It’s not a new idea, but it’s the most aggressive implementation yet. Heinz’s kitschy new REMIX sauce machine is now recruiting ‘players’ at a Washington State casino. Looks kind of like a slot machine – but pays off every time with new condiment collaborations…
At first glance, you might mistake it for a retro Coke machine. Or even a 1950s gas pump. On second glance, it might re-mind you of a soda fountain or coffee dispenser. But it’s really a quirky Heinz creation designed to help you get the exact sauce you want for whatever you’re eating.
Blend me!
The machine can reportedly produce more than 4,000 different sauce blends, using a selection of Heinz sauces, in-cluding the classics: Ketchup, Mustard Mayo, BBQ and Ranch. From there, you can ‘elevate your flavour’ by adding Jalapeño, Chipotle, Buffalo, Honey, Ba-con or Garlic. The machine even stirs your custom blend for you…
“This is more than a sauce station — it’s an elevated, interactive experience that further positions Muckleshoot Casino Resort as the Go-To Flavour Destina-tion,” the Instagram post declares.
Touch and go
If you’re already familiar – and comfortable – with in-store digital ordering kiosks, you’ll have no trouble navigating the REMIX touch screen selection system.
And sauce lovers will be happy find that the little plastic tubs their sauce arrives in are two or three times the size of most Fast Food sauce servings.
Best of all… In a casino, where every machine wants you to put a dollar in it, you can play the REMIX for free!
Culmination of a dream
It’s the culmination of a dream for sauce lovers. The REMIX concept has been in development for a couple of years. The first machine was a counter-top device that offered a few base sauce choices. The next – already deployed in select restaurants across the US – is capable of delivering 200 different blends.
But the floor-standing ‘station’ now on display at the Washington casino is the one you’re most likely to see at a food court or resto near you, as the REMIX rolls out.
Social media divided
Readers had some (unintentionally?) nutty comments on the Instagram post:
“Not going to lie, I’ve dreamt of a machine like this!” one cheered.
“I need this at home,” wrote another.
“I would spend half an hour at this thing getting all sorts of combos,” a fan on Reddit commented.
“This is the coolest thing ever,” another agreed.
But other responses were less than enthusiastic…
“They can’t keep Soda machines cleaned and sanitized. You think this thing isn’t going to be riddled with mould and bacteria within days?” one commenter observed.
“Employees are gonna hate cleaning that, and customers are gonna hate waiting in a separate line for several minutes just to get a condiment,” another agreed.
My take
Love it or hate it, the Heinx REMIX machine has been let loose in the world. Only time will tell who’s right – the yea- or nay-sayers…
My personal view is that, many diners will spend a lot of time making condiment ‘mud’ on the machine – many, many servings of which will just be tossed in disgust after one taste…
~ Maggie J.