Note: CooKit is no longer running. For more recipes, click here.
CooKit is a community driven meal-kit that promotes a gourmet home cooking experience with the expertise of Shanghai chefs. I gave it a go, and here’s what it is all about.
About CooKit: What Is It & How It Works
CooKit provides par-cooked meal kits made by some of Shanghai’s best chefs, releasing new recipes every week. These meals are packaged and delivered to your home with instructions to on how to prep and plate the meal.
It’s not the first time meal kits like these have graced Shanghai. However, unlike many of its predecessors, CooKit stands out by involving the community—instructional videos featuring Shanghai chefs and interactive WeChat groups. The WeChat groups are entertaining and informative, plus its great for sharing your creations and asking questions about cooking.
Previous meals that have been on CooKit include labneh venison rump, chili mojo char siu pork, juicy seafood rice, carbonara, and more. The recipes are available for a short time only with new ones being added to their mini-program every week.
These recipes are made to be easy, and prep time has been significantly reduced, as some items come pre-cooked. Plus, each recipe also has step-by-step instructional videos featuring the chef in question.
You might have seen the likes of chefs Sean Jorgensen (The Cannery), Willmer Colmenares (Azul), Joey Cheong (Umaami), Sergio Moreno (The Commune Social) and Ramon Verano (Tomatito) on screen. If not, do check out those instructional recipe videos on CooKit’s WeChat channel—there’s some great content on there. The bloopers reel is buckets of fun. Go check it out!
I had the Argentina Tenderloin Rossini made by Light & Salt Backstage. Like all kits, ingredients come vacuum-sealed.
This order included a portioned tenderloin steak with garlic and thyme, mashed potatoes, foie gras and artichoke and plenty of chimichurri sauce. Preparing and cooking it was foolproof—this recipe only five steps to follow. Plating it though, required some finesse.
I can see why this can be very appealing, especially for singletons looking for a home cooked treat with little effort. Packs are available for one, two, or four people—solo-diners looking to reduce food waste, couples for an at-home date night or for entertaining guests.
Available Now: New Recipe!
The latest kit is for Miso Wagyu Meatballs with Citrus Tuna made by chef Sergio Moreno from The Commune Social.
It’s ¥198 for one serving or ¥386 for two, ¥752 for four. This kit is only available for a limited time only, so get ordering!
There will also be a plating competition judged by Chef Sergio himself. All this is going down in CooKit’s WeChat community groups. The winner will get a customized quality chef’s apron thanks to Clement Design and 2 free kits (recipes of choosing valid for 1 month).
CooKit will also be launching their first long-running recipe, a Moroccan-style braised lamb from Umaami Global Kitchen.
In Summary: Get Cooking!
It’s very much for aspiring cooks, but also for novices who want to learn the art of cooking with ease. CooKit doesn’t just deliver food, but it also brings a gourmet experience home.
With the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, it could also be a fun activity to do.
