Press Kit
Meatballs is a book that happens to be an app — documenting one dish across 47 countries. 47 recipes, each paired with its cultural story. Built in Stockholm by a single developer who started with his grandmother's recipe.
47 countries · 47 recipes · No subscriptions · No ads · No tracking · $2.99 one-time
Meatballs is an iOS app with 47 meatball recipes from 47 countries -each with cultural context and history. Created by a Swedish developer inspired by his grandmother's köttbullar. One-time purchase ($2.99), no subscriptions, no ads, no tracking. Available on the App Store.
The Story
The smell of sizzling meat. The sound of a pan. The feeling of being exactly where you belong. That's where Meatballs started -with a memory of my grandmother's Swedish köttbullar.
But here's the thing: every culture has this dish. Kofta in Lebanon. Polpette in Italy. Albondigas in Mexico. Tsukune in Japan. Different spices, different techniques -but the same meaning everywhere. Comfort. Family. Home.
"Food apps have become content factories. I wanted the opposite -a book that happens to be an app. Where the notes matter. Where the history matters."
Meatballs documents this universal dish across 47 countries. Each recipe is researched, contextualized, and presented with the story of where it comes from and what it means to the people who grew up with it.
What makes it different
47 recipes, hand-selected. No user-generated content, no infinite scroll, no recommendations. Like a cookbook with a clear point of view.
Every recipe includes the story -where the dish comes from, how it's traditionally served, what it means in that culture. Food as anthropology.
$2.99. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no ads. The business model is selling the app, not the user's attention.
Cook Mode keeps the screen awake. Live Activity shows your current step on the lock screen. Designed for flour-covered hands, not just browsing.
Story angles
A Swedish developer builds an app based on memories of his grandmother's kitchen -and discovers the whole world shares the same comfort food.
In an era of subscription fatigue, one indie app bets on the old model: pay once, own forever. No ads, no tracking, no recurring charges.
While competitors race to add more recipes, this app does the opposite: just 47 recipes, one per country. The limitation is the point.
How one humble dish -ground meat rolled into balls -became comfort food on every continent. An anthropological journey through the kitchen.
Ready-to-use quotes
— Tommy Vilkensen, creator of Meatballs
"It started in my grandmother's kitchen. That smell, that feeling -I realized every culture has that. Kofta, polpette, albondigas. Different names, same meaning: home."
"Food apps have become content factories. I wanted the opposite -a book that happens to be an app. Where quality beats quantity."
"47 countries, 47 recipes. That's it. The constraint is the whole point. It forces you to be thoughtful about what you include."
Press Assets
I'm happy to help with interviews, additional materials, or any questions. Response time is usually within 24 hours.
For review copies or promo codes, email press@meatballs.app
