1. Mango Peeler / Pitter Set

Mango Pitter Peeler image source: http://www.chefscatalog.com/

First up is the mango peeler/pitter set ($18.99). This is a must have for those slippery  mangoes while you’re trying to get the pit out and peel them. If you’ve found the right fruit, they are nice, soft and juicy, which makes it even more difficult to prepare. You can’t be without one if you’re in a tropical climate with mango season lasting for several months.

2. Pineapple Corer / Slicer

Pineapple Slicer Corer Image Source: http://www.mileskimball.com

There are pineapples-a-plenty in Costa Rica and adding it to your weekly, if not, daily diet is a must. Pineapples are actually a type of bromeliad, or a flower, which is a conglomerate of a bunch of tiny fruits. But, it’s not really important what they are besides delicious, but with their tough skin and crown, they can be a pain to get into. With a pineapple slicer-corer ($13.99) you’ll be able to have fresh, ripe pineapple within seconds. Don’t forget to compost the scraps!

3. Avocado Slicer

Avocado Slicer Image Source: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/

The avocado slicer ($15) does what your large spoon and knife used to have to tag team to accomplish. The curved shape of the slicer digs into the wide part of the halved avocado and slices as it pulls the edible part out of the skin. It’s perfect for sandwiches, guacamole or hamburgers.

But, so far the iLickit is the most ridiculous and entertaining. I’ve never actually seen someone using the app aside from the video, but I would love to hear about someone who has, and if you can get a video of it, even better. It’s weird and only as sanitary as your iPhone and it’s not surprising that Americans are obsessed (as they are with eating). Please don’t eat your iPhone people, but if you get hungry and need a little snack, forget gum or a lollipop, just whip out your iPhone and iLickit.

The app is a race to see how fast you can lick your plate clean and you can choose from a variety of foods/dishes. With some fancy tongue-work and various skillful licking techniques, you’ll be faster at the real thing in no time. I wonder if Kobayashi is using this for training for the next hot dog-eating contest.

This first post is about those inspired by ice. Now, I used to work for a product development company which would help normal people develop extraordinary ideas and carry them through to market, so I feel comfortable evaluating the legitimacy, market need and general coolness of a product. Believe me, we saw some doozies of bad ideas.

When I found the Iceorb®, I was taken aback by its simplicity and ability to solve a need in a creative way. The video helped sway me a bit, as it demonstrates just how easy this thing is to use and makes you realize you can’t live without it. The flexible plastic material allows for the cubes to come out with ease and not break off like cheap ice trays. The ice then pours into the reservoir and acts as a cooler for cheap wine or a bottle of homemade limoncello. Or, you can fill the tray back up with water, pop it back in the freezer with the ice also in the cup, and a couple hours later you’ll have a chilling station that lasts for hours. Perfect for the next poolside barbecue.

The next product in the spotlight stems from the freezer as well and is a silicone ice tray that has cubes shaped like Tetris blocks. Spotting these has flashed me back to road trips with my brother and I riding God-knows-where but guaranteed we had our 1st generation GameBoys® linked up with a cord and playing a fierce game of Tetris. Who knew that falling blocks could be so much fun. Now they can fall right into your Mai Thai. Oh how the times have changed.

The silicon form is great for getting the ice out and ensuring the tray doesn’t crack after the 3rd use. Add a drop of food coloring to the water before putting it in the freezer or better yet, fill them with different colored KoolAid and have Tetris popsicles. The fun is endless.