It’s 2019, and we’re not too far off from experiencing a wacky robotic future predicted by Back To The Future. We may not have flying cars just yet, but Singapore is right on top of technological boom, of course, with robots and electronics taking over tasks like taking orders and serving food.
Not forgetting technology that has helped produce more eco-friendly food, here are some futuristic ways Singapore’s food industry has changed for the better:
It seems like something out of a futuristic movie, but robots are already “employed” at some 20 food courts run by Koufu. If you head to their outlets at Punggol Plaza or Toa Payoh Central, for example, you’ll see tray return robots leisurely making their way between tables, so you can easily clear your trays without having to scour the food court for a designated tray-return station.
Image credit: Koufu
It’s not hard to imagine a near future where all of Singapore’s food courts have these high-tech upgrades. Many have installed self-ordering kiosks for efficiency, and while cashless payment is gaining in popularity, there are also automatic cash deposit boxes that dispense exact change, as seen at Koufu’s Happy Hawkers branch in Tampines.
Image credit: Koufu
If that isn’t enough, there’s the Koufu Eat app, where you can order food from nearby outlets and collect it when it’s ready to beat those peak-hour queues. Download it on Google Play or App Store.
While we’re on the topic of automated staff in restaurants, Chef-in-box has 100% automated kitchen staff and servers, in the form of vending machines. But it’s not just your run of the mill cup noodles and crisps here – you can actually get a variety of hot dishes, including local, Western, Malay, Indian and Japanese cuisine. Everything’s Halal-certified as well.
You won’t just stumble upon these vending machines at convenient places around Singapore like MRT stations and hospitals; you can head to their cafes at Sengkang and Ang Mo Kio as well.
If it all seems too good to be true, worry not, because the food you’re eating has been created by real chefs. They simply use advanced cook-chill and cook-freeze technology to make sure you’re not missing out on any nutrients and taste.
Who would’ve thought that our love for bubble tea could end up popularising an invention that could revolutionise Singapore’s F&B industry? Gong Cha has been one of the first to adopt a digital bar technology developed by startup company Souschef.
Image credit: Gong Cha Singapore
This digital bar can produce several cups of bubble tea in a matter of seconds, perfect for pop-up events and high-traffic stalls. Ingredients are stored inside the machine, while precise recipes are stored in an online database, automating the process while keeping the drink’s quality consistent. If only we could have this in our office.
It doesn’t end there: You can get your mid-day bubble tea fix by placing an order at the nearest store via the Gong Cha app, so you don’t have to brave those long queues. Download it on Google Play or App Store to get started.
The famous patty by Impossible Foods has been making its rounds in Singapore’s culinary circuit, and everyone’s mind-blown at the fact that it looks, tastes and feels exactly like beef, but is completely plant-based and doesn’t contain animal hormones, antibiotics or gluten.
Image credit: @delee_cious
The developers at Impossible Foods scienced things up by banking in on a “taste” molecule called heme. They extracted it from soy plant roots and genetically engineered yeast to create this meat substitute. This “sustainable meat” also means that less land and water are used, producing fewer emissions.
Image credit: @piers_torday
Judging by the cult-like popularity of hot pot chain Haidilao, there’s got to be an unimaginable amount of food coming out of those kitchens each day. It’s unsurprising then, that the China-based company would jump onto the robotics bandwagon early in the game, by planning a global implementation of automated “staff” in all their outlets around the world, Singapore included.
Image credit: @goz00
Haidilao outlets in Beijing have already started rolling out their sci-fi-like robo-kitchens and waiters, and there are plans for Singapore to follow suit in the 2nd half of 2019.
If you’re craving Japanese food but can’t squeeze in time to brave lunch-hour crowds, Itacho Sushi is one step ahead of this: they’ve developed an app that lets you key in your orders beforehand, and submit them the moment you get to the restaurant.
You won’t have to spend extra time browsing through regular menus – you can plan what to eat while you’re still in the office waiting for the clock to strike 12PM. Just download the app on Google Play or App Store, register for an account, and pick a branch you wish to dine at or order takeout.
Local restaurant group TungLok was among the first in Singapore to have their kitchens run by machines. They even have automatic wok machines to manage your stir-fried cravings.
This doesn’t just mean that large amounts of food are cooked more efficiently, it also means that diners can expect consistent quality all round because every step has been pre-planned and programmed down to a science.
That’s how Ruyi by TungLok has become a game-changer in the fast food industry in Singapore, where Chinese fast food is available 24/7 at Resorts World Sentosa. Most of the food here is cooked by machines, but you won’t be devoid of local favourites like Singapore Laksa, fried chicken wings and wanton noodle soup.
In a time where we’re starting to get worried if there’s enough land to cater to the ever-growing number of humans on earth, some have started utilising “air” space instead. Enter vertical farming, which uses minimal land, water and energy resources to produce sustainable food supply.
For Sky Greens, the grass is definitely greener in land-scarce Singapore as they’ve been supplying locally-grown vegetables to NTUC FairPrice supermarkets since 2012. Their plants are grown in the “sky,” where a water pulley system rotates them to make sure that each plant gets a fair amount of sunlight each day.
From automated kitchens to robo-waiters and high-tech food, Singapore’s food industry is definitely evolving to make life easier for us consumers. Be it sustainable food or vending machines that dispense hot food in a matter of minutes, Singapore’s on the right track when it comes to technology and efficiency in the food industry.
And to solve the problem of tediously long lunch queues, lots of eateries have come up with apps that’ll let you pre-order your food and collect it once it’s ready. You’ll save lots of time and get more out of your lunch hour, thanks to modern technology.
This post was brought to you by DBS.
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