No, not the delicious kind (though we have recipes for those!). This is about the digital cookies that help our website work properly. Here's what they are, why we use them, and how you can control them.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that get stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember things about you—like your preferences, what pages you visited, or items you looked at. Think of them like breadcrumbs that help you (and the website) retrace your steps.
They're not programs and can't do anything harmful to your computer. They're just little bits of data that make your browsing experience better.
How Chef Circle Uses Cookies
We use cookies for a few practical reasons:
Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to work properly. They help with basic functions like navigating between pages and accessing secure areas of the site. Without these, the website literally wouldn't function. You can't turn these off if you want to use the site.
Analytics Cookies
We use services like Google Analytics to understand how people use Chef Circle. These cookies tell us things like:
- Which recipes are most popular
- How long people spend on different pages
- Where visitors are coming from (like search engines or social media)
- What devices people are using (phone, tablet, computer)
This information is anonymous—we're not tracking individual users, just patterns. It helps us make the site better by understanding what's working and what isn't.
Preference Cookies
These remember your choices and settings, like whether you've dismissed a notification or what font size you prefer. They make your experience more personalized and save you from having to reset preferences every time you visit.
Advertising Cookies
If we display ads on Chef Circle, some cookies might be used to show you relevant advertisements based on your interests. These are often set by third-party advertising networks rather than by us directly. We don't control what these third parties do with the data they collect.
Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Session Cookies | Keep you logged in and track your session while browsing | Deleted when you close your browser |
| Persistent Cookies | Remember your preferences for future visits | Remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them |
| First-Party Cookies | Set by Chef Circle directly | Varies by cookie type |
| Third-Party Cookies | Set by external services we use (like analytics or ads) | Varies by service |
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our site are set by third-party services we use. The main ones are:
- Google Analytics: Helps us understand how people use the site. You can learn more about how Google uses data at Google's Privacy Policy.
- Advertising networks: If we display ads, networks may use cookies to show relevant ads. These companies have their own privacy policies that govern how they use your data.
We don't control these third-party cookies. If you want to know more about them or opt out, you'll need to check the privacy policies of those specific services.
How to Control Cookies
You have several options for managing cookies:
Browser Settings
Most web browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can usually:
- Block all cookies
- Block only third-party cookies
- Delete cookies after each browsing session
- Get alerts when websites try to set cookies
Here are links to cookie settings for popular browsers:
What Happens If You Block Cookies?
If you block all cookies, some parts of Chef Circle might not work properly. You'll still be able to read recipes, but you might lose features like:
- Staying logged in (if we add user accounts)
- Remembering your preferences
- Getting personalized recipe recommendations
Essential cookies are necessary for the site to function, so blocking them will impact your experience.
Opt-Out Tools
You can also use browser extensions or privacy tools that automatically block tracking cookies and analytics. Popular options include Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, and Ghostery.
For Google Analytics specifically, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Do Not Track
Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting that sends a signal to websites requesting not to be tracked. Currently, there's no industry standard for how to respond to DNT signals, so we don't specifically respond to them. However, you can use the cookie controls mentioned above to limit tracking.
Updates to This Policy
As we add new features or services to Chef Circle, our use of cookies might change. If we make significant changes, we'll update this policy and note the date at the top. It's a good idea to check back occasionally, especially if you're concerned about privacy.
Questions About Cookies?
If you have questions about how we use cookies or want more information about your privacy, email us at support@Chef Circle.com. You can also check our Privacy Policy for broader information about how we handle your data.
The bottom line: We use cookies to make the site work better and understand how people use it. You're in control of whether to allow them, though blocking them all might affect your experience.