro Cantu and Moto. I've already expressed my rather mixed feelings on the whole molecular gastronomy concept, but I have to admit, the photos that went along with this article made my little graphic designer's heart go pitter-pat.
It's also interesting to me that this is a CNET article. It's starts off with the standard Moto fare: edible paper, liquid nitrogen, lasers, blah, blah, blah. If you're a foodie, I'm sure you've heard it all before. But this is a story targeted at geeks, not foodies, and it goes on to highlight the technologies that Cantu has implemented. His kitchen is paperless; he uses a proprietary software system that he coded himself to track profits and losses, and his staff utilizes a voice-activated, 60-inch screen projection system for their prep lists. He also uses a Nabaztag for his email. I own a Nabaztag (named Fiverito, a gift from the same friend who sent me the article), and I'm not really convinced that it's functional enough for use in professional setting, but I think it's really cool just on principal. I wonder if Cantu uses Twitter...
Cantu also talks a lot about sustainability. He states that he doesn't "create technologies just to create novel technologies. I create because I see a need or gap that needs to be filled at the social or retail level." I don't entirely buy that multi-purpose utensils, edible ads and robotic bunnies that read email are going to save the world, but I suppose that any idea that intends to move our society in a more eco-friendly direction is a positive.
Molecular gastronomy is definitely interesting, but I thought the following was a very telling statement. When asked what he eats at home, Cantu replied, "My wife banned me from the kitchen. She does all the cooking. I do simple things, like a bagel with cream cheese. I do eat normal food. Pizza and a glass of beer—that to me is a perfect meal." And so it is. Cantu names Marie's Pizzaria and Lounge as the best pizza in Chicago. I'll have to check that out.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Food and Tech: Use the Nabaztag, Save the World?
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Geek Treats
Forget Cantu and his flavored edible papers—an iPhone cake is true geek food. And I love that Engadget held a cake contest. If they do it again, I'm in!
As for Cantu, I'm both fascinated and exasperated by the whole physics food trend. The fact that he sites his inspiration as "USB cables and personal computers" gives my nerdy little heart warm fuzzies, but I'm simultaneously rolling my eyes. Maybe it's because Moto is here in Chicago, but I feel that the whole concept of printing a picture of a food on a little piece of paper that tastes like the food has now been overdone. It's cute, and it was interesting when it was new, but I find it frustrating when the gimmicks win out. "We thought it would be a pure-traditional vs. way-modern matchup, but Morimoto did end up pulling out some liquid nitrogen himself." Okay, but why should he have to?
That said, I'm planning on commissioning a cake that incorporates edible photos for a food photography exhibit, so how hypocritical am I? I'll post more on the cake concept as it develops.
