The Old Couch Cafe in Waterford City has announced a collaboration with the South East Technological University (SETU) 3D printing programme.
The alliance between AMASE (Additive Manufacturing Advancing the South East) and 3DWIT has resulted in unique dessert platforms for The Old Couch Cafe.
Custom Made
The casual fine-dining restaurant had introduced a new baked Alaska pineapple and tarragon sorbet dessert served to customers on a lollipop stick.
Now the dessert is presented on top of a miniature seat, resembling an old couch to reflect the restaurant’s name, custom-made by the team at SETU.
New Chef
Chef Luis Martin took over the running of The Old Couch Cafe in April.
With the mantra ‘Something old, something new, something foraged,’ the eatery uses local suppliers and sustainable practices in the creation of its dishes.
Luis previously worked in Michelin star restaurants in his native Spain and five-star resorts in Ireland including Fota Island and Mount Juliet.
'Huge Potential'
"I believe there is huge potential for restaurants to work with places like SETU," said the chef.
"We’re already looking at our next project. We want to offer something different to customers, for us it is all about the experience and having unique and well-designed tableware is part of that.”
'Versatile And Innovative'
“This collaboration with The Old Couch Cafe is an example of the unexpected ways in which 3D printing has uses, and it goes to show what a versatile and innovative type of manufacturing it is," said David Alarco, programme coordinator.
"We were delighted to support a great local business with this initiative and the participants on the course had great fun using the technology at the facility in SETU to create a customised, multi-coloured, multi-material piece that works perfectly for the dessert presentation in the restaurant - the Baked Alaska lollipop stick fits exactly into the old couch creation.”
