Well, it's November, which means Thanksgiving is officially right around the corner. Some of my family members have decided to sit this year's holiday out due to Covid and others are using their time off to go on a long-overdue vacation, so I'd anticipated a low-key holiday with just my husband, me, and perhaps a couple of waifs and strays from the neighborhood without plans of their own. But the holidays don't always go as we plan, and earlier this week I received a phone call from my dad who asked if he and his wife could come spend the holiday at my place. Never one to turn down company, I accepted with open arms; however, I now have to dust off my hostess hat. (It's been a while since I've entertained guests for Thanksgiving dinner, so I'm feeling a little rusty!)
Since I'd been keen on the idea of a laid back holiday, I've been thinking of ways to impress my guests without a lot of hands-on prep. Luckily, this isn't my first rodeo, and I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. I'm calling in some of my favorite food subscriptions to help make this Thanksgiving as easy as pie. From coffee and wine to charcuterie, subscriptions are here to save the day!
The Food Subscriptions That Help Me Look Like the Hostess with the Mostess
1. Carnivore Club
Image via Carnivore Club.
What Is It: Carnivore Club is a monthly subscription that sends cured meats to your door. Each box contains 4-6 varieties of artisanal cured meats from around the world, and you can expect to see things like prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, sopressata, and sausage in every box.
To give you an idea what an average box looks like, the upcoming December 2021 classic box features Imperial Chorizo. Customers can expect to receive:
- Hot Chorizo Chub
- Barcelona Salami Chub
- Truffle Chub
- Chorizo Chub
- Chorizo Sliced
- Bilbao Salami Sliced
How I Use It: I'm the type of host who likes to always have something out for my guests to nibble on, so cheese boards, veggie spreads, and charcuterie spreads are kind of my thing. I can be a little picky about cheese (blue cheese is my arch nemesis, and goat cheese and I are tending an uneasy alliance), but I've never met a cured meat I didn't like, so I love that Carnivore Club sends charcuterie from around the world. Around the holidays, I find it handy to have a selection of tasty cured meat on hand, and my guests are always impressed when I'm able to whip up a fancy charcuterie board on the fly.
The Cost: The Classic Box from Carnivore Club costs $39.99 per month + shipping for 4-6 premium cured meats. The Snack Box costs $24.99 per month + shipping and features meaty snacks that are great for eating on-the-go. The Jerky Club costs $19.99 per month and includes jerky, more jerky, and nothing but jerky.
Check out our Carnivore Club details and reviews to learn more!
2. MistoBox
Image via MistoBox.
What Is It: MistoBox specializes in connecting subscribers with freshly-roasted from one of the company’s 50+ roasters. When you sign up, you'll be paired with a "coffee curator" who will select coffee for you based on your preferences, and you can set up deliveries on a schedule that works for you.
How I Use It: I come from a long line of coffee drinkers who are absolute monsters before that first cup of morning Joe, so coffee is an essential part of every holiday gathering. Whenever I'm expecting company, I always make sure I'm fully stocked with a variety of beans: espresso for my espresso machine, lightly-roasted single-origin for my drip maker, and some high-quality decaf for pairing with dessert.
I don't review MistoBox for MSA, but I've been a loyal subscriber for years now. The coffee is insanely fresh, and I appreciate the level of personalization. I've discovered a number of incredible roasters during my time with MistoBox, and I get excited every single time a new bag of beans turns up at my door. My favorite MistoBox discovery so far? Smooth Operator from Thou Mayest in Kansas City. I've probably added these beans to my "brew queue" no fewer than 10 times at this point!
The Cost: Plans start at $10.95 per month + $5 shipping.
Check out our MistoBox details and reviews to learn more!
3. Wine Awesomeness
Image via Wine Awesomeness.
What Is It: If you’ve got an open mind, Wine Awesomeness offers a subscription that’s designed for wine lovers with an appetite for adventure. The Wine Awesomeness team includes top sommeliers who specialize in sourcing rare and lesser-known bottles of wine, and when you sign up for a subscription, you can expect to learn a thing or two about the world of wine, one delicious bottle at a time.
How I Use It: Look, Ima be straight with you here. My parents aren't big drinkers. This subscription pick is 100% for me. As much as I love my family, gatherings can sometimes be challenging, and I love having some vino on hand for those times when I need to excuse myself for a little bit of "me time." A big glass of wine and a nice long bubble bath usually gives me the recharge I need to de-stress, re-center, and keep on hosting with a smile. I’ve subscribed to Wine Awesomeness on and off for years, and it’s one of my personal favorite wine subscription services. The wines are often surprising (don't be alarmed if you receive a box full of varietals you've never heard of before) but consistently great.
The Cost: $49.00 per box for a 3-bottle shipment ($16.33 per bottle + free shipping) OR $79.00 per box for a 6-bottle membership ($13.17 per bottle + free shipping).
ACTIVE DEAL: get 20% off
CODE: MSA20
Check out our Wine Awesomeness details and reviews to learn more!
Do you use food subscriptions to help make entertaining easy? Head to the comments section to let us know!
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