Octodog

You know how we're always telling kids not to play with their food? Well, in case you forgot how much fun, and functional, a little constructive foodplay can be, take a look at the Octodog.

OK, so may be it's not as practical as, say, a melon-baller, but making an octopus out of a hot dog is so wonderfully silly that it can transform a simple meal into a celebration.

It's clearly a genuine kitchen tool. It's as functional as it is fun. The manufacturers correctly observe that "the hotdog is among the top ten items found in many lists concerning choking occurrences in young children. Pediatricians recommend slicing a hotdog linearly. The method of slicing a hotdog linearly can reduce the chances of choking during consumption. A sliced hotdog is a safer way to serve hotdogs to children." And, it's easier, and safer, than trying to do the same with a knife.

The fun-food connection is, of course, deeply etched into our cultural consciousness. Fast food chains are notorious for their endless efforts to make eating more fun. Special kids' meals packed in special kids' meal boxes containing special kids' toys. But the Octodog makes the food itself more inviting - an invitation that's as welcoming to adults as it is to kids.