Robots invade this year’s Restaurants Canada show in Toronto

TORONTO, April 15, 2023 – The national Restaurants Canada Conference and Trade Show, simply known as the RC Show, is Canada’s leading Hospitality and Food Expo, showcasing everything available to the restaurant industry from products, to foods, to equipment and more, hosts competitions and Events within the show. A walk through the event held April 10-12 at the Enercare Centre, opens the eyes of any restaurateur.

As I walk through the aisles of vendors (over 1000) and demonstration stages, I notice a few BOTS roaming the exhibit floor. Referred to as Service BOTs (short for robots) they are now moving from automobile production lines and into the restaurant service industry in Canada.

Service BOTS have been around in Europe and the Eastern hemisphere for a while, but this technology is now being tested in Canada at a number of restaurants, airports, libraries and other facilities. The purpose of the BOTS is to perform some of the tasks that usually are done by a person, such as taking food orders from the kitchen to the pick-up area, or bringing the order to the table. At this point the service staff can concentrate on providing the restaurant guests a greater experience, and tend to their needs more.

“These BOTS can be programmed to do almost anything in the restaurant like taking people to their seats, taking photos, even singing happy birthday, they are multi use. Hotels are using our BOTS to deliver room service and are programmed to operate the elevator. We are the only company to do this,” stated Rafael Fortini of E-Pro Bot.

Robotics in the kitchen

Intelligent Robotics have entered the kitchen in many restaurants. The restaurant industry has adapted robotic arms to make and fry the perfect french fries each and every time. These robotic arms do not skip a beat and automate the kitchen so that a better, consistent product is prepared for the consumer (check out the short video below).

These BOTS range in price anywhere from $16,000 to over $70,000, depending on the size of BOT and complexity of functions it will perform. A few other companies at the show that offered this service solutions are S.P.A.R.C. Technologies, ATOSA (Intelligent French Fry. Robotic Solution), KEENON Robotics and UNITED Robotics Group.

As I continue my walk through the show, I gravitate to the plant-based foods area where the Not chicken and Not burger meat is being featured. Giving them both a taste I can not tell the difference. Chef Stephan Schulz, a contributing chef to TO TIMES and Ottawa Times is cooking up the “NotBurger and NotChicken” products made by Notco. What is Notco? Their website states, “we replicate the animal products we love to eat – they taste like, cook like and feel like them – but are made with the best of plants”. They also produce plant-based “NotMilk,” both regular and Chocolate (the Chocolate uses 40% less sugar than regular chocolate milk). The true test is in the taste. And you know, they do taste great.

Now, I am a particular connoisseur of desserts and snacks, so I can not pass-up the opportunity to try a Belgian chocolate-filled waffle. A new item offered by Gastronomia, a Quebec-based company that provides gourmet frozen foods across Canada.

What catches my eye is that the waffle is almost 50% filled with chocolate, no preservatives, no artificial flavours and no colouring. Is the taste going to be truly authentic? Is this going to be what my taste buds desire? The chocolate just oozes into my mouth and tastes delicious. Now that’s what a chocolate filled anything should do.

Companies from across Canada come to exhibit and attend this event. All showcasing their produce, services and equipment, while others who attend are looking to improve their operations and find the products and services that will keep them ahead of their competition, and keep their customers coming back.

For updates and more details, visit www.rcshow.com or www.restaurantscanada.org.

by Frank Greco

Frank Greco is a world traveller and television producer of The Travel Guy, Gourmet Escapes and other lifestyle programs/documentaries. Follow Frank on Twitter (www.twitter.com/iamthetravelguy); Facebook (www.facebook.com/frank.greco.338); Instagram (thetravelguy1); Youtube Channels (TGTV-Food or Frank Greco-The Travel Guy) – it’s all free.

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