My experience with Home Chef

I will be the first to admit that I am not one that loves to cook.  Want me to tell you why?  Honestly, I don't want to spend all of my time in the kitchen using these different ingredients that I know NOTHING about and then not like the food.  That is real talk right there.  We went out to eat once and I ordered something with sage... yeah, realized I am not a sage fan... I ate it, because I paid for it... but I would have been ticked if I had paid for it AND took the time to cook it to find out I did not like it.  Lucky for me, Home Chef gave me a chance to check them out and in the process try a few new things.   Ready to hear all about it? 

FTC Compliant Review Policy:  The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

So, like I said, we were given the chance to try Home Chef out for ourselves.  I went on the website and answered a few questions about our eating preference. (It isn't that hard, basically I said we like to eat meat and there is nothing that we really don't eat based upon the list they offered.)  I will say that I do wish their website was a bit different, as I was ordering from the phone and at first I could not figure out what I was doing.  Luckily I was able to see the meals they were sending me.  I also noted that I could change it to a different suggested meal, if those they had planned were not what I was in the mood for.   Then, I waited for the delivery day.  

Morning of the delivery, I received an email basically reminding me that my order was headed my way that day. Please note, you do NOT have to be home for it. They pack it up nice with lots of the ice packs in there so you are good to go.  Head to work and when you get home, it will be there waiting on you nice and cold.  

They have each meal packaged separately so that you don't have to worry about what ingredients you need to pull out for each meal.  They also have every single ingredient labeled, so that people like me that have no clue in the kitchen can go into cooking the meal like we do somewhat know what we are doing.  

In your Home Fresh box, it also contains a binder to store your recipe cards.  On the recipe card it tells you to read it all once to familiarize yourself with the meal before preparation.  It also tells you that some ingredients will be halved (like the butter, they send 2 packets, you use one pack for each step.)  It really is broken down so that newbies can do it as well as pros.  

You then cook each meal and enjoy. This was the Parisian Bistro Steak with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans.  Since I am being honest with you, let me tell you this. We are eaters.  The meals were SO SMALL.  It was a serving for 2 people.  We had 2 steaks like 1 potato and then around 12 green beans. I thought it was a joke, until I cooked it.  I was laughing telling Marc he was going to have to pull through a drive through to pick up dinner since this was the appetizer.  Once I cooked it and plated it, I was surprised at the amount of food that it actually became.  I mean, look at the plate. Doesn't that look like a great amount of food?  I was shocked and delighted with the end result.  Not only did it look pretty good, it tasted AMAZING.  

The next night, we tried the other meal option. This was the Oktoberfest Pork Medallions with smashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts.  Again, the portions looked so small until I started cooking...  again, surprised at the amount it ended up being. Marc and I tried to decide which was our favorite, but we couldn't pick just one.  We decided that we would always just have to order both, since they were really that good.
Let me level with you a bit more.  I was not a fan with how long it took.  As a mom to a 7 year old and a 1 year old, I don't like spending much time in the kitchen.  I like throwing things in a crock pot and letting it cook for me.  I also like dishes that are easy to make and require as few dishes as possible to have to clean up later.  The only time I cook many different things is for holidays.  Even then, I am not thrilled to do it.. but I do love seeing my family happy and spending time around the table together.
Bottom line.  Would I order again? I said no at the beginning because of the time it took to cook and clean it all up.  The more I think about it, yes I would.  

Why?  

Because it was something totally different that I would not normally ever think to cook.

Because it was so easy to read their instructions.  (They literally tell you step by step for the entire meal.  They also have pictures and it is on ONE SHEET, so I am not having to flip pages for each item. Seriously, it is perfect the way they do the recipe/ menu sheet.)

Because it was DELICIOUS and we LOVED the flavor.

Because it was cheaper than going out to eat and we were able to enjoy it in our own home.

I have already been looking at their menu options for the next week and I think I am going to have to order again.  If you are looking to try something new, you can order for 2, 4 or 6 servings.  You can order standard plans and family plans.  If you order through my Home Chef link, you get a $30 credit and I get a $30 credit as well.  We can say we bought each other dinner one night!!!  Why not give it a try and let me know what you think?  Try it out, see how delicious the meals are and then you can even plan to give someone a gift of dinner on you for the holidays!!!   Remember, if you decide to order, please order through my link so we each can get the credit!!!!