As a huge foodie I also enjoy reading cooking stories ( mostly slice of life ish ) But can a text of words really represent the food as well as a drawn image ? An ingredient unknown to you might not have any more description than it's name but a drawing shows the said ingredient Are you as likely to want a food from a drawing or a text ?
For me, in text i can more easily visualise the taste. In pictures even if u can see an ingredient it’s not like you know what it tastes like.
I forgot what but I did crave a food once from reading a novel and it wasn't even a cooking novel, I think it was beef braised noodle soup and I don't even like noodles in soup. Cooking focused novel tends to kind of lose its essence but I'd say it depends more if you are a visual person.
Why choose when you can have both! Mmm I like novels more than shows. Shows are good when you see what it looks like and has vibrant colors. But then again, some translators add pictures, too.
Actually, whether the description gives justice to the food depends on the writer. After, a good writer can easily bring any of their words to life. Same with manga. After all, it is mostly black and white (unless it is a manhua/wa). Even then, it depends on the drawing skills of the artist.