Hasta La Gadget!

If you ask me, 3D printing is the future – of everything. I think that within the next two decades, we’ll be using 3D printing technology (or variants thereof) to manufacture everything from parts for cars to replacement organs for humans. And robots are already used widely in food production, so why not a 3D printer that can create lunch? That’s exactly what the guy behind the BurritoB0t has in mind.

The Burritob0t is just what it sounds like – a robotic printer/extruder that can output burritos. Interactive designer/builder Marko Manriquez came up with the idea of a robot that can fabricate burritos after realizing the overlap between 3D printing (additive assembly and interchangeable ingredients) with burrito construction.

The BurritoB0t is designed to automatically create 3D printed burritos by layering and extruding components to produce a fully customizable, edible Tex-Mex treat. Marko already has a prototype of the machine (tech details here), but it isn’t ready for prime time (or meal time) just yet. From the looks of this video clip below, there’s a plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to complete the BurritoB0t to feed hungry New Yorkers – but it doesn’t look like the fundraiser has started yet from what I can tell.

Whether or not the BurritoB0t ever sees the light of day at your local Taco Bell isn’t really important though. This is really just the tip of the iceberg in terms of robotic food construction. I can envision a day when 3D printing is fast enough that you’ll be able to dial up a recipe from your mobile device, and 3 minutes later, your fully-assembled meal will pop out of its tray. Now whether or not it tastes good… That’s a whole other question.

If you’re using fat free dressing on your salad, you’re doing it all wrong. According to scientists, you need to eat salad with fat-based dressings to get the most out of the veggies. Having no fat in your salad actually diminishes the benefit from eating vegetables. More »

The thermometer might sail past the 100 degree mark today, but the last place you want to be on the Fourth of July is indoors. Even if it’s refreshingly air conditioned in there. More »

July 4th and BBQs go hand-in-hand like a politician and their next sex scandal. But what isn’t always certain is the grilling technique we will partake in on America’s birthday. So here’s a question for you: will you be filling up a propane tank or buying a bag of charcoal come Wednesday? More »

The iconic Facebook “f” logo is pretty much everywhere these days, and I bet as many people recognize it as the Nike Swoosh or the Apple logo. And while Facebook hasn’t gone too nuts slapping its logo onto merchandise at this point, that doesn’t mean that we can’t visualize what that might look like.

For example, designer Tomislav Zvonarić (designer of the equally offbeat Facebook bed) came up with these Facebook ice cream bars. Why? I say why not? Tom also recommends that Facebook replace the “Like” button with a “Lick” button to go along with the theme.

Sure, the “f” shape might be a bit impractical, and encourage drips on a hot day, but I still think I wouldn’t turn down a Facebook ice cream bar if somebody gave me one. Then again, I wouldn’t turn down any ice cream bar if you gave me one. Though the name “Facecream” sounds more like a beauty product for doing away with age spots and zits than something I’d want to eat. Or something even nastier – if your mind is in the gutter.

[via Foodbeast]