The auto-chef was a fore-runner to the replicator, and was installed aboard Federation starships in the 23rd century. The auto-chef provided meals for the crew and made to their own personal specifications, simply by inserting a "flimsy" into the slot. Like all other systems, the auto-chef's were prone to failure, and on at least one occassion, the auto-chef aboard the USS Enterprise began serving purple slush. (TOS novel: The Klingon Gambit)