If you're not sure, think about menu before you think about stove, and I'll give you this - I love alcohol stoves and use one most of the time, however, as someone getting into it and a little overwhelmed you might want to consider some kind of small canister stove first, because they are easy to use, not fiddly and you can do pretty much any sort of cooking on them. By all means try the alcohol stove method, and if you can put together a menu of food you like that pretty much only requires boiling water they will work great. Most importantly, try cooking and eating what you'll be doing on the trail at home first. make sure you like it.