Bait and switch
I bought this years ago, haven’t used it for a while, and now I can’t access recipes I used to have access to without having to pay for new “bundles”. Guess I’ll have to stick to the paper version.
Beware - always asking you to pay more
I have long used the SA cookbook but am really annoyed that every time I search for a recipe in this app, I am asked to pay more to access that part of the recipe collection. A big thumbs down from me. Just be transparent about the actual cost of the recipe collection from the outset.
Only cookbook you will ever need
Don’t waste your time and money on subscription stuff, invest in this and use happily for life.
The best cook book you can’t and wont have to do without.
Owning the print version of Stephanie's Cook’s Companion has always right of passage in becoming, dare I say, a competent or better and interesting cook. Now in electronic form, it saves a great deal of physical energy lugging it around and, in keeping with Stephanie Alexander’s long established ethics, we know we can be assured it will kept viable as operating systems change. The recent outage with iOS 12 was rectified quickly and all is well. You can’t say the same for certain celebrity chefs who simply abandon their old to apps to churn out new money spinners for the naive. Enjoy Stephanie’s help and don’t leave home without it.
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All fixed!
If I could only have one cookbook, this would have to be it. For years I have relied on Stephanie’s encyclopaedic book, both the original and the updated edition. I was so pleased when I was able to purchase the app for my iPad, with all the convenient extra bells and whistles and none of the physical weight. I am even more pleased now that the recent mega bug has been rectified!
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Method section is incomplete
I love this cookbook and so I purchased this app to use when traveling. It worked when I first made the purchase but now only a couple of lines of the method show and this makes it useless. Please fix this bug.
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback. There was an issue with the method showing for iPad users. This issue has now been fixed. Hopefully you continue to enjoy using the App while travelling!
Doesn’t seem to be updated
I’d like to buy this, but the app doesn’t work properly and I don’t have faith that it’s being maintained for future devices or iOS.
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback - there were some bugs following the release of iOS 12 but these have now been fixed. We know how many users love using this App, so we plan to maintain it. We hope you continue to enjoy using the App.
Current update - think twice
The October 2018 update fixes the menu bar display (where the text fails to display) but now the menu methods descriptions do not fully display! It’s a bigger problem. It’s a great APP but the updates are not effectively checked for bugs. Avoid this update!
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback - there were some bugs following the release of iOS 12, and a new developer and we know this was a frustrating period for users. Both the heading display and methods display issues have now been fixed. Thank you for your patience while we released the update, and we hope you continue to enjoy using the App.
👍🏻
Pretty generous to offer some free recipes from this first class chef when her book/app is almost $50 so quite nice.
Content gone
The restore content should be more prominent to avoid troubleshooting.
Content is great. Well worthwhile.
Content is great. Well worthwhile.
Paid content doesn't show on iPad
I downloaded and purchased the cookbook on my iPhone - and today synced my iPad which is my preferred medium for recipes ...... But it wants me to pay another $24.99 for the content on the iPad!! I am the same person, same iTunes account, I don't want to pay again! I wouldn't have paid on the iPhone if I had known that it wouldn't all transfer
A good app, but unless I pay twice I can't use it!
A good app, but unless I pay twice I can't use it!
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Not happy - waste of money
Purchased the complete book for $50.00 when it first came out. Downloaded and used for a while then it disappeared.
Best cooking App!
Love this App so much! Have had the printed version since the first edition, and still use it all the time. The App though, gives me another way to access all this knowledge quickly, while I'm out shopping, or cooking elsewhere. A lifetime of cooking info all in my pocket! So good. Thanks! :-)
Purchased Content Failed
Like the printed books before it, this is a magnificent resource. It offers detailed coaching about every ingredient - from purchasing and storage through to the fantastic “goes with” lists that help us understand how to use our pantries and develop ideas. The huge collection of recipes covers simple preparation suggestions, through to demanding classics (and variations) that engage and stretch this very experienced home cook.
I had one major issue with this app when I purchased a new iPad. Despite the fact that I transferred all content from a back-up of my previous iPad, I had to restore my purchases within this app, which caught me out at an inopportune time. It seems this is a problem Apple needs to address in its software, and the developer of this app was very concerned and detailed in her personal reply to me, which was great service.
Highly recommended.
I had one major issue with this app when I purchased a new iPad. Despite the fact that I transferred all content from a back-up of my previous iPad, I had to restore my purchases within this app, which caught me out at an inopportune time. It seems this is a problem Apple needs to address in its software, and the developer of this app was very concerned and detailed in her personal reply to me, which was great service.
Highly recommended.
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Only cookbook you'll ever need
I have had the book version of Stephanie's Cook's Companion since 1999 and it is the best cookbook I've ever owned, this app just makes it more portable and takes less space on your bench. I find myself getting inspiration for dinner on the train on my way home with this app! Seriously, get it, it will make you a better cook!
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Answer to my Packing prayers
I am a private chef and I love this long awaited app from my food hero. I have lugged 4 versions of the hard cover book around the world several times in the last 10 years so having all this content for $50 on my iPad is worth every cent. My much loved and used books can stay in their homes now and the App travels with me. Top cooking app, highly recommended often to everyone. Thanks Stephanie
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Excellent content. Shame about the delivery
This is a rework of Stephanie’s mammoth printed opus of the same name. There seem to be a few minor updates, but it is essentially the same book repackaged for the electronic age.
Sadly, that is all it is. If you already have the book, don’t bother. If you don’t have the book, buy it, not this as it has been poorly implemented. Unless you are short of space or travelling. In which case it is definitely worthwhile. But the book is a much better proposition.
Will I delete it? No. Will I use it? Probably not, but maybe if I am on holidays...
The app could have been so much more.
Some examples:
the meat cooking temperatures (using a meat thermometer or probe) are buried in the text. They should have been pulled out into their own section, or at least indexed meaningfully. I tried a number of searches looking for them but failed until I first found them in the book and navigated to them manually.
The cross linking can best be described as poorly implemented. If there is a cross link, the item in the text gets an asterisk. You then have to go find the asterisk at the top of the page, click on it then search through the items there for the one you want. At least the “Back” button works.
The index seems to be missing quite a few items. I searched for “gravy”. Nada. So I looked under “Roast Chicken” where I knew there was an entry (again from checking the paper copy) Yep there it was. There were more under the meat section. But did they show up in a search? Nope!
There is no implementation of a shopping list of any kind. Unless you count the ability to email a list of ingredients. I don’t. Nor can you cut & paste a list to your own shopping app. Even the to do list would do. I used to use that for a shopping list until I discovered ShopShop.
The book claimed 1000 recipes. The App claims 2000, so I was expecting a lot more recipes. I haven’t found any yet. Then the penny dropped. All those little asides - Recipelets if you like - are now counted. They weren’t before. Thus a basic panna cotta which was an aside to the Crab Panna Cotta recipe has now been promoted to a recipe in its own right. At least that one can be searched for.
You cannot edit recipes. My paper copy has notes, additions and corrections (In the sense of “I prefer two bay leaves not one” or “use fresh not dried") scribbled all over it. Yes there is an annotation feature, but they are tucked away and lack the impact of a scribbled note on the page itself
My one quibble with content lies with the equipment list. It includes such arcane things as a couscoussier. I have been cooking for 50 years and have never needed one yet. Yet it doesn’t list a pressure cooker. Something I have just started using, and am increasingly finding indispensable. My mother had one which she stopped using after a spectacular mishap. And I guess that put me (and possibly Stephanie) off for many years. The new ones are much more reliable and, I think, are a must in the kitchen. Certainly ours gets used more than the microwave - it’s quicker!
On a positive note, I cannot understand the “TOO EXPENSIVE” review. It claims it cost $300. It doesn’t. You can unlock everything for $50. This places it on par with the book or a little cheaper if you can’t find one second hand or remaindered.
Sadly, that is all it is. If you already have the book, don’t bother. If you don’t have the book, buy it, not this as it has been poorly implemented. Unless you are short of space or travelling. In which case it is definitely worthwhile. But the book is a much better proposition.
Will I delete it? No. Will I use it? Probably not, but maybe if I am on holidays...
The app could have been so much more.
Some examples:
the meat cooking temperatures (using a meat thermometer or probe) are buried in the text. They should have been pulled out into their own section, or at least indexed meaningfully. I tried a number of searches looking for them but failed until I first found them in the book and navigated to them manually.
The cross linking can best be described as poorly implemented. If there is a cross link, the item in the text gets an asterisk. You then have to go find the asterisk at the top of the page, click on it then search through the items there for the one you want. At least the “Back” button works.
The index seems to be missing quite a few items. I searched for “gravy”. Nada. So I looked under “Roast Chicken” where I knew there was an entry (again from checking the paper copy) Yep there it was. There were more under the meat section. But did they show up in a search? Nope!
There is no implementation of a shopping list of any kind. Unless you count the ability to email a list of ingredients. I don’t. Nor can you cut & paste a list to your own shopping app. Even the to do list would do. I used to use that for a shopping list until I discovered ShopShop.
The book claimed 1000 recipes. The App claims 2000, so I was expecting a lot more recipes. I haven’t found any yet. Then the penny dropped. All those little asides - Recipelets if you like - are now counted. They weren’t before. Thus a basic panna cotta which was an aside to the Crab Panna Cotta recipe has now been promoted to a recipe in its own right. At least that one can be searched for.
You cannot edit recipes. My paper copy has notes, additions and corrections (In the sense of “I prefer two bay leaves not one” or “use fresh not dried") scribbled all over it. Yes there is an annotation feature, but they are tucked away and lack the impact of a scribbled note on the page itself
My one quibble with content lies with the equipment list. It includes such arcane things as a couscoussier. I have been cooking for 50 years and have never needed one yet. Yet it doesn’t list a pressure cooker. Something I have just started using, and am increasingly finding indispensable. My mother had one which she stopped using after a spectacular mishap. And I guess that put me (and possibly Stephanie) off for many years. The new ones are much more reliable and, I think, are a must in the kitchen. Certainly ours gets used more than the microwave - it’s quicker!
On a positive note, I cannot understand the “TOO EXPENSIVE” review. It claims it cost $300. It doesn’t. You can unlock everything for $50. This places it on par with the book or a little cheaper if you can’t find one second hand or remaindered.
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Great!
I have been thinking about updating my Cook's Companion, as it will be too tatty to use one of these days, and when I do, I think I will be replacing it with this digital version. Much cheaper than the cost of the hardback and perfectly portable and accessible! Thanks :)
Very convenient
I can replace my huge book collection with just a single app, you don't even need internet to use it, perfect for at the supermarket
Awesome!
Great app! A wealth of knowledge and suggestions in my pocket. Love the responsive searching mechanism (as in iTunes) which is accessible on all screens. A must have for food lovers😊
