'Smart' home food for thought, taste & tummy

When heavy smog blanketed Beijing one day in November, Li Pengfei, 26, a software programmer, didn't feel like stepping out of his flat. But then, because he was given to eating out oftener than not, he was in a quandary: where to eat dinner?

Home-delivery of nearby restaurants wasn't an option - for him, their fare was insipid. Specialty food was miles away. Finally, he settled for Home-Cook, a smartphone app that matches diners and hosts who are willing to share their home-cooked meals.

"It's quite convenient. The meal was delivered within an hour. Most importantly, the dishes tasted like the food made by my mom, authentic Hunan cuisine," Li said.