Coffee time equals quiet time around here and I was reviewing blog ideas realizing I owe you an update on some of the other meal kit delivery programs we tried: Sun Basket and Martha & Marley Spoon.
If you recall, I posted a few weeks ago about out family pleasing experiences with Home Chef. This Friday another delivery will be at my doorstep and I am excited. Next week’s meal planning is practically a fait accompli thanks to Home Chef.
The past couple of weeks we tried a couple of other offerings.
Sun Basket
I immediately unboxed and loved all of the paper packaging knowing how easy recycling would be.
I was not excited about the recipe book. A magazine style that included EVERY single recipes shipped to any customer. That meant I had to find the recipes by flipping through the pages. (Each time I made a meal.)
I was slightly annoyed that the ingredient list didn’t include measurements. Now, I get that it is all pre-measured but I am a girl that wants the ability to re-create a winner. What if I really like it and don’t want to wait to see it again in rotation?
We received a few meals and the first one we tried was the steak meal.
I really enjoyed this meal. It was easy and light. My dauggter, however did not. She thought the steak was bland. We both were not impressed in the quality of the steaks. We had much better cuts from Home Chef.
My daughter wanted nothing to do with the vegetable dish but I loved it!
The other two meals were really pretty tasty as well. As far as quality goes, if I were cooking foe just myself I might try it again, but no one in my family was adventurous enough to try. I, myself had plenty of options for lunch and dinner all week.
If you recall, Home Chef has very little waste for us. Sun Basket had far too many vegetables. Yes…even for me.
I have skipped the next few weeks because I want to browse the rotation of menu options to see if there may be another week to try again. But our initial review is only moderately pleased. Also, the cost per person was $1-2 more per meal on average. We all have to love it to make the cost worth it.
Martha & Marley Spoon
Did you know Martha Stewart had skin in the game too? I shouldn’t have been surprised.
So we ordered a box.
The unboxing made me smile. I loved the recipe card! The note making it seem more personalized was a nice touch. And the small magazine that introduces the team and concept was a nice addition. They didn’t send a binder like Home Chef did. And I guess that little organization perk tickled me. Not having one from Martha was disappointing but not a show stopper.
Did you notice the quantities and measurements? I was so happy to see them. Re-creation is a possibility. That made me happy.
When making this dish, the recipe was hard to follow. It is based on 2 servings with notes for 4 servings. I really struggled because the formatting, amounts, and discerning the difference between 2 and 4 servings just didn’t jive. Not sure it hurt the outcome but this wannabe mom chef did not find this experience enjoyable.
The dish was delicious! And I would make it again. My daughter is not a fan of rice so I may have over served myself and ate leftovers the next day as well. We went with the lower prices cut of meat and it was a good cut: much better than Sun Baskets option but still not on par with Home Chef. We could have spent a bit more for higher end cuts of meat. I didn’t and wouldn’t feel it made a difference.
Now Martha is new skin in the game and the menu options from week to week are very limited. Especially if you are trying to align to dietary needs.
I am not compelled to order in the next couple of weeks as the menu choices just do not interest me nor my family. I am going to skip a few weeks and jump in again. I feel Martha deserves another go to see if the one meal we tried was an anomaly in my struggle to discern the recipe and instructions.
Overall we were pleasantly surprised and are sad the menu isn’t more robust yet. Martha does give me hope to try again.
So many more to try: One Potato, Blue Apron, and Platrf to name a few.
Next month maybe we will give them a spin. But for now, I am sticking with Home Chef because they have delivered consistent winners.
Have you tried any meal kit deliveries yet? Which ones? I love having these as options on busy weeks.
She Sips Coffee 