What is cook connect?
COOK Connect is the first legal marketplace for home cooked food operated by a nonprofit. Our platform was built for and by home cooks to actualize the local food system we all deserve.
For home-based culinary entrepreneurs, COOK Connect provides an all-in-one sales and order management platform designed to turn a food dream into a successful business— from the comfort of home.
For eaters, COOK Connect offers a way to find authentic food made with love by permitted home cooks in your neighborhood. Supporting local family businesses and discovering real, diverse food options, have never been easier.
As a nonprofit, all proceeds from our platform are reinvested into supporting chefs and the home cooking movement through programming, training, and small business support. Join us as we work to empower food entrepreneurship, build community, and redefine our relationship to our food!
Read the full announcement below or visit us at www.cookconnect.com
A New Chapter Begins
Announcing COOK Connect
We are thrilled to share the news that Foodnome, a pioneering platform for home cooked food sales, has joined the COOK Alliance nonprofit family as COOK Connect.
Late last year, we were approached by Foodnome with the news that they were shutting down. Given Foodnome’s critical role as the first legal marketplace for MEHKOs, we were honored and humbled by the opportunity to acquire Foodnome’s assets to keep the service online and continue investing in directly supporting MEHKO home cooks.
From March 20th - April 20th, we will transition Foodnome to COOK Connect. This transformation is not just a new name/brand but also represents a full integration into the COOK Alliance's mission. Alongside our advocacy work, educational programs, micro-grants and expanding set of resources for home cooks, we hope that COOK Connect can fully empower more home cooks to build meaningful, sustainable businesses in their communities.
We want to reassure all existing Foodnome cooks and customers that the platform you've grown to love will remain fully intact. The features, community spirit, and opportunities for home cooks remain unchanged. Customers can continue to share, explore, and enjoy the best legal home cooked meals, now under the COOK Connect banner.
As a nonprofit, proceeds from the platform will be reinvested into supporting chefs and the home cooking movement through programs, training, and small business support. Join us as we work to empower food entrepreneurship, build community, and redefine our relationship to our food!
Continuing to Advance Local Food Economies - MEHKO Map
In an era where local resiliency and connectedness are more vital than ever, we believe COOK Connect can be a vitally supportive tool for communities. We're excited to introduce a feature that maps all legal Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) across the country. As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to uplifting all local food entrepreneurs, regardless of whether or not they choose to sell their food through COOK Connect.
We are excited to further lean into supporting economic self-determination, resilient food systems, and more interconnected local communities.
An Invitation to Join Us
COOK Connect will initially be available by invitation-only, as well as to members of the public who complete our COOK Academy program. COOK Academy is now open for enrollment, offering a unique opportunity for aspiring chefs to join our supportive ecosystem. COOK Connect will also remain available to former Foodnome cooks.
As a nonprofit born from the social enterprise technology platform Josephine, COOK Alliance has always been driven by a passion for social and economic justice, community empowerment, and innovation. By welcoming Foodnome into the COOK family, we are in some ways coming full circle. We are honored to get back to some of our initial work directly supporting home cooks to serve their communities and are humbled by the power of this long-term movement.
As we embark on this new journey with COOK Connect, our dedication to improving the experience for every member of our community remains steadfast. We look forward to growing together, learning from each other, and continuing to make the world a more just and connected place, one meal at a time.