Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus and method for cooking a food item using a cooking apparatus, the method characterised by the steps of: using transmission means of a remote computing device to send cooking control data to receiving means of the cooking apparatus when the transmission means is positioned near or adjacent to the receiving means, and operating a processor means of the cooking apparatus to process the cooking control data when received to perform a cooking process to cook a food item placed in a cooking cavity of the cooking apparatus. The present invention provides an oven that receives cooking control data or information from a remote mobile computing device, such as a smart phone or other portable hand-held, device. The cooking control data is processed by the cooking apparatus for the purposes of setting cooking instructions specific to the food item to be cooked.