The Fare Trade is a new gourmet food subscription box. Each month the box is curated by a different chef who pairs their food selections with their own recipes. It looked like a really interesting subscription to me, and I decided to sign up for a 6-month subscription when Gilt City was offering a deal on subscriptions.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: The Fare Trade
The Cost: $65 a month
The Products: Tastemaker curated products, included extra info and recipes to go with each new food item. (Bonus video content is available for subscribers as well).
Ships to: US only
Check out all of my Fare Trade reviews, and the Food Subscription Box Directory for similar boxes!
Each box is curated by a different chef. This month is curated by Chef Michael Rotondo.
The folded card includes a note from the chef, details on each food item and why it was selected, and the menu they’ve put together.
Each food item comes with a corresponding recipe card.
Savour This Kitchen Seafarer Spice Blend - Value $5
Mina Harissa Moroccan Red Pepper Sauce - Value $9
This spice blend is made with ginger, sumac, garlic, fennel seed, parsley, tarragon and basil. I like that there are is no added salt or sugar, and it's a unique mix compared to what I have in my pantry currently! (It's paired with the recipe for Salman Tartare with Seafarer Spiced Potato Chips).
This red pepper sauce is another item made with all natural and simple ingredients. It's paired with the recipe for Mediterranean Salad with Harissa Yogurt Dressing. (The letter also included some other suggested uses: adding to hummus, dips, etc. and dolloping atop eggs for breakfast).
Brooklyn Brine Co. Maple Bourbon Bread & Butter PIckles - Value $8.34
Wallace Comestibles Blueberry Conserve Jam - Value $7?
These pickles are made with maple syrup and bourbon! I'm sure my husband will love these. And the blueberry jam isn't a traditional just-sweet jam. It also has lemon, ginger and black pepper, so it's still sweet but also works for other dishes like the included recipe: Pork Belly Steamed Buns with Picked Ginger Blueberry Conserve.
(The recipe for the pickles is New England Style Crab Roll with Brooklyn Brine Remoulade.
Red Lake Nations Brown & Wild Rice - Value $2.69
(And Bonus Caramels)
I cook with rice a lot, so I'm always happy to get more in subscriptions boxes! This one is paired with the recipe for Autumn Wild Rice Soup with Pickled Apples and Curry Oil.
Verdict: This box has a food retail value of about $32. I think this may be the lowest value box from Fare Trade I've received. Fortunately I didn't pay full price for this box thanks to my Gilt City deal, but I would be disappointed if I did. Both the presentation and curation of this box are excellent, but I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for a good retail value box. If you're looking for unique food items and exclusive recipes to try though - it's definitely well done.
What do you think of the November Fare Trade box?
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