07-14-2015: Modernist Cuisine Lab has teamed up with 3D Systems to create an edible Palace of Versailles using sugar 3D printing technology
The project was handled by a division of the company called 3D Systems Culinary
On July 14, 2015, the renowned Modernist Cusine Lab – a place where the most extraordinary culinary experiments take place, presented the result of cooperation with 3D Systems in the form of a 3D printed, edible palace of Versailles. The dynamically developed by 3D Systems ChefJet Pro were used for production. To this day, it is one of the most sublime examples of using additive manufacturing in the production of sweets. It was also one of the last public examples of using gastronomic solutions by 3D Systems.
The project was handled by a division of the company called 3D Systems Culinary. It used a ChefJet Pro printer to transform chef Francisco Migoya’s hand-drawn sketch into a 3D digital model. The ChefJet Pro worked on a similar principle to BinderJetting 3D printers that print from gypsum powder. A food-grade adhesive was sprayed onto thin layers of sugar, selectively bonding the subsequent layers together. After printing, the excess sugar was removed with compressed air, revealing the finished print.
The end result was an edible Palace of Versailles, surrounding a rich, buttery brioche. Migoya began building the dessert by covering the brioche with a glaze of pectin and water, then applied gold foil, echoing the facade of Versailles. The whole thing was placed on an acrylic base, which was laser-cut to resemble the palace gardens. The dessert was complemented with meringue bushes and panko grass colored with chlorella. The brioche was served with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
Unfortunately, despite the theoretically great potential, the ChefJet 3D printers (as well as the CocoJet chocolate printer developed in parallel) were not commercialized on a larger scale. After Avi Reichental left 3D Systems in the fall of 2015, the culinary projects simply faded into oblivion.
Fortunately, in October 2022, Sugar Lab - the original creator of the 3D sugar printing method, which was acquired by 3D Systems in 2013, decided to buy back its technology and restart it under the CURRANT 3D & Sugar Lab brand.
Source: www.modernistcuisine.com