Web (2.0)

Take the Thinking out of Cooking with Cookthink

By EAN ⋅ January 23, 2008 ⋅  Email this Post ⋅  Print this Post ⋅ Post a Comment

On first glance, I almost mistook Cookthink as just another recipe site. Type in a couple of ingredients and it searches the database. But Cookthink, thankfully enough, is far more than a simple recipe site. It offers enough uniqueness to set it apart from staples like AllRecipes.com and Cooks.com. Yes, it has a “Web 2.0” flare to it, but there is much more working here than meets the eye.

There are a couple of ways to get to know Cookthink. The first is to just type in a few ingredients. And that works just fine. Alternatively, there is a large tag cloud which can be used to select ingredients, dishes, cuisine styles, and oddly enough, mood. The tags and subtle scripting effects make the site operate smoothly and look attractive, but the tag bank does not hold near to enough different options, sometimes making the refresh button a necessity.

After selecting ingredients, styles and so forth, users are presented with a dish that matches their exacting specifications. The results seem to be spot on. Each selected meal sounded like something I would indeed like to eat. However, there is an option to view other similar recipes should a user not be as thrilled as I was by the selected dishes.

The site is still new, but there are already hundreds of recipes from a variety of sources–though most are original Cookthink creations. Recipes range in style from high end restaurant to quick and easy, making Cookthink a site that just about everyone may find useful. There’s even a special section for vegans. The only section that’s currently lacking are desserts.

It’s not all about recipes at Cookthink, though. Their site runs the gamut of food related topics. From how to buy produce to various cooking techniques, there’s a pretty sizable database for those who want to learn how to prepare even the fanciest dishes.

One of the biggest benefits of Cookthink, though, is not the recipe selection or the tips and tricks, but an algorithm that learns what individual users like and don’t like. They supposedly have a variety of personalization options they’re working on, so Cookthink should eventually develop into a mixture between a personalized recipe finder and a social network of sorts.

I like Cookthink, but it has a bit of growing up to do. That’s fine, though, as the site is still in beta–just like nearly every other web app out there. If they continue on their same path, I can see Cookthink becoming one of the best recipe resources on the web. But in the meantime, I’m off to make some Mushroom, Pineapple, Tomato, and Beef Kebabs.

The Details:
Developer: Brys Stephens & Chip Brantley
Version: Beta
Price: Free
Website: Cookthink.com