Serving

If there is one thing our eventual robot overlords (will) have taught us, it's that everybody needs to eat. Whether it be bolts for the robots or burritos for their fleshy subjects, sustenance is required for all moving parts no matter the form.

While the not-so-distant future holds many questions regarding robot-human relations, at least for now they still willingly do our bidding. Our burrito-building bidding, that is.

The Burritob0t is a food printer designed by (human) Marko Manriquez. Conceived as a thesis requirement for the graduate program at NYU-ITP, the project is constructed using mostly open-source hardware and software. The complete details are documented and presented on the tech section of burritob0t.net.… Read more

Working at a restaurant requires doing many repetitious tasks, but perhaps the most tedious and lamented (aside from bathroom cleanup) is wrapping silverware in a napkin.

To solve that age-old annoyance of having to bundle countless utensils, the Capstone Design class at Georgia Tech created an autonomous silverware wrapper capable of perfectly packaging silverware at a respectable speed. … Read more

Ah, technology. Thanks to its ever-expanding capabilities, we can chat with monkeys, make Jell-O sing, and even share with the world the site of our latest sexual conquest.

And soon -- O, Lord, yes -- we'll be able to enjoy soft-serve beer sorbet.

Provided, of course, we live in Asia and order up a glass of Kirin that's been subjected to a little "Frozen Agitation."… Read more

Serving cold food is and always has been a bit of a hassle. Thankfully, modern convenience has made the availability of ice as easy as walking into the next room. Out of ice or need more? Run to the store; a nearby cashier will gladly ring you up. But ice has its own set of problems, namely that it melts.

Freezer gel packs are a good option for keeping things cold outside the confines of the freezer, but they can be awkward to manipulate. Combining aesthetics and practicality, the Prodyne CC-12 Cold Cover Chiller Lid has a solution.

The distinctive-appearing … Read more

Kitchen tools and gadgets come in all shapes and sizes. While the variety may do wonders for being able to use the right tool for the job, it doesn't necessarily make it any easier to find the right tool for the job.

Hiding in plain sight, the Joseph Joseph Nest Utensils stands out on the counter, in terms of both its at-the-ready design as well as its vibrant color palette. The set of five utensils consists of a slotted spatula, a spaghetti server, a slotted spoon, and a solid spoon--all of which nest inside the business end of a … Read more

There is no substitute for a hot meal. Though there are plenty of things worse than cold mashed potatoes, it is a travesty of dinner that can easily be avoided. Certainly the most desirable outcome of mealtime is setting down to a hot plate of food right out of the kitchen. Sadly, this cannot always be. When life gets in the way of dinner, a warming tray can come to the rescue.

Suitable for more than just rescuing diners late to the dinner table, the Deni Circular Warming Tray with Lid is a convenient multitasker than can also be used … Read more

LAS VEGAS--"OMG, stop everything, there's no need to invent anything else," was what we said when we got to the eCoupled stand at CES. And when you see these photos and video, we're sure you'll agree.

Fulton Innovation--don't worry, we hadn't heard of them either--was out here in Vegas demonstrating wireless charging tech that has blown our tiny, gambling-addled minds. Its fabulous packaging uses induction power to create, among lots of other things, some of the most amazing cereal boxes we've ever seen that can illuminate in stages to create an … Read more

"Bones," Kirk said quietly. "This odd-looking Klingon dish is--too large--for one man to eat. They call it Pi'Zza. We must consume it to prove our honor to the Klingon high council. But how?"

"Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a chef."

"Captain," Spock interjected. "Perhaps the toy model of the Enterprise that you cut your hand on last week might be of use. Its blade is sharp enough to cut this--what is it?--food?"

"That's it, Spock! Scotty, bring my toy chest," Kirk said into … Read more

Modern supermarkets are wonderlands of variety. Countless options line the shelves, from ready-to-cook whole meals to exotic ingredients that expand culinary possibilities. Even when you locate a particular item, you then have to face a whole new batch of options in the form of different flavors or styles. A quick walk down the salad dressing aisle will confirm this. However, as diverse as the choices may be, sometimes the flavor are looking for isn't there--simply because it doesn't exist yet.

When looking for that perfect flavor, the Perfect Mix Infuser Bottle can help. The dishwasher-safe 12-ounce glass bottle … Read more