The Modern Materialist

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• July 4th Must-Haves: Wait, When Was July 4th?

  Okay, so I'm a day late and a firework short in posting this little item. But barbecues aren't restricted to July 4th. In fact, I'm going to one next weekend. Point proven! Oh, and if you like this apron, you'll probably like this, too: Read More... Posted Jul 07 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Barbecue, aprons

• July 4th Must-Haves: Fold Up Picnic

  In the world of picnics, there are a lot of gadgets and gizmos. But none more compact and useful than this: Read More... Posted Jul 03 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Picnic, july 4th

• Most Expensive Chocolates Ever

  Things I never in my life thought I would eat: - Any sort of insect. - A person. - A big handful of dirt. - More bicycles than that guy who holds the world's record for eating bicycles. - Diamonds. Yet, the above set of chocolates is completely edible. Wondering how? Read More... Posted Jul 02 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, expensive

• A Happy Hour Equation: It's Chemical

  This: Plus This: Equals This: Read More... Posted Jul 01 2008, 05:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Happy Hour, equations

• July 4th Must-Haves: Party-A-Cargo

  Kind of waited to the last second to think about your July 4th plans, huh? Well, Modern Materialist is here to help! We'll be posting some July 4th Must Haves throughout the next few days, leading up to, you know, July 4th. Anyway, the first one is a doozy: Read More... Posted Jul 01 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, Food and Drink, july 4th, kegerators

• The Price is Right: Apple Dish

  Okay, gang, let's play "The Price is Right." All you have to do is post in the comments section how much you think the above Apple Dish costs. I'll come back tomorrow and post the price, and linkage, as well as who got the closest, without going over. That lucky person will move on to our Showcase Showdown*! Ready? Go! *Not really. Update: All right, the winner is... Read More... Posted Jun 30 2008, 06:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, price is right, dishes, apples

• Ants!

  Eek! Everybody watch out, there are ants at the picnic! We've got to... Oh, wait, those aren't ants. They're actually... Read More... Posted Jun 30 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Picnic

• Concepts We Wish Would Succeed: Presovar by Martin Necas

  I know I'm a little too enamored with coffee makers. After all, coffee is the thing that keeps these amazing blog posts coming all day long. But bear with me, because this concept by Martin Necas is absolutely fantastic. And, there's three specific reasons why: Read More... Posted Jun 30 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: gadgets, concepts, Food and Drink, coffee makers

• Mop It Up

  Can you guess what this mop is used for? Is it: A) Cleaning, natch. B) Making things diiiirty. C) It's a hat.   Or maybe: Read More... Posted Jun 27 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Barbecue

• Eat Your Weight In Gold

  Adding gold to any dish is a way of saying, "I'm rich, and I don't care how much money I eat." That means most of us can't really afford to eat sweet, delicious gold. Which is sad, really. But now worries, fellow poor people! I have a cheap and easy solution to your gold eating problem: Read More... Posted Jun 26 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, precious metals

• A Happy Hour Equation

  This: Plus This: Equals This: Read More... Posted Jun 25 2008, 05:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Happy Hour, equations, beer, pizza

• Happy Hour: Caulk Suckers

  How can you turn the above caulk gun into a fun time party? It's easy, if you follow this instructional video, and the buying instructions below: Read More... Posted Jun 24 2008, 05:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, Happy Hour, drinkware

• Yeah? Well I Don't See Your Name On It.

  Oh wait, yes you do. Want to know how to print your name on every food, so it'll never be stolen again? Check this out: Read More... Posted Jun 23 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, concepts, Food and Drink

• Pop Chips: The Video

  This video may well be the dorkiest thing of all time. It's three girls from LA, rap/singing about their favorite chips. Which is silly, when we all know the best chips in the world are these (or these, I guess). Anyway, video below, and if you want to buy some dorky potato chips, here you go. Posted Jun 20 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, video, chips

• Hungry Planet

  I remember a few years ago going to Copia, aka The American Center for Wine Food & The Arts in the Napa Valley, and being blown away by an exhibit called "Hungry Planet." If you missed the exhibit, you can now get it in handy book form. And in case you're wondering why this is a can't miss book, here's several reasons: Read More... Posted Jun 18 2008, 02:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, books

• What's The Scoop?

  So what's the news on this thing, huh? You guys got the scoop? Because I do, I'll tell you exactly what it is, below: Read More... Posted Jun 18 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, ice cream

• The Best Pickles Ever!

  Yes. Yes they are. Brooklyn/Detroit based McClure's Pickles are probably the best pickles I've ever tasted, and let me tell you, I've had a look of pickles. Here's what makes them the best: 1) They taste clean: A lot of pickles taste kind of gritty, but these feel refreshing as you eat 'em. 2) They have a great snap: Most pickles this sour get a little soggy, but McClure's are snappy. In fact, the outside still looks like a cucumber. I don't know how they do this. 3) They're natural: The dill and garlic pickles actually have whole pieces of dill and garlic floating on the bottom. How awesome is that? And finally, the biggest reason:   Read More... Posted Jun 17 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, pickles

• What's Really Inside Your Gummi Bears

  Now, I don't want anyone to get alarmed, but I think you're going to be pretty horrified to find out what's inside your favorite candy, gummi bears: Read More... Posted Jun 12 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Candy, Posters

• I Can See You In an M&M

  Things that go well together: chocolate, and your face. Things that go even better together? Read More... Posted Jun 12 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink

• Pie Gate

  The suffix “gate” has gotten a bad rap. Starting with Watergate, and from there, being added onto every political scandal since then, it’s about time we took the term back for the good guys. No better way to start then, than with pies: Read More... Posted Jun 11 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: kitchen, Food and Drink, pies

• Spread Your Seed

  I spend an inordinate amount of time reading cooking blogs; watching the Food Network; and angrily debating whether Spike or Lisa is the worse person on Top Chef. So you’ll excuse me if I get all giddy about a toasted sesame seed grinder. Frankly? Sesame seeds are boring. However, toasted sesame seeds are delicious. I assume you could, technically, use any sort of grinder for ‘em. However, the Mitoku "Slicky" Gomashio grinder from Japan is the traditional way of sprinkling toasty deliciousness on your food. Yum. Pricing, and another item you didn't know you needed, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Jun 10 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, kitchen, Food and Drink

• “They Call Me Mr. Glass”

  Sometimes I feel like this blog is playing a long game of The Price is Right. That eventually, we’ll go back and line up all the posts where we say, “Can you guess how much this costs?” and there’ll be an eventual winner from the comments section, who guessed the closest, without going over. Today’s not that day, but let’s ask again: how much would you pay for these glass beverage servers? Read More... Posted Jun 09 2008, 09:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, beverage, pitchers

• Quick Tip of the Day: Krispy Kreme Goodness

  Here's a quick tip for you: if you love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, get yourself to a Krispy Kreme store stat! What's so special about today you ask? Well... Read More... Posted Jun 06 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, Food and Drink

• Happy Hour: Absinthe Gummi Bears

  New York’s own Tailor, a “contemporary dining parlor” locating in Soho, has created a Gummi Bear that’s 85% absinthe. Really. Do you want to know the best part about it? The best part is that it’s free with the purchase of any espresso. You just need to go to the bar, order your espresso, and the Bear comes perched on a spoon on the side. That’s it. Tailor is located at 525 Broome Street in Manhattan. And, because I’m a shameless plug whore, here’s a related video: Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 05:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Happy Hour, Candy, absinthe

• S'mores: Not Just For Girl Scouts

  So I have s'mores on the brain...especially since the wedding I attended the other weekend, where the host gathered us around a backyard fire pit and handed out all the fixins for s'mores as the sun went down. Possibly the best thing I'd ever seen at a wedding, except for the fact that the roasting sticks were so short, our skin was getting charred quicker than the marshmallows! Too bad we didn't have this piece of awesome: Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 04:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink

• Heat Things Up At a Party

  Look, it’s your party. You should be able to heat things up if you want to. You know, keep the party going all night long? If that’s something you want, then I’ve got a great solution for you: Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Food and Drink, Trays

• Taste-Test: Bacon Salt + Contest!

  A couple of days ago, I posted about The Most Glorious Thing Ever Created™, a.ka. Bacon Salt. Well, the makers of Bacon Salt were nice enough to send me a sample of their whole line (and, confusingly, a beer caddy). So lucky me, I get to taste all varieties this intoxicating spice. And lucky you, just for reading this post all the way to the bottom, you can win your own sampler pack of Bacon Salt, courtesy of Modern Materialist. Keep reading to find out how! Read More... Posted Jun 04 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 21 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, taste test, bacon

• Grow Your Own Hope

  GroPak is a rather stunning concept by Agata Jaworkska that could actually revolutionize the way we all look at food. Rather than growing food, harvesting, and then shipping to the supermarket, GroPak is vegetables and fruits that grow while in transit. The hydroponic containers are planted and stored, then shipped directly to the supermarket, where they continue to grow right up until the moment you buy them. Or rather, decide to eat them. They don’t get scared and die the second you pick them out from a supermarket. As we continue to gravitate more and more towards large urban centers, and get cut off from living things, and healthy ways to eat, doesn’t this sound like a perfect meshing of the old and the new? Check out an animated intro to how it works, by the designer, below, and tell me it doesn’t fill you with a little bit of hope for the future: Read More... Posted Jun 03 2008, 09:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: concepts, Food and Drink

• No, THESE Are The Best Chips Ever

  I realize posting a rebuttal a week and a half later isn’t much of a rebuttal at all, but it’s not like I’ve been thinking about how to prove Wendy wrong about Kettle Chips for twelve days, it just snuck up on me: Tyrell’s Hand Fried Potato Chips are the best chips of all time. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love me some Kettle Chips; but Tyrell’s calls the Kettle Chips black, and then kicks their asses. Yes, they have sea salt and pepper, just like Kettle. But they also have two flavors that take Tyrell's from great to amazing: Read More... Posted Jun 02 2008, 04:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink

• Hot Dog!

  Correct me if I’m wrong, but starting off your product’s blurb with, “enjoy the great taste of cinema style hot dogs at home,” is not actually a selling point. That being said, I do enjoy the taste of hot dogs, and I do like being at home, so in order to bring these two together, I naturally turn towards Giles & Posner’s Hot Dog Rotisserie. [£30, PrezzyBox] Which is all well and good, but what if I want to round out my home carnival experience with cotton candy, or a pizza? Don’t worry, I’ve got the hook up: Read More... Posted Jun 02 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Food and Drink