Serving

Twiztt solves a cookware puzzle

Cookware can be deceptively simple. Deceptive, because it usually is simple. But then something comes along and adds another piece to the puzzle. Then another. Eventually, a set of interlocking pieces comes together, promising to do anything and everything. The problem is, sometimes when things get too complicated, their original utility gets lost in the fold.

Not so with the Twiztt by Joan Lunden Cut, Cook & Serve Set ($79.99). Like a puzzle, the set of kitchenware comes together to form something greater than the sum of its parts. As the name implies, the multitasking set goes from prepping … Read more

Lazy Susan likes electric fondue

Fondue is fun. Relaxing with family and friends over a warm pot of bubbling deliciousness is something meant to be enjoyed at its own pace (assuming the participants can agree on what to put in the pot). The shape of a fondue party, being one that can be either sweet or savory, can take on its own structure, yet the jostling for ingredients always remains the same. Unless, of course, the ingredients come to you.

The Cuisinart CF0-1000 Lazy Susan Electric Fondue ($79.99) is a fun, countertop device orbited by moveable ingredient trays. Featuring a built-in electric heating element … Read more

Crock-Pot stays hot in the end zone

Football season is upon us. That means months of football food lie ahead. As fall is ushered in by the kicking of an oblong ball, millions of cheering fans will be applauding the spread. No, not that kind of spread, the food spread. But no matter if the gathering is in the parking lot of the stadium or at a football party down the street, there needs to be a way to get the goods to the game.

A winning recipe for five-alarm chili just isn't worth it if it can't be shared among friends (or unleashed upon … Read more

A view to the future with the Electrolux Design Lab 2012 semifinalists

The Electrolux Design Lab is a yearly competition that challenges design students across the globe. This year's competition asked students to create home appliances that would "provide a fuller sensory experience." Perhaps one day, some of these entries will be used in the home kitchen. Below are a few highlights:

Ingresure (seen above) is by Jongwoo Choi. It is a gadget designed to be a taste tester. Instead of chef's tasting their own creation, they would use the device to taste it for them. The idea is that the Ingresure would give amateur chefs the assurance … Read more

To serve man burritos

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

RoboWrap ready to revolutionize silverware wrapping

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

Soft-serve beer sorbet? Ah, technology

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

Cold Cover Chiller lid to land on a table near you

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

Magnets make utensil set easier to find

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

Lazy Susan warming tray helps slow diners

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