3D printing is transforming medicine, fashion and manufacturing.

But you may not have expected it to land on your plate..

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) REUTERS REPORTERS, ROSANNA PHILPOTT, SAYING:

“Now as we speak files are being transferred from this side of road where they’re being created on a computer to this side of the road where printers are about to create an 11 course meal for the customers inside”

The ‘ink’ used for tonight’s guests – potato, avocado, chocolate and passion fruit paste

printed layer by layer to create individually calibrated dishes at the click of a mouse.

It’s fun – but it will put you back £250?

Company founder Antony Dobrzensky says insists the concept of printing food isn’t just a passing gimmick.

|(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) FOUNDER OF BY FLOW, ANTONY DOBRZENSKY, SAYING:

“3D printing as applied to food and for that matter 3d printing applied to manufacturing processes is just the next step in this constant evolution its the logical next step in terms of convenience, efficiency, sophistication and even doing this that couldn’t quite be possible with the human hand but are possible with your imagination”

Other companies also working on printed food – from sweets in Berlin to NASA supporting research to develop 3D food machines for astronauts.

Experts say it could be a way to feed a global population expected to reach 12 billion by the end of the century as it provides quick, hot food with zero waste and personalized nutritional content.

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) CEO BY FLOW, NINA HOFF, SAYING:

“We can get all the nutrition in there all the vitamins, all the minerals, omegas, protein whatever you need – instead of overcooked food which has been processed, put in a blender for example”

Perhaps a vision for the future – a 3D printer in every home between the microwave and the toaster.

Pizza delivered by email. Downloading dessert.

But the food wont feel or taste conventional either – and THAT might take longer for food lovers to ingest.