CrateChef is a bi-monthly subscription box curated by top-name chefs and sends artisan foods, recipes and kitchen supplies.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: CrateChef
The Cost: $45 a box (plus $6 shipping per box) or you may purchase a one-time gift box for $49 a box (plus $6 shipping)
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first order!
CODE: ADDICTION10
The Products: food products and cooking items from a top-name chef (different chefs curate each box)
Ships to: U.S.
Check out all of our CrateChef reviews lots of food-related boxes in the Food Subscription Box Directory!
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Each box comes with a letter from the chosen chef. This box was put together by Jordan Grosser, Ted Fleury and Matthew Homyak who comprise Stag Dining Group and the Derby Cocktail Co. based out of San Francisco.
Stag Dining Group included three recipe cards which featured included ingredients.
Town Cutler Meat Tester - Value $8.00
This beautiful meat tester is a way to check if your meat has been cooked to the desired doneness without relying on a meat thermometer. However there are no directions as to how this is done, so I’m not confident that by feel alone I would be able to poke the meat and know it’s cooked properly. I think this would be great for professional chefs that can judge by the feel much better than I. The wooden handle is unique and I also like the leather strip that can be used to store it.
Cocktail Muddler - Value $4.73?
This wooden cocktail muddler will come in handy the next time we make mojitos to smash the mint leaves. It is solid wood and a beautiful color. There is no brand stamped on it or packaging but the one I found on Amazon looks very similar.
BG Reynolds Original Orgeat Tropical Syrup – Value $8.99
This syrup is famous for use in the Mai Tai because of the almond extract and cane sugar, but it can be used in many other cocktails and mocktails as well. BG Reynolds also suggests using it in coffee or as a topping for pancakes and waffles. It was sweet and had a wonderful almond essence.
Wine Forest Candy Cap Sugar (3.25 oz.) - Value $8.00
This was a new discovery for me. This sugar is combined with candy cap mushrooms that have been dried. The mushroom, which grows on the west coast, has a maple flavor deeming is a “dessert mushroom”. The sugar can be used as a finishing touch on crème brulee, added to baked squash, used as a glaze on roast pork or duck or even sprinkled on oatmeal. I didn’t get any mushroom flavor from the sugar, only the texture of the larger sized pieces of dried mushrooms. While it tasted sweet and pleasant the smell was quite off-putting to me.
Omnivore Salt (6 oz.) - Value $10.00
This certified organic salt is infused with black pepper, red pepper and fennel making it much tastier than just plain salt. Omnivore recommends using it on meats, in soups, sauces, dressings and dips or as a simple finishing salt. Yum!
4505 Chicharrones (1 oz.) - Value $4.50
I’ve never tried a pork rind before and I can’t say I was a fan. It was salty and crunchy and just not my idea of a snack I’d want to eat again. They had a slight chile flavoring, but nothing too hot.
Verdict: I enjoyed my CrateChef box this month, but it wasn’t my favorite. I love the salt and drink syrup and am happy to have a muddler, but the other items weren’t things I was very excited to have or felt I’d get much use out of. I felt the estimated value was a bit low this month as well at $44.22, which is less than the cost of the box.
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