It’s Real And It’s Here: A Paella-Making Robot!
Well, this is a bit of a shock: the terrific newspaper The Guardian reported that a “paella-making Robot” is here!
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, here is how they make it on Spain’s “wild coast”:
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 reported:
“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.”
To that I say this:
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,
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. I think this is the only way to make Paella:
You let it bubble while YOU WATCH – no Robots here!
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 love Paella, so of course when my “52 In 22” cooking challenge was underway, I made it two ways!
The question is: WHY?
Find out the answer – and get both recipes, by clicking on my story here:
Click here to sign up and see all of the fun food from around the world I share!
If you like the story, share it with friends on social media! Thanks!
Categories: 52 In 22!, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Food, Food Travel, Recipes, Travel, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
I had heard about this and agree, paella should be made by humans! As should all good food.
Agree completely…it’s an art form not a factory! Thanks for the comment!
I prefer the human touch on this very special dish
Hi John. No robot cooks or chef’s in my house and I doubt there ever will be. I like cooking and I enjoy good food. You need to taste and adjust when you cook.
Yes to all points!
Robot chefs are bound to happen, but that doesn’t make it acceptable to me. No doubt they will, be using AI recipes too!
Best wishes, Pete.
That’s a very good point Pete….who needs a Chef’s input – just enter it into your phone and let AI spit out a recipe for a generic Paella!
Sounds like we will be seeing Paella Fast Food joints.
I hope not! Thanks for commenting!