Given the hectic lives of many Canadians, we often take the easy route by grabbing fast food or ordering takeout. But what our tastebuds are really craving is a home-cooked meal made from fresh, quality ingredients. Thankfully, a number of Canadian food subscription services are delivering just that, offering home delivery of fresh, measured ingredients, accompanied by easy-to-follow recipes that make cooking a breeze. Here’s a sample of some that are gaining legions of hungry fans across Canada.
Culiniste
Location: Montreal
A team of in-house chefs creates different menu items each week, with the fresh ingredients delivered along with recipe cards, designed to make dinnertime a snap. “Best of all,” declares the Culiniste website, “by letting us shop for you, we can bring you fresher and higher-quality food than what’s sitting on supermarket shelves — and for better prices.” With dishes ranging from Shrimp and Linguine fra Diavolo to Moo Shu Vegetable Wraps, it’s a safe bet your taste buds won’t be getting bored anytime soon. They deliver throughout Québec and Ontario
The Jolly Table
Location: Calgary
Delivering to customers all across Canada (with free delivery anywhere in Calgary), The Jolly Table’s chefs create different recipe options each week, with both one-time ordering and subscription plans available. Customers receive a cooler box packed with fresh, seasonal ingredients in the exact quantities required for each recipe, with the company committed to “sourcing seasonal, high-quality ingredients directly from local farmers and sustainable producers.” An eclectic menu is offered, ranging from Brandy Peppercorn Steak to Coconut Curry Fish and Potatoes.
Chef's Plate
Location: Toronto
Using the tagline “a better way to cook,” Chef’s Plate delivers fresh ingredients in a refrigerated box so food will stay fresh even if it arrives when you’re not home. The emphasis is on local and seasonal, and Chef’s Plate has developed relationships with small butchers and fish-mongers, sourcing ingredients from local family-run farms. On the menu you’ll find such dishes as Cornmeal Crusted Fish Tacos, Malaysian Curry Laksa, and Havarti Stuffed Chicken Supreme. Chef’s Plate delivers throughout Ontario.
Chefx
Location: Ottawa
In addition to delivering home-cooked meals anywhere in Ottawa, Chefx offers its “Gourmet Recipe Kits,” available for a one-time purchase or cost-reduced subscription. Each week, a different recipe is offered, with the amount of pre-portioned ingredients altered to suit the number of diners. An example of their ever-changing menu is the Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with Mushroom-Sherry Cream Sauce and Wilted Winter Greens. As a bonus, Chefx even offers suggested wine pairings with each meal.
Fresh City Farms
Location: Toronto
Sourcing ingredients from organic farms, the vision of Fresh City Farms is to “empower all to make conscious food choices.” In addition to delivering organic produce and groceries to select cities across Ontario, the company also delivers recipe bags, each of which includes all the ingredients necessary to create one of their many recipes. Choices abound (vegan and gluten-free options are available), and can be customized depending upon how many people you’ll be feeding. Options include Basil Pesto Spaghetti with Roasted Tomatoes and Arugula, Feta-Crusted Arctic Char with Garlic Wilted Spinach Risotto, and Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Greens.
Cook It
Location: Montreal
This Montreal food subscription service takes its cuisine seriously, offering “all-inclusive” meals, which include meat and poultry, along with vegetable and fish dishes (for the pescatarians out there) as well as healthy kid-friendly options. With menus created by Cook It’s in-house culinary team as well as renowned guest chefs, recipes use seasonal, fresh ingredients that have arrive to your doorstep anywhere in Québec, precisely pre-measured, ensuring zero waste.
Food Trip To...
Location: Montreal
Food Trip To… puts an international spin on the monthly subscription service, with each month featuring themed recipes and food from a particular country (the current offering spotlights Morocco). Each box contains six imported products and four recipes designed to make a meal for six (you’ll need to pick up the fresh ingredients yourself). As a bonus, each Food Trip To… box also includes cultural facts about each month’s destination, a playlist of typical music from that locale “to enrich the experience” and a “small surprise” brought back from the trip. Food Trip To… delivers within North America (Canada and the U.S.).
Dinnerlicious
Location: Hamilton
Delivering to Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding area, Dinnerlicious plans three different meals each week, focusing on local, seasonal ingredients. Featuring such recipes as Chicken Laksa and Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato, company founder Malin van der Meer, who believes we should know where our food comes from and how it made it to our plates, with pre-portioned ingredients arriving to customers in order to make the process of cooking dinner fun and delicious.
Fresh Prep
Location: Vancouver
Fresh Prep offers a variety of chef-designed dishes, ranging from “seasonal classics” to weekly specials, all of which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Menu items include Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash and Homemade Cornbread, and Chicken Souvlaki with Cucumber Dill Tzatziki and Lemon Rice. After ordering, the fresh ingredients are delivered to your door, and Fresh Prep also offers same-day delivery. They currently deliver strictly within the city of Vancouver.
Brent Furdyk is a freelance writer in Vancouver.