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.)
What is CrateChef?
The Subscription Box: CrateChef
The Cost: $45 a box (plus $6 shipping per box) or $44 a box when you choose a 3-month subscription. You may also 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: Artisan foods, recipes, and kitchen tools, curated by a different chef each month– usually from the Southern region of the US.
Ships to: U.S.
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CrateChef October/November Review: Chef Whitney Miller
Each CrateChef box comes with a letter from the chef & curator. This month is curated by Chef Whitney Miller, the first ever winner of MasterChef at just 22 years old! She hails from Nashville, Tennessee and has selected a number of products from her local area for us.
Looks like we're in store for a lot of deliciousness this month:
Coffee, honey, cinnamon, and more? You can't go wrong in my book! Let's dig in!
Whitney Miller's New Southern Table Cookbook (Hardback) – Value $13.02 on Amazon (Retail Price $26.99)
In lieu of getting printed recipe cards this month, CrateChef has included one of Whitney's cookbooks!
I love looking through cookbooks for inspiration and this one is no exception. It's full of lovely big photos and some really great southern fusion recipes, ranging from sides to main courses and desserts too.
PB&J Chicken Satay, anyone? How about Venison Egg Rolls? I'm so intrigued!
Here's the Amazon blurb for this book:
Following her great-grandmothers’ examples of creatively stretching meals during the Great Depression, Whitney Miller transforms recipes from her Southern roots, preserving flavors of traditional family dishes while offering the excitement of her own special touches. She offers a taste of her family table with dishes like PB&J Chicken Satay, Sweet Corn Grit Tamales, and much more. Using new techniques and cooking methods, Miller reimagines classic recipes and experiments with flavors from around the world, inspired by her travels since winning MasterChef.
Can't wait to try some of these recipes soon. Maybe I'll take some inspiration from the other items in this box:
South Georgia Pecan Mammoth Halves, 8 oz Raw Pecans – Value $6.50 (Buy 1 lb for $13)
(This exact size isn't available online.)
I love pecans, especially when they are giant fully intact halves like this bag. They're very fresh and ready for whatever you want to bake up. I love pecans in apple pie or granola, personally.
Or in my case, you could eat them straight out of the bag dipped in our next CrateChef item...
Truebee Tenessee Snow Whipped Honey, 5 oz – Value $6
This is one of those items that isn't super expensive, but it still feels special and it tastes so good!
This is a whipped honey, which Chef Whitney recommends spreading on biscuits or serving with pancakes. Their website also suggests using it on a peanut butter and honey sandwich, for all the taste with none of the drippy oozing mess.
I've never had a whipped honey before, and I expected it to be grainy and crunchy like crystallized honey that has been sitting in my pantry for too long... but no! This was smooth and delicious.
I seriously ate this straight from the jar by scooping it out with pecans, and I have no regrets. This is a product I will happily refill once it is gone! All the loveliness of honey but easily spreadable. It's genius.
Ground Saigon Cassia Cinnamon, 0.6 oz – Value ~$2
I've tasted a lot of spices from subscriptions, and they're still a little hard to explain in words sometimes. Generally, Cassia Cinnamon is described as 'sweeter' than other cinnamons, and I'd say that is accurate. This seemed overall more vibrant than the cinnamon I had on hand, which was a typical grocery store brand.
From SavorySpice:
Native to Vietnam and still grown there exclusively, this cassia is thought by many to be the best. Cassia is what we here in the States commonly known as cinnamon. But in reality, “true” cinnamon is the bark of an actual cinnamon tree, whereas what we know as cinnamon is the bark of a cassia tree. We grind Saigon in small batches weekly to ensure freshness.
Cassia trees must grow for 20 to 30 years before they can be harvested.
Be Home Teak Twig Spreader – Value $7.50 (Buy a set of 4 for $30. Currently on sale for $5.97)
This petite little wooden spreader is perfect for holiday entertaining! It also would be the ideal tool for spreading that whipped honey all over everything in sight.
Muletown Ididio Ethiopian Coffee, 12 oz – Value $18.99
CrateChef seems to always give me something I really need, and this was no exception. We had forgotten to refill our coffee stash the day this arrived; I was so happy to have this on hand the next morning!
Muletown is a small Tennessee brand, local to our chef curator this month. I've never heard of them, but I was impressed with the packaging right off the bat.
This is a single origin blend from Ethiopia with distinct blueberry notes. I love how fruity and fragrant Ethiopian coffees can be! This was a real treat, as we've been on a bit of a dark roast kick, and it was nice to change it up. I don't always love single origin coffees, but this really hit the spot!
This was super fresh, too, roasted just a few weeks ago.
PS: Muletown has their own coffee subscription if you want to indulge!
Loved that both the bag and this card were also hand signed; it's a nice small company touch.
Coffee Scoop & Clip - Value $5.50
This little item is nicer than the retail price would indicate! It's very sturdy and has a beautiful finish, and it really makes our coffee station look quite a bit fancier. Again, I think this would be perfect for holiday entertaining if you have guests who enjoy coffee in the morning for example.
We use two scoops per cup, and then the spoon conveniently clips right onto the bag:
Love this for a lot of reasons. Obviously, it's not as nice and airtight as a proper storage container would be, but it gives you an opportunity to show off your fancy coffee packaging and it keeps your coffee spoon from resting on the counter... and keeps it from getting lost. (You'd be surprised how often that seems to happen in our house.)
Verdict
This delivery of CrateChef was another winner for me. There were a lot of smaller items this month, but it was nicely put together, and I enjoyed unpacking and trying each thing. That honey, guys! It is SO GOOD!
I do find that food boxes that contain pantry products and cooking accessories are often closer to the price of the box and sometimes barely break even, so these boxes are definitely more about overall curation than strict retail value: This month, we got $59.51 in retail value for a box that costs $51 (including shipping).
I'm loving everything this month and will be sure to use everything included, so it's still a win for me! I was introduced to some delicious honey and awesome coffee, both of which I'd otherwise never have gotten to experience. I think this box would be a great gift, especially for anyone who enjoys watching chef-y reality TV, cooking for friends and family, and sampling Southern cuisine.
Value Breakdown: For the $51 price point of this box, including shipping, here's what you're paying for each item:
- Cookbook - $11.59
- Pecans - $5.76
- Whipped Honey - $5.32
- Teak Spreader - $6.65
- Coffee Spoon - $4.87
- Single-Origin Coffee - $16.84
If I sign up today, will I get this box? Yes, if you choose! When you join CrateChef, you can select which box you receive first. The Whitney Miller box is currently available as of October 19th, 2017.
What did you think of the Whitney Miller CrateChef?
Do you subscribe to any food and cooking boxes? How do you think CrateChef stacks up? Tell us in the comments!
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