So we've tracked down ingredients, crafted our meals, and gobbled down the results ... but how effective is the Cooking Guide, really? Will it turn a total newbie into a master chef? Will it at least help you make dinner? The intrepid DS Fanboy "chefs" who undertook the cook-off are back for a deeper look at the title, which is headed soon to the U.S. Once it's out, should you give it a shot? Let us help you decide. So we've tracked down ingredients, crafted our meals, and gobbled down the results ... but how effective is the Cooking Guide, really? Will it turn a total newbie into a master chef? Will it at least help you make dinner? The intrepid DS Fanboy "chefs" who undertook the cook-off are back for a deeper look at the title, which is headed soon to the U.S. Once it's out, should you give it a shot? Let us help you decide.Reader Comments (5)
Posted: Aug 4th 2008 6:16PM CA said
Thanks for the awesome reviews guys. I sound exactly like Chris and am going to get this for a few reasons. I am lazy, but love video games and technology, so it might give me more motivation to try it. I also want to cook for 1, sometimes 2. I end up shopping at the grocery store and I'll have way too much food go bad because I don't purchase the proper amounts.
I hope I can get past the issues you guys.
I hope I can get past the issues you guys.
Posted: Aug 4th 2008 6:34PM Fox City said
I just imported this recently from the UK and, although I haven't gotten a chance to make anything yet, I have browsed through it. It seems like a really great guide, especially with the added 'mini-cooking lessons' and great search feature! Also, one thing I figured I should mention- instead of going out of your way for something like mirin or, in the case of one of the recipes, something as obscure as "Aduki beans," the game gives you alternatives:
A) In the "ingredients" section, under each info pane per ingredient, you can usually find a substitute if you need one (in the case of mirin, a dry white wine could do apparently).
B) The recipe 'tips' before you start cooking sometimes have other options- for example, for the pancake things that needed the Aduki beans for a sweet paste, they do say that you could use a plain, old sweet cream instead- MUCH easier to find.
C) You could just omit the ingredient- if you only need a tiny amount of it and can't find a suitable substitute, you could just not put it in and it'll probably still taste good!
Anyway, hope these suggestions help keep you from ending up in the dilemma you pointed out- having to go out of your way for ingredients you may only use once.
A) In the "ingredients" section, under each info pane per ingredient, you can usually find a substitute if you need one (in the case of mirin, a dry white wine could do apparently).
B) The recipe 'tips' before you start cooking sometimes have other options- for example, for the pancake things that needed the Aduki beans for a sweet paste, they do say that you could use a plain, old sweet cream instead- MUCH easier to find.
C) You could just omit the ingredient- if you only need a tiny amount of it and can't find a suitable substitute, you could just not put it in and it'll probably still taste good!
Anyway, hope these suggestions help keep you from ending up in the dilemma you pointed out- having to go out of your way for ingredients you may only use once.
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 10:25PM ipowyourface said
I always wanted to learn to cook things besides fried eggs. Hopefully this game will help out.
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 10:26PM ipowyourface said
I always wanted to learn to cook something besides eggs. Hopefully this game will help.
Posted: Aug 11th 2008 1:02PM (Unverified) said
I am looking forward to this as well, even after reading the two reviews. Anything to help making meals for the wife and I and three kids every night. Sounds like another good use from our colective DSs
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