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Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

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Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#31

Post by lachyg »

ansy wrote: post #25
ascendant wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, maybe next steps could involve logins via other sites like Google, Twitter, OpenID, etc?

Or, you know, just use a login name with a password? Why do identities need to be connected by default? Who really thinks making up a name and password is too much trouble? Are the Hacker News and Reddit models really so bad?

Facebook is great for a site like this, as it ties someone to a real identity. Excluding the few who don't want to use Facebook isn't a bad compromise for the great service it provides to site owners.

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#32

Post by jurre »

I think it's a cool idea, but I didn't really get what it was at first. I thought I would be able to share recipes and view other people's recipe's, and now I'm disappointed that I don't have that Chili recipe :(

Also, will you be adding closed events where I can invite friends? Seems like a convenient way to not forget who I promised to eat with/cook for and what I'll be making.

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#33

Post by mattslight »

pamelafox wrote: post #30

There was a site similar to this in SF, HouseFed, but it looks like its down now. Another variation here is Munchery, where the meals are actually made by chefs. I love cooking and hosting meals at my place, but I don't actually want to meet new people through my meals or make money. Instead, I just want to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while in a way that doesn't involve drinking (the default around here)…

Another similar site in the UK is HouseBites.co.uk.

They are revenue making at the moment (note sure on profitability).

I am workimg on a similar project st the moment EatSocial.net where the focus is on eating out rather than eating in. Think meetups in restaurants.

Early blog posts about it here: http://blog.eatsocial.net

http:

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#34

Post by mattslight »

tomblomfield wrote: post #10
ebaysucks wrote: post #6

I'd like for this service to take off. People spend much more on eating out than on hotels, so an AirBnb for meals makes a lot of sense. Just pick one area of London and market the hell out of it. Make sure there is a variety of food styles available every night.

That's the plan - I'm going to try to start in North/Central London. Islington, Camden & Shoreditch (home to the infamous Silicon Roundabout). Short of actually flyering local homes, does anyone have any ideas for cheap & effective local advertising? I've got some Facebook ads running, but targetting more locally than just "London" doesn't return many people.

Advertising this could be one of your biggest costs. Reduce the requirement for advertising by devising a traction plan, if you haven't already. You already have the right idea by targeting a small area first and then expanding.

There is a similar site to yours already launched in London, fairly well established called HouseBites.co.uk - have you studied their model? Mike from HouseBites gave a talk at YCombinator London about 1 or 2 months ago. Did you see this talk? There is a video floating around somewhere.

Some of the logistical issues were discussed which may give you some assistance on for Meal Mogul.

I am also working on a different yet related project EatSocial.net (see blog.EatSocial.net) - think meetups in restaurants. Would you be interested to meet for a chat? I am based in London and would like to hear more about Meal Mogul.

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#35

Post by mattslight »

tomblomfield wrote: post #2

I like cooking, but making a meal for just myself or my housemate seems pretty inefficient. So I spent a few hours this weekend knocking together a site that allows people to post "meals" that they will be cooking in future. If you live nearby, you can eat a (hopefully) delicious home-cooked meal for £4 - £5. A restaurant in the area would typically cost £10-£15. It's a little like GrubWithUs meets AirBNB, although I…

Tom, I'm working on a project similar to GrubWithUs (blog.eatsocial.net). We are a team of 3 and just started working every weekend on this about a month ago.

How many of you are working on this?

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#36

Post by darklajid »

lachyg wrote: post #31
ansy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or, you know, just use a login name with a password? Why do identities need to be connected by default? Who really thinks making up a name and password is too much trouble? Are the Hacker News and Reddit models really so bad?

Facebook is great for a site like this, as it ties someone to a real identity. Excluding the few who don't want to use Facebook isn't a bad compromise for the great service it provides to site owners.

Define 'real identity'. Either this site is meant to allow people to connect w/o knowing each other. Or it's for close friends (and in that case I don't see the point).

Facebook: 50% of my (heh.. Hate that site. Admittedly meager selection of 60 friends) have a pseudonym as name. Among my 2nd level friends that's even more common. It's really _uncommon_ to have a real looking name, not some play on words or weird spellings of something that not even remotely resembles your name. Ah yeah - and my privacy settings _should_, unless Zuck decided otherwise lately, make it impossible for anyone to see much about me anyway, so my 'real identity' is worth zilch.

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#38

Post by swecker »

I've had dinner with many people in their homes, and at my parent's house my mom hosts a home-made dinner every Sunday in an open invite sort of fashion like this, so I am familiar with and really like the idea, but I have a question that a lot of the clients might have.

In this situation (possibly complete strangers meeting for the sole purpose of eating) what is the norm for after dinner socializing? I think it'd be fair to say that some people would just leave after they're done eating, but how does a host go about inviting their guests to leave? Or would hosting such a dinner automatically entail at least a round of talk afterwards?

If you can keep it simple, than it'd be easier to host. I just say this cause my mother's dinners usually last all evening long, and that isn't something I'd personally be willing to host, although a small dinner would be much easier for me to manage.

Not that you should try to regulate it by any means, but would you have readily available advice to users?

Re: Show HN: My weekend project, MealMogul.com

#39

Post by lachyg »

darklajid wrote: post #36
lachyg wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook is great for a site like this, as it ties someone to a real identity. Excluding the few who don't want to use Facebook isn't a bad compromise for the great service it provides to site owners.

Define 'real identity'. Either this site is meant to allow people to connect w/o knowing each other. Or it's for close friends (and in that case I don't see the point). Facebook: 50% of my (heh.. Hate that site. Admittedly meager selection of 60 friends) have a pseudonym as name. Among my 2nd level friends that's even more common. It's really _uncommon_ to have a real looking name, not some play on words or weird spe…

None of my friends have pseudonyms, none of my extended network do either, it's all full, real names. I'm of the belief Facebook enforces proper names (even for Snoop Dogg!)
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