Cooking sounds a little strange, but I think it has the potential to be a great idea. I expect that food and drink will be similar to the potions in the infinity engine games. However, there are a few ways that I hope food will be handled differently than potions.
1) Food should be relatively inexpensive. I rarely buy potions in games because they represent a sizable investment and I would rather just spend the money on gear. If food is cheap, players will want to use it. Not starving to death will merely be a side benefit. Besides, it is reasonable to assume that most of the NPCs inhabiting the game can afford to eat as well.
2) The effects of food should be minor, but have a long duration. Most potions have significant effects but a rather brief duration. This is why they often get shoved to the bottom of my inventory and forgotten. Potions usually need to be used at "just the right moment" and only last for a single battle. Food benefits could easily last for 12-24 hours of game time, remaining useful throughout several encounters.
3) Cooking recipes should come with lore explaining their origins. If the herbal tea my party is drinking gives them +2 constitution, it would be nice to know why. Of course, exotic delicacies are preferable. Attaching arbitrary bonuses ordinary food is unnecessary,