Tag Archives: Food

This McDonald’s Gaming Chair looks so tempting and so wrong at the same time

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We’re already nearing the end of the year, but you’d be forgiven if you felt we went back in time to April or moved fast forward to next year’s date. With gaming continuing to be a highly profitable market, more companies are trying to get their toes wet and claim a piece of the pie. That includes companies with totally no direct connection to video games, like fast food chains. Although not as ridiculous as KFC’s “KFConsole” gaming PC, McDonald’s UK office is apparently trying to get its game on with a similarly contentious product aimed at PC gamers. On the one hand, it might hit all the right notes for a gamer’s dream chair. On the other hand, it also checks all the wrong stereotypes and encourages a lifestyle that further paints gamers in a negative light.

Designer: McDonald’s UK (via Facebook)

Parents used to tell kids not to eat while using the computer, though that was probably more from fear of damaging the computer with spilled drinks or ruining keyboards with oils and crumbs. Eating in front of the computer does have such dangers, but it also develops an unhealthy habit of not eating properly or not drawing the line between personal life and work life. Unfortunately, that’s the kind of unbalanced lifestyle that most people have in mind when thinking of gamers, and McDonald’s isn’t doing this market any favors even as it tries to sell them its latest gimmick.

Formally called the McCrispy Ultimate Gaming Chair in honor of its newly-launched chicken sandwich, the chair adds dedicated compartments for gamers to enjoy the meal, complete with all the sides and drinks. On the right side, you have a container for fries, two dedicated slots for dips, and a hanger for a towel to wipe your mouth and hands with. On the left, there’s a hot box that will keep that McCrispy or any other food warm. There’s also a holder for a large drink, and it’s thankfully situated near the back, far away from potential accidents.

For avid PC gamers, it definitely promises the ultimate convenience of having your food within easy reach. It doesn’t have to be McCrispy meals either, as the containers and holders can be used for other food as well. That’s not going to help improve a gamer’s physical and mental health, not to mention it still runs the risk of ruining expensive gaming peripherals with oils from foods. It won’t harm the chair itself, though, since McDonald’s promises it uses stain-proof leather.

This is admittedly something that only a die-hard McDonald’s fan will probably want to grab, not that it’s available anywhere else except through a raffle. The chair is full of McCrispy branding with a gold and black motif that’s not exactly that appealing to many people. Then again, it could have been worse since the brand’s official colors are gold and red.

The post This McDonald’s Gaming Chair looks so tempting and so wrong at the same time first appeared on Yanko Design.

Autonomous Fruit-Picking Drones: Harvesting the Future

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Developed by Tevel Aerobotics, the Flying Autonomous Robot harvester is a collection of tethered drones that can pick ripe fruit from trees. The robots can analyze a piece of fruit for color and ripeness before picking it with its suction arm, being able to identify fruit from leaves or other objects. That’s good because the last thing you want is your fruit-harvesting robots to come back with a bunch of squirrels instead of apples.

The robots have already successfully been used to harvest peaches, apples, nectarines, and plums, with California-based HMC Farms, which is pleased with the results. According to HMS vice president Drew Ketelsen, “The years of work we’ve put into cultivating high-density orchards are paying off as we implement technology like Flying Autonomous Robot harvesting. This project is still in an early stage, but the future potential is very exciting.” Exciting being relative to just how thrilling you find robotic fruit harvesting to begin with, of course.

First, harvesting fruit to power the humans; next, harvesting humans to power the Matrix. It’s only a matter of time. And I don’t want to be here when it happens, just for the record. And it will happen. I’ve read a lot of robot fan fiction, and 9 out of 10 ends poorly for us fleshbags.

[via TechEBlog]

3D Printed Meat Is Coming to a Supermarket Near You

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3D printed meat: just the thought alone probably has your mouth watering right now. I know mine is, but I’ve eaten nothing but saltines for the better part of a week because I’m too lazy to go to the grocery store and too poor to order delivery. But enough about my stomach eating itself; food company Redefine Meat is hard at work making 3D-printed meat a reality.

Redefine Meat’s New-Meat product is supposed to be delicious, good for the environment, and kinder to animals. The last two are almost certainly the case considering it’s lab-grown and 3D printed, leaving only its deliciousness in question. Send some my way for a taste test! Just let me know when it’s supposed to arrive, so it doesn’t sit on my front porch for a week and start to rot (I always enter the house through the garage).

The first video, compared to the second, shows a drastic improvement in the technology already. If companies can nail the taste and price, I’m really curious to see how all this lab-grown pans out. Hopefully medium-rare, with a nice sear and topped with herb butter!

[via Reddit]

This compact food pod keeps your meal at its perfect temperature anywhere you go

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Whether we plan on eating at the office, having a meal outdoors, or sharing food at a friend’s house, we’ve all come across the joys and sorrows of moving food from one place to another. Extra care has to be taken that the food doesn’t spoil while also retaining its ideal temperature, be it hot or cold. Spilling food, especially sauces, is a huge disaster, and it happens too often to be called an accident. Containers that can prevent all these mishaps from happening do exist, but, more often than not, you pay for that with their bulky and heavy bodies. What should be an enjoyable meal can turn into a hellish preparation, which is why The Pod almost feels like a miracle, carefully carrying your favorite food inside, ready to be enjoyed at its best, anytime.

Designer: Omi Labs

Click Here to Buy Now: $60 $120 (50% off). Hurry, only 80/100 left!

It might still have a stigma of being a kid’s school accessory, but lunch boxes have become an adulting thing, too, especially when it means being able to eat healthy and save money. They also come in different designs, shapes, and functions, with some simply holding food while others can also keep them hot or cold for a little while. Some also have different compartments for different kinds of food, but mixing foods that have different temperatures often results in soggy, unappetizing meals when it’s finally time to take them.

The Pod solves all these problems in a form that’s no larger than an iPad. Despite its compact size, it can hold around 1,500ml of food without spilling them. Better yet, you can put different foods in different containers, and they each keep to themselves without mixing smells, temperatures, and tastes. Say goodbye to soggy noodles, cold soup, melted ice, and spilled sauces, all thanks to this innovative thermal lunch box with a minimalist style that you can match to your personal tastes.

The secret to the Pod can be found in its two main parts. The Pod itself is a flask that uses 316 medical-grade stainless steel and a Japanese-inspired five-layer composition that keeps hot food hot and cold food cold for hours. This leak-proof container has a 13cm diameter opening that is equivalent to a typical soup bowl, making it convenient to scoop out your meal or enjoy it directly from the flask.

An equally important part of the Pod is the FDA-approved and BPA/BPS-free Silicone Container that literally adds another layer to your meal-to-go. In addition to being a place to put your food in, the container itself can be safely placed inside microwaves and freezers to prepare your food before you jet. Of course, it’s also dishwasher safe, so cleaning the silicone bowl shouldn’t be yet another cause of stress.

Just as bringing your own healthy meal is a lifestyle choice, the Omi Pod can also be a personal expression. In addition to your choice of pastel color, you can also swap out the silicone strap with an eye-catching signature rainbow design to match your style. Starting at just $68, this compact and stylish food pod will keep your favorite food at its best, removing all the prep worry and letting you enjoy that scrumptious meal just the way you like it, even when you’re not at home.

Click Here to Buy Now: $60 $120 (50% off). Hurry, only 80/100 left!

The post This compact food pod keeps your meal at its perfect temperature anywhere you go first appeared on Yanko Design.

Student Develops Dissolving Ramen Noodle Packaging to Reduce Plastic Waste

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London-based Ravensbourne University student Holly Grounds has developed ramen noodle packaging that dissolves in hot water in order to help cut down on plastic waste. That’s a great idea! Also, I wonder if her parents had any idea they were *this close* to naming their daughter Holy Grounds.

The biofilm is made entirely from safe-to-consume potato starch, glycerin, and water and is embedded with herbs and spices to season the noodles inside when it dissolves. How about that! If I were Nissin Top Ramen, I would be snatching up the patent rights to this faster than you can boil water.

I can’t even tell you how many packets of Ramen noodles I’ve eaten in my lifetime, but you could easily build a mountain out of the sodium I’ve ingested, no question. Ramen noodles and $1 personal frozen pizzas – those were my entire culinary life in college. I mean, they still are now, but they were back then too. My wife says I’m gross, and she isn’t wrong.

[via TechEBlog]

NakedPack uses edible, soluble food packaging to give you a complete meal

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One of the most wasteful and mostly non-biodegradable things we have lying around is food packaging. But if you buy your food or ingredients in “traditional” supermarkets or from the usual brands, you know that sustainable packaging is not their utmost priority. There are product designers and creators out there that are concerned about such things and so they are coming up with alternatives to the usual way food is packaged and eventually consumed.

Designer: Naama Nicotra

To address this particular issue, the designer came up with packaging that is not just eco-friendly but is actually edible. The material used is algae but don’t worry, you will not be consuming something that sounds or looks not so edible. The packaging material uses agar, an ingredient produced from algae. And what you get is packaging that is edible and soluble, from all these bio-plastic materials that do not contribute to global waste.

Basically, the NakedPack food wrap series is made up of food packaging and the actual food inside them, meaning you will be able to consume the entire thing as it’s just one serving. You have to rinse it and sometimes boil it before you are able to eat the entire thing. The idea is that nothing goes to waste and everything you need, including the ingredients and flavors, are already part of the whole package. There are currently five dishes in the series but the potential for more is there.

The naked soup is made from vegetable stock and dry-frozen vegetables which you just have to rinse and boil. The spaghetti is wrapped in bioplastic that is actually tomato sauce so once you boil it, you get your whole pasta with sauce dish. The curry dish has a Thai vegetable curry wrap with white rice inside so you already get a complete meal. The vegan lasagna has several ingredients including vegan cheese, tomato sauce, flat lasagna, and sheets of Beyond Meat. You even get a dessert with vanilla ice cream wrapped in raspberry sauce and this one actually looks like a fruit.

The NakedPack food wrap series is actually pretty interesting and can be used as an example of how packaging need not always be wasteful. My only concern here is the actual taste as that is a very important factor in whether I would get something. In terms of appearance, it’s not really appealing or instagrammable, but not everything you eat has to be, right? The important thing is that it tastes good and it’s sustainable, so at least for this one, they got the latter down pat.

The post NakedPack uses edible, soluble food packaging to give you a complete meal first appeared on Yanko Design.

Incredibly Realistic Food Candles: Good Enough to Eat?

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Because who doesn’t want a bunch of candles they have to be reminded not to eat all the time, Atlanta tattoo artist Chavonna “Bang” Ross created Bang’N Candles, an impressively large line of candles inspired by the food we all know and love. If you’ve eaten it, Bang probably makes a candle version, with over 200 different varieties to choose from. I’ll have the Surf & Turf and a Ceasar salad, please!

All the candles are made from 100% soy wax, and some are even scented like the dishes they look like. Others are just fresh linen-scented. Honestly, that’s probably smart, considering if a candle smells like the hot wing basket with fries, it looks like I probably will eventually take a bite.

I like how the candles come in the appropriate serving containers, too; that’s a nice touch. Touching an open flame? Not such a nice touch. A bad touch, as a matter of fact, but like a moth, I just can’t help myself. No wonder my wife replaced all the candles around our house with those fake LED ones.

[via Laughing Squid]

Portable food cleaner uses hydroxyl ion to cleanse your fruits and veggies

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One of my yearly resolutions that I only semi-fulfill is to eat more fruits and vegetables. Along with that comes a responsibility to wash them properly and remove harmful elements that may be stuck in them. Sometimes we just do a perfunctory rinse under the faucet but sometimes pesticide residues are still there and may cause more harm in the long run. So products that can help us easily clean our fruits and veggies while keeping their nutrients intact are always welcome.

Designer: Kai Xia

This product concept for a fruit and vegetable cleaner helps out water in removing these harmful pesticides. While rinsing them under the faucet is the default action, sometimes you need a little extra help. This cleaner has an ultrasonic transmitter which produces hydroxy ions to help sterilize our food without needing to add any more materials in the purification process. This will supposedly remove not just the pesticides but any dirt residue that may still be there, especially if the food is pretty fresh.

The device looks like a small humidifier or bluetooth speaker but with holes for the hydroxyl ion purification technology. There are no chemicals or raw materials added to it. All you have to do is place it in a bowl of water with the fruit or vegetable that needs to be purified. You can also use it for meat and grains as shown in the product renders. It destroys the molecular structures of the pesticides and the oxidation also kills the bacteria without affecting the shape and structure of the food.

Since it will be immersed in water, the fruit and vegetable cleaner has an IPx7 waterproof design. It comes with a charging base and it is small and portable so you can bring it everywhere with you. The renders also show different pastel colors to match all the different kinds of fresh produce that you may need to clean. This product will definitely be useful for me if I ever get around to fulfilling that goal to eat more fruits and veggies.

The post Portable food cleaner uses hydroxyl ion to cleanse your fruits and veggies first appeared on Yanko Design.

Heinz Fry Spoonz: For Maximum Ketchup Load

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Some people believe french fries are just a vehicle to get ketchup to your mouth. My dad is one of those people. And in news that’s sure to make his day – then ruin it when he realizes you have to be a UK resident to enter – Heinz is giving away free Fry Spoonz to lucky participants in its National Fry Day contest (available to enter HERE). Well, it looks like we’ll just have to make our own, dad.

Fry Spoonz are made entirely out of potatoes and resemble the shape of a traditional spoon, allowing you to deposit insane amounts of ketchup into your mouth in a single scoop. My dad also puts ketchup on his potato chips and doesn’t actually eat the chips; he only sucks the ketchup off until the chips are soggy, so I can only imagine how wild he would go with these things. Definitely wild enough to not want to watch, that’s for sure.

[via Gizmodo]

Ecovado is a more environmentally-friendly alternative to avocado

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Avocado is one of my favorite fruits, even before it became the in-thing for hipster cafes and restaurants. Whether as part of your toast or as a dessert staple with condensed milk or as a guacamole dip, it’s one of those all-around fruits that I enjoy eating. But not all countries are avocado-rich and for those that have to import them, it’s actually one of the most unsustainable, energy-intensive, and resource-intensive crops. What if you could have the flavor and texture of it without having to spend as many resources and energy on it?

Designer: Arina Shokouhi

A graduate from the London school Central Saint Martins has come up with an avocado alternative called Ecovado. Basically it’s foodstuff made from broad beans, hazelnut, apple, and rapeseed oil and it’s trying to evoke the creamy texture and taste of the fruit. It is also packaged in avocado skin that’s actually made from wax and not the real thing, to give you the feeling that you’re really eating an actual avocado. It was created specifically for the British market as avocados are apparently hard to come by.

It was pretty challenging to find local, natural, and low-impact ingredients to create something that would taste and feel like actual avocados. The creamy flavor and texture is what some people find really compelling about this fruit so to create a substitute that will not come close to it would be a failure. Shokouhi worked with a food scientist from the University of Nottingham’s Food Innovation Centre to come up with this recipe for Ecovado.

Even though broad beans can be a bit bitter and have a bean-y flavor, they were able to reduce it so it will not show up that much in the flavor. They also added creamed hazelnut to bring the nuttiness and the creaminess to the foodstuff. Cold-pressed rapeseed oil was chosen as well instead of the more ideal olive oil since the former is more readily available in the U.K and is closer to the fatty acid profile of the real avocado. The “stone” part is actually a whole actual nut like walnut, chestnut, or hazelnut, depending on what’s available.

Even the packaging of the Ecovado is biodegradable and compostable as it’s made of wax with food coloring. You can even upcycle it to a candle in case that’s your favorite color or there’s an actual scent coming off of it. As to whether people would buy this avocado alternative, I’m still glad I don’t have to settle for anything else as the actual fruit is plentiful here over on my side of the world. But if you live in places where it has to be imported, then maybe it is the next best thing if you’re concerned about carbon footprint.

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