Thought for food is backwards so the book fits the topic perfectly.

lol you know my title is a pun right

I could care less about cooking ingame.
Alchemy, on the other hand, was fascinating, I rather enjoyed sleuthing out the various attributes of flora, fauna, other naturaly or otherworldly occuring substances.
Eating was a rudimentary way of repelishing fatigue or health, depending on the combination of ingested items.
I don't see the logic of wasting resources on cooking, you can't taste, smell, or eat it. If I want food, I'll go cook some.
What I can't do is get all Mr Wizard and set up alchemy apparatus to make potions in the garage. The neighbors, FDA, and DEA would not see it as "making potions to increase energy, intelligence, and magicka." They would see it more as " production of uncontrolled substances with effects, that include the sensation of flying, hallucinations, and altered states of existence." and I would need a very good lawyer.