There is disclosed a tool for engaging, capturing and depositing food items, said tool including: a bracket arranged to couple the tool to a device for imparting controlled movement to the tool, preferably a programmable robot arm; a plurality of penetration pins arranged to facilitate the capture of food items by impalement; a penetration pin support member attached to said bracket and to which are anchored said pins, said pins being arranged such as to extend away from said support member; an ejection member for interacting with said support member, having apertures through which said pins project, means for imparting relative movement between the support member and the ejection member; wherein penetration and capture of said food items is effected by movement of the tool via said device; and wherein deposition of said food items is effected by said relative movement of the support member and the ejection member thereby to push said food items off the end of said pins. Also disclosed is a method of utilizing said tool to create a shingled array of penetrable items.