Yesterday, Narratively published a lengthy profile by Dusica Sue Malesevicon inventor Dr. David Edwards, a scientist whose recent hi-tech food experiments are following in the molecular gastronomical steps of foam forerunner Ferran Adria's elBulli. But whereas the legendary Catalan chef focused on the food itself, Edwards is re-imagining the tools and processes used to consume the food. In his case, Le Whaf and whaffing: a technology the Harvard professor invented that creates food vapor which is inhaled through a special, truncated straw.
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Created in 2012, whaffing "utilizes ultrasound technology to create pressure waves that produce a vapor interspersed with droplets." Patrons are then able to "sip" from glasses filled with the smoke using the straw. For the introductory exhibition, Edwards invited four chefs to try his technology, yielding "immaterial sushi and duck l'orange." We've heard of vaporizing food essences before, but never an entire meal. We assume the standard etiquette was sip, sip, pass.The profile goes on to detail Edwards' other mad science-like inventions that flip commonly understood notions about making a meal on their culinary head. There's Le Whif—a light pastel canister that emits food particles without any calories—and AeroShot, a caffeine inhalant that was eventually banned in the States.Edwards has also designed WikiPearl, a biodegradable food coating that doesn't use plastic, and mentored the creators of oPhone—the scent messaging system we covered back in June. He even created a spray that makes users feel intoxicated for a flash second. We're surprised he hasn't ventured into Willy Wonka territory and tested his hands at some Three Course Dinner Chewing Gum.According to Malesevic, "Edwards believes molecular gastronomy is much more than a passing trend, and he is bringing his products not to elite restaurants, but to the commercial market." We definitely would like to stop by our local bodega and buy a spray that tastes like some Michelin Star-level beef bourguignon, but we have to ask: even if sipping or inhaling your food tastes great, will it actually fill our ever-grumbling stomachs?
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