"This is the first time that a machine has automatically made a personalized hamburger," Racheli Vizman, CEO of SavorEat, the Israeli start-up specializing in the production of meat alternatives to the origin of the concept.
Everyone can choose the amount of vegetable protein or fat in their steak as well as its size or cooking via an app, she continues.
The "robot chef", the size of a large oven, can simultaneously make three different steaks.
The device mixes several ingredients like beans, potatoes and chickpeas to form a texture "that resembles that of real meat," says Ms. Vizman, who in 2018 founded her company with two professors from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Everything is cooked in a few minutes, she assures, stressing that the product devoid of animal proteins is kosher, in accordance with the food code of Judaism.
“The novelty,” according to BBB Group CEO Ahuva Turgeman, is that the customer selects the ingredients and the robot performs without anyone touching the steak, which is then manually put between two slices of bread.
The curious can first try this culinary novelty in the restaurant in the town of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, for around 60 shekels (17 euros), fries and drink included.
JACK GUEZ AFP
"We want to meet the cravings of vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians" who occasionally eat meat, continues Ms. Turgeman.
About 5% of the Israeli population declare themselves to be vegan and the market for alternatives to meat is booming, according to SavorEat.
Racheli Vizman says she wants to offer households capsules that produce food in the future, just like coffee machines.
© 2021 AFP