Eating

Much has been written about the eventual robot uprising. However, until that time comes, Earth and the sky above are the domain of humans; clearly, we should make the most of it while the time is ours. With Skynet in its incubation stage, we humans are free to toast and enjoy the fruits of our creations, with a cold drink and a cupcake, of course. Naturally, the best way to enjoy this meal would be with robot-themed accessories.

For whatever reason, finding a robot drink to toast over a robot cupcake has never been too easy. Luckily (or not), times … Read more

There is no denying the deliciousness of much takeaway food. First of all, many might say the convenience alone ups the flavor factor. Certainly every maker of microwaveable food would agree. But there is more to it than that: Since the beginning of comfort food itself, people have tried to capture that elusive essence that can make a meal felt down to the bones. (And not just the ribs either.) No, the common quality is not necessarily fat (although we all know that equals flavor) or freedom from the kitchen; the elements that all comfort foods have in common are … Read more

Most people have an inkling about what to do when they decide to eat healthily. Of course that doesn't mean they will do it. We're all guilty of occasionally choosing convenience over counting calories, and considering just how easy it is to stray it is no surprise that eating right can sometimes be a challenge. The trick, naturally, is to make healthy eating as convenient as possible. For example, preparing healthy meals ahead of time is one way to go about it. Another way would be making sure that something good to eat is only a press of … Read more

It's only natural that as the seasons change, our eating habits change along with the weather. Ice cream, fresh veggies, and grilled everything dominate the summer landscape, giving way to hearty soups and stews when winter approaches. But it is not only seasonal foods and warm weather favorites that fall by the wayside as we start to feel the chill in our bones. No, there is another beast that disappears as time marches on: the state fair. And that means we lose fried everything. While everything from cola to butter has been seen to be battered and deep fried … Read more

Fancy your lettuce fresh off a farm? Dentsu Facility Management is planting the idea of an on-site greenhouse for restaurants that's capable of producing up to 60 heads of lettuce a day. If you do your math, that's about 20,000 heads a year.

The "Chef's Farm" measures about 13 feet wide by 5 feet deep by 7.5 feet tall and comes with five planting beds with sponges to nurture individual seeds; 12 40-watt fluorescent lamps to imitate sunlight; an air shower for moisture; plus a whizbang of gadgetry to monitor lighting strength, water … Read more

Food has always been about a communal experience. From the earliest times, dinnertime was always an event. Nowadays, hunting down the evening meal may not require much more than a trip to the supermarket, but that in no way makes our meals any less reliant on others. While unseen individuals may be responsible for getting our food to the table, our instinctual desire to share food is hard to ignore. With family, friends, and fondue, of course.

The Trudeau Alto Electric Fondue Set offers a convenient and modern way to enjoy a communal eating experience. The set is around $140, … Read more

It's not hard to find a good doughnut. When it comes to availability, the delectable little treats are almost as common as coffee. No matter where you live, chances are somewhere close by a doughnut purveyor has opened up shop. If for some strange quirk of fate, this doesn't happen to be, then the local supermarket is likely to have a counter where the treats are available, and if not, surely the shelves are stocked with the boxed variety. As prevalent as doughnuts may be, however, finding the right one at the right time is not necessarily a … Read more

Somewhere along the line, our idea of futuristic space-age culinary options got off track. Thankfully, here in 2010, we aren't all surviving off of food in pill form, but other good (or at least more delicious) ideas still have not come to fruition. We may not yet have the Black & Decker Hydrator from "Back to the Future," or the liquefied meal (including fish!) served on the moon shuttle in "2001: A Space Odyssey," but at least we have sous vide cooking.

Innovative cooking methods and innovative food storage solutions may not seem like they … Read more

Remember when IKEA told you you were crazy to imagine a lamp had feelings? Well, it turns out that you might just have been ahead of your time. IKEA predicts that the kitchen of the future--it's set its sights on 2040--will "be so technologically advanced that it will almost be alive, responding actively to our needs like only a mother could."

A recent report on future kitchens by U.K. brand consultancy The Future Laboratory looked at social trends and drivers that will affect our home lives in the future. In response, IKEA created three concept kitchens. … Read more