Crate Chef is a bi-monthly subscription that sends a specially curated box filled with chef-curated kitchen items, food products, as well as selected recipes. They invite a luminary from the culinary world to curate each box with their favorite finds. Each box costs $45. Crate Chef also has a build your own box option!
DEAL: Save 10% off your first order with coupon code HELLO10.
The items were packed in a brown box with Crate Chef branding.
There’s a card on top of the items.
The box is stuffed with brown squiggles to cushion everything. Some of the items were also packed with bubble wrap.
Each month, Crate Chef collaborates with a different famous chef to bring you products that will up your cooking game. This month, they collaborated with Nik Sharma!
Listed at the back of the card are all the items included in this month’s box.
Everything in the NIK SHARMA box!
Spice Grinder. This grinder is definitely a nice addition to my kitchen! With this, I can make my own spice blends right in the comforts of home.
It’s a manual grinder so you need to put a bit of effort when using it, but it’s worth it! Simply place your spices or herbs at the top portion and put the lid back in. Using the lever on top of the lid, turn it into a clockwise motion to start grinding.
There’s even a mesh on the second layer so you can sift and separate the fine and coarsely ground bits.
Green Cardamom Pods. These green cardamom pods can be used as a seasoning for roasted chicken or even as an addition to your coffee or tea! Either way, you get the amazing benefits cardamom has to offer. It’s packed with antioxidants and diuretic properties that may help lower blood pressure. It’s also a great item to use in your grinder!
Just Pomegranate Molasses ($14) This pomegranate molasses syrup can be added to marinades, salad dressings, and even cocktail drinks to make them tastier! It makes a great alternative to refined sugar.
I love the tart flavor from the fresh pomegranate juice and the slight sweetness from medjool dates. Aside from making food tastier, it’s also rich in antioxidants, potassium, and polyphenols!
Kava Instant Coffee ($8.99) If you love coffee but hate hyper-acidity, this instant coffee blend with reduced acid is for you. It has at least 50% less acid per cup compared to regular instant coffee, but the taste is still rich and full bodied.
Kala Namak Black Salt. Black salt is known to have holistic and therapeutic properties, that’s why it’s a popular ingredient in Indian recipes.
I like that the black salt I received came in a tub container because it will be easy to use and store.
As of writing, there isn’t really much proof that black salt is healthier that regular table salt but you can still use this to add flavor to your dishes. Just remember that salt should be added in moderation!
Diaspora Co. Turmeric ($12) Here’s another popular ingredient in Indian cuisine, turmeric!
Turmeric has a lot of health benefits as it is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This specific jar of powdered turmeric came from the Kasaraneni family and they have been farming turmeric for three generations now!
Honestly, this is better than other turmeric powders I have tasted because it has a deep floral flavor with just the right amount of zest. This another versatile ingredient from this box, as it can be used in cooking and even in drinks!
The Flavor Equation by Nick Sharma ($24.61)
Aroma, texture, sound, emotion—these are just a few of the elements that play into our perceptions of flavor.
The Flavor Equation demonstrates how to convert approachable spices, herbs, and commonplace pantry items into tasty, simple dishes.
In this groundbreaking book, Nik Sharma, scientist, food blogger, and author of the buzz-generating cookbook Season, guides home cooks on an exploration of flavor in more than 100 recipes.
• Provides inspiration and knowledge to both home cooks and seasoned chefs
• An in-depth exploration into the science of taste
• Features Nik Sharma’s evocative, trademark photography styleThe Flavor Equation is an accessible guide to elevating elemental ingredients to make delicious dishes that hit all the right notes, every time.
Recipes include Brightness: Lemon-Lime Mintade, Saltiness: Roasted Tomato and Tamarind Soup, Sweetness: Honey Turmeric Chicken Kebabs with Pineapple, Savoriness: Blistered Shishito Peppers with Bonito Flakes, and Richness: Coconut Milk Cake.
• A global, scientific approach to cooking from bestselling cookbook author Nik Sharma
• Dives deep into the most basic of our pantry items—salts, oils, sugars, vinegars, citrus, peppers, and more
• Perfect gift for home cooks who want to learn more beyond recipes, those interested in the science of food and flavor, and readers of Lucky Peach, Serious Eats, Indian-Ish, and Koreatown
• Add it to the shelf with cookbooks like The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt; Ottolenghi Flavor: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi; and Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat.
They sent a signed copy!
The cover looks fun and vibrant, and at the back are various reviews from other personalities.
The endpaper has instructions on how to make a nut or seed butter.
Here’s the signature of this month’s featured chef, Nik Sharma!
There are a lot of things to read and learn in this book!
It also helped broaden my understanding of aromas!
There’s even a featured case study on the effect of pH on the color and texture of onions.
I love that they also included a ton of recipes that I can recreate at home!
Each recipe features a stunning shot of the final product!
There’s a lot of cooking tips here! This one, for example, is a list of common cooking starches and their ideal thickening temperature and some suggested applications.
This is more than just your average cookbook as it discusses elements that affect a food’s flavor
This month’s box showcases different flavors from India as this month’s featured chef, Nik Sharma, also hails from India. I love the quality of spices, especially the turmeric which is such a versatile ingredient. It’s perfect for making smoothies and lattes, as well as in giving a deep flavor to curry and even in soups. I also appreciate the inclusion of the spice grinder, and I’m excited to make my own spice blends using it. My favorite item this month is none other than the book by Nik Sharma. It’s well-written and easy to understand, plus it has a lot of practical tips that I can use in the kitchen. All in all, CrateChef has been a really great way of fueling my love for cooking. Aside from the high-quality items, it’s also nice that they introduce subscribers to chefs who help us understand different cuisines and cooking techniques!
What did CrateChef inspire you to cook?
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