Comfort Food

This is something I've been wanting to do for some time.

I want to create a game that involves the protagonist making soup from scratch.

They can follow one of the given recipes, wing it, or some combination of the two.

Throughout the game, you can smell or taste your creation so far and receive feedback on your progress.

You can add seasonings and extra ingredients.

You can choose how long to simmer the soup and for how long.

Basically, trying to capture the experience, smells, tastes, and feel of cooking.

You are trying to please company that you have coming later that night.

Depending on what ingredients, seasonings, and techniques you choose, along with how and why you set the table, and other assorted details, clarifies the story of who is coming and why.

This is meant to be very Aisle-like, because your choices set the canon of that playthrough.

If you choose to make things spicy, it shows that you are close and intimate enough with them to be confident they won't mind. If you set the table for two or set it for five, it changes things from an intimate one on one meal to a larger family or colleague gathering. 

Multiple playthroughs making different cooking choices reveal different realities and narratives.

Each playthrough ends with the party arriving for the meal and you welcoming them in to join you.

"Breaking bread" was a very important thing in my family growing up and preparing a meal for someone was the most overt way of showing affection that I was exposed to growing up.

Perhaps this wasn't healthy, but I don't think it's uncommon, and I think being able to experience the internal consideration, care, angst, and love expressed by the one preparing the meal could be moving for some.

It also lets me fan-girl about food which is always a plus.

The game would prompt you at various times about the meal preparation in the frame of internal monologue...

What was it again they liked with their soup? [Your gaze lingers upon the pantry, fridge, and cabinets] 

>Open Fridge

You open the fridge to jog your memory, staring at the [list of items] and the two closed crisper drawers.

>take bread

Seeing the bread you immediately remember his fondness for a crusty bread to dip in his soup. He'll certainly want some wine as well. 

Obviously, choosing anything else would change the course of the story and how that choice reflects on your guests.

Additionally, whatever base recipe was chosen and used I want to be a real recipe, and the game ends with the recipe onscreen written stylistically on a recipe card with an option to save a copy. 

Bit of a strange idea for a game, but I think it could be really heart-warming.