"play with food" news and stories

The Octodog is a gadget that bills itself as a "frankfurter converter." In a matter of seconds, it can cut an ordinary hot dog into a hot dog that resembles a sea creature, namely an octopus. The device is made out of sturdy plastic and cuts through the dogs by applying pressure, without the use of a blade. This makes it child-safe, but produces edges that are somewhat dull. To show off the "legs," the Octodog really needs to be served on a plate, not in a bun.

To be frank(furter), I can honestly say that I have never had a desire to try and convert a hot dog into any form of marine life, though sites selling them proclaim that "kids love them!" and I will admit that it is sort of cute, especially with some cartoon eyes added. If you want to check one out, they're for sale here.

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Every year I seem to end up with a bunch of calendars that I don't want, but am forced to use because by the time I get around to shopping for a nicer one, all the stores are sold out. This year, I turned to the internet to find some good foodie options so we can all avoid looking at "More Lighthouses of Maine" or "The OC 2006" for the next 365 days. Not that there's anything wrong with lighthouses, of course, but we can do better.

• Coffee 2006 has great shots of hot drinks in cafes and beans ready for processing.
• Chocolate 2006 Mini Calendar includes interesting facts and quotes about chocolate and the pages are chocolate scented!
• Dog Food Play with Your Food has surprisingly realistic (and adorable) animals made out of vegetables, like cauliflower poodles and strawberry puppies. Also available in mini size.
• The Wine Lover's Daily Calendar is packed with daily wine tips, tastings and trivia, as well as including helpful pairing suggestions.
• The Joy of Cooking Daily Calendar features recipes as well as information on what is in season and cooking techniques. 
• Food Network All Star 2006 Calendar and Cookbook Set includes a wall calendar tribute to New Orleans and a book with the network chefs' favorite recipes. A portion of the proceeds for both the book and the calendar go to charity. 
• And be sure not to miss out on Sandra Lee's Semi Homemade Daily Calendar. Since Slashfoodies are such fans of her work.