The World's 8 Strangest Food Inventions

1. Life Is A Highway
When Fiat unveiled its new 2012 500L this summer, it made headlines. The four-door model is not unlike the Mini Cooper in shape and size, but has one distinctly Italian feature: a Lavazza espresso machine between the front seats. The caffeine fix comes standard, as do four Lavazza-branded espresso cups for coordinated sipping. Due out in Italy next month, the 500L will hit U.S. shores in 2013. Backseat baristas need not apply.

2. In The Air Tonight
NASA-pioneered technology is taking farming to new heights. Aeroponics, a carefully cultivated system of growing plants literally into thin air, uses only water and a rather specific, scientifically developed nutrient mist to farm crops vertically. An enormous success amongst Peruvian potato farmers, the high-tech, high-flying agricultural innovation uses 90 percent less water, 60 percent less fertilizer and 100 percent fewer pesticides than conventional cultivation. Viva la revoluccion.

3. Call Me Maybe
Dr. Hideki Watanabe, a dentist from Iyo, Japan, recently combined his love of dental plaster and home-cooked noodles to create a self-stirring pot. Called the Kuru-Kuru Nabe, the futuristic kitchen aid uses basic thermodynamics and a uniquely angled shape to bring water to a faster boil, cut down on excess foam and prevent sticky noodles from burning to the bottom. The spin doctor is currently seeking investors for wide-scale production and distribution. 

4. Every Picture Tells A Story
Once the subject of miracles, images appearing in your morning meal is now a technological reality. In 2008, Electrolux Design Lab finalist Sung Bae Chang created a toaster that gives mere mortals the ability to tag their toast with the visual of their choosing using little more than a USB portal, an internet connection and some sliced bread. (Manufacturers’ note: Sliced bread not included.)

5. Song of the South
First came butter substitute spray. Then, the butter stick (not to be confused with a stick of butter). Is butter-flavored lip balm the next logical step? Yes, argues Paula Deen’s eponymous boutique in Savannah, GA. Emblazoned with the Food Network star’s name and image, Paula’s branded lip balms come in flavors such as butter, banana pudding and pecan pie. Her decidedly un-Faulkner-esque tagline reads, “Put a little South on your mouth.”

6. That’s Amore
Dutch company A1 Concepts (no relation to the steak sauce) will soon introduce Americans to Let’s Pizza, a vending machine in which fresh pies are cooked to order without human aid. For a mere $5.95 per 10-inch pie, unseen robots prepare a selection of four pizzas in under three minutes. The machine kneads flour and water into dough; adds toppings; cooks it in an infrared oven; and dispenses it, piping hot. Domo arigato, for sure.

7. Cool It Now
Like Metallica, Tempra Technology’s I.C. Can has a goofy name but strong convictions. The 500 ml can holds up to 300 ml of liquid, with the remaining space dedicated to an eco-friendly, self-cooling clay base activated by evaporation. The result is a cup that requires no refrigeration, employs zero toxins, and chills your beverage over 15 degrees in under three minutes. Taste the future.

8. Twist and Shout
For those with questionable small motor skills and a spare £5.99 (approximately $10), the Kitchen Craft Twirling Spaghetti Fork is a godsend. The automatic utensil requires two AAA batteries, comes in four colors and is dishwasher safe. It operates similarly to an electric toothbrush, with the multi-tasking bonus of being able to stir paint or mix homemade salad dressings.