A custom Django app for pantry tracking, meta-recipes, and meal planning. Built for Tom, operated primarily through Caine (OpenClaw AI assistant) via Matrix chat, with Django admin as the web UI.

Architecture

Django 5.2 (latest LTS) with SQLite backend
Django REST Framework for API (Phase 2)
HTMX frontend planned (Phase 4)
App name: kitchen

Core Concept: Meta-Recipes

Instead of rigid recipes, the system uses templates with swappable slots:

"Stir Fry" = protein (chicken OR pork) + carb (noodles OR rice) + veg (any combo) + sauce

This matches how Tom actually cooks — same method, different ingredients depending on what's in the pantry.

Models

Model	Purpose
`Tag`	Flexible ingredient tags (protein, carb, veg, etc.)
`Ingredient`	Master ingredient list with aliases and shelf life
`PantryItem`	Current kitchen inventory with location and expiry
`MetaRecipe`	Cooking template with swappable slots
`Slot`	A category in a meta-recipe (protein, carb, veg)
`SlotOption`	An ingredient that can fill a slot, with qty/serving
`MetaRecipeBase`	Always-needed ingredients (onion, garlic, oil)
`Recipe`	Traditional fixed-ingredient recipe
`RecipeIngredient`	Ingredient in a fixed recipe
`CookLog`	What was cooked and when
`ShoppingListItem`	Shopping list with reasons and checkboxes

Setup

cd /var/lib/food
source venv/bin/activate

# Run migrations
python manage.py migrate

# Seed initial data (ingredients, pantry, meta-recipes)
python manage.py seed

# Create superuser (if not already done)
python manage.py createsuperuser

# Run dev server
python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8042

Admin UI at: http://localhost:8042/admin/

Credentials

Admin user: tom
Admin password: Kitch3n!2026

File Structure

/var/lib/food/
├── food_project/          # Django project config
│   ├── settings.py
│   ├── urls.py
│   └── wsgi.py
├── kitchen/               # Main app
│   ├── models.py          # All models
│   ├── admin.py           # Admin config with inlines
│   ├── management/
│   │   └── commands/
│   │       └── seed.py    # Initial data seeder
│   └── migrations/
├── venv/                  # Python virtual environment (gitignored)
├── db.sqlite3             # SQLite database (gitignored)
├── manage.py
└── README.md

Pantry Business Rules

Freezer items → no expiry date (frozen = indefinite)
Fridge items → expiry date set from ingredient's shelf_life_days if available
Staples (onions, frozen chips, salt, etc.) → auto-flag for restocking when quantity = 0
Onions are a permanent staple — always restock
Chicken skin → remove before cooking (noted in slot option notes)
Tom prefers pork to chicken — pork mince over loins

Implementation Phases

Phase 1: Django project + models + admin + seed data
Phase 2: DRF API + Caine integration + "what can I cook?" logic
Phase 3: Recipe import (URL scraping + cookbook extraction)
Phase 4: HTMX frontend (pantry view, recipe browser, shopping list)
Phase 5: Systemd service + nginx reverse proxy + production hardening

Design Doc

Full design document with meta-recipe concept, model rationale, and implementation plan: Obsidian Vault/Tom Net/Meal Planning System.md