Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat?

Cooking guide coverart

Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? is a Nintendo DS software title developed by Nintendo in collaboration with IndieZero, a Japanese game developer. Released in 2008, this interactive digital cookbook was designed to assist users in selecting and preparing meals. Unlike traditional video games, Cooking Guide offers a unique utility by providing step-by-step cooking instructions for a wide range of dishes from various international cuisines.

Overview

Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? transforms the Nintendo DS into a portable cooking assistant. Utilizing the DS's touchscreen and voice recognition capabilities, users can easily navigate through recipes, watch cooking demonstrations, and receive spoken instructions while preparing meals. The software includes features such as a shopping list tool, a cooking timer, and the ability to search for recipes based on ingredients, dietary restrictions, or country of origin.

Features

• Interactive Recipes: The core of Cooking Guide is its extensive library of recipes. Each recipe is presented with detailed instructions, including preparation and cooking times, ingredient lists, and step-by-step cooking procedures.
• Voice Navigation: To facilitate hands-free operation in the kitchen, Cooking Guide incorporates voice recognition technology, allowing users to proceed through recipes and receive guidance without touching the DS.
• Video Demonstrations: For more complex cooking techniques, the software includes video demonstrations, providing visual guidance to users.
• Search Functionality: Users can search for recipes based on various criteria, such as the ingredients they have on hand, the desired cuisine, or specific dietary needs.
• Shopping List: Cooking Guide can generate a shopping list based on the selected recipe, making it easier for users to ensure they have all necessary ingredients before starting to cook.

Reception

Upon its release, Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? received positive reviews for its innovative use of the Nintendo DS platform as a cooking aid. Critics praised the software's comprehensive recipe database, easy-to-follow instructions, and practical features like the shopping list and timer. However, some noted limitations in the voice recognition feature's accuracy and the depth of the recipe database compared to traditional cookbooks.

Legacy

Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? stands as an example of the diverse applications of video game consoles beyond entertainment. Its success paved the way for similar titles in the genre of interactive digital cookbooks and highlighted the potential of handheld devices as practical tools for everyday tasks.