Food & Beverage

Chefs Plate Review

About Chefs Plate

Chefs Plate Review

Chefs Plate is the first meal kit subscription service available across Canada. They deliver fresh ingredients to your door every week to equip you with everything you need to make a healthy, delicious meal in 30 minutes or less.

Whether you’re a full-time corporate worker or a stay-at-home mom, you often have little time to prepare fresh, healthy meals for yourself. In fact, one study[1] showed that life transitions like entering the workforce as an adult and becoming a parent are associated with an increase in fast food intake. It’s also estimated that only about 36% of Americans cook at home every day.

This is where Chefs Plate comes in. They’re a  dream for busy Canadians (or lazy, we don’t judge) who want healthy meals made easy. Talk of the town in CBC, Forbes, National Post, Toronto Life, and The Globe and Mail; they’ve established themselves as the trusted meal kit brand of the North.

This Chefs Plate review will take you through the ins and outs of how it works, the plans and meals offered, customer testimonials, shipping and return policies, and other FAQs.

Overview of Chefs Plate

Chefs Plate Review

In the millennial and Gen Z age of food delivery apps, we spend bunches of cash just to eat meals without the time and effort of going to the grocery store, buying ingredients, and thinking of new recipes to make every day. One study[2] of millennials’ motivation for cooking showed that even for people who enjoy cooking, its time-consuming nature is a deterrent. In comes Chefs Plate!

Jamie Shea and Patrick Meyer founded Chefs Plate in 2014 to give Canadians a convenient, but still affordable, way to make meals at home. The weekly subscription service is a healthier, more rewarding alternative to takeout. 

The brand has been owned by HelloFresh since 2018, the famous American meal kit subscription service that you’ve probably heard of from your fave YouTuber or Instafluencer. You may have also seen them on MasterChef Canada, one of their partners.

The idea is you receive ingredients for meals and follow the easy, quick recipes for them. The nutritional value is certainly healthier than restaurant food while it’s still doable for the amateur chef.

Headquartered in bustling Toronto, Chefs Plate is “putting Canadians back in the kitchen.

…And that’s about all the background info you should know about the brand going into this Chefs Plate review. Speaking of which, here’s a snapshot of what’s to come:

Highlights

  • Multiple meal kit plans to choose from
  • More affordable than other meal kits
  • Positive customer reviews of meal quality, freshness, and convenience
  • Free delivery on most plans
  • Get 50% off your first box
  • Skip weeks easily

How Does Chefs Plate Work?

Chefs Plate Review

To start things off, you have the choice between 3 plans:

  1. Meat & Vegetables
  2. Family Friendly
  3. Vegetarian

Each week, you can select which meals from the Chefs Plate menu you’d like, or you can allow the program to auto-choose items using your Taste Preferences.

Taste Preferences are edited on your account, so you can easily accommodate your wants and needs if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. This Chefs Plate review is happy to see that the brand can be flexible when it comes to catering (pun intended) to their customers.

When Chefs Plate auto-delivers for you, the meals chosen will fit your preferences, so even if you forgot to choose your weekly meals, the ones chosen for you will still be edible and tasty. They’ve got your back.

Meals are delivered by 8:00 pm on the day you’ve selected for delivery, and the options will vary depending on your postal code. Handy email notifications let you know when your food is en route so you can make sure to get your tastebuds ready.

Whether or not you’re home when it arrives oh-so-beautifully on your doorstep, the boxed Chefs Plate packages are insulated with ice packs to keep food safe from the elements outside and prevent thawing to unsavory temperatures.

Once this delectable box of goodies is in your hands, you’ll open it and find pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards with simple instructions to make meals quickly.

You can also skip weeks easily through options on your account page. For both cancellations and weekly skips, you have to do it by the Wednesday the week before. Otherwise, it’ll be too late, and you’ll receive the next box and be charged for it. Don’t forget the date!

And that’s how the weekly meal kit process works. Let’s look at a few meals to get a taste (metaphorically, for now) of what the service offers.

Chefs Plate Review 

Chefs Plate offers a variety of dishes for different people with various needs and tastes. We do note that all of these meals take 30 minutes to prep, and the nutritional info included is per serving. With that being said, here are some of our favorites. Bon Appétit.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Rigatoni mac & creamy white cheddar sauce is the name of the game with this dish. Have some veg with your mac with roasted cauliflower and crispy panko on top.

If you’re like most millennials (83%[3], to be specific), you probably don’t get enough vegetables. So, a tasty recipe like this is sure to help you up your intake while still enjoying a delicious meal.

This easy-peasy, tasty pasta has 1110 calories, 66g of fat, 100g of carbs, 35g of protein, and 1970mg of sodium.

Harissa-Spiced Chickpeas

This Middle Eastern dish features spicy chickpeas using harissa, paired with baked feta, tabbouleh salad, and classic tahini sauce on top. These ingredients have a ton of health benefits. For example, studies[4] have shown that chickpeas can help with weight management and glucose regulation. Similarly, tahini[5], which is made from sesame seeds, contains healthy fibers and fats known to assist in a healthy heart diet.

With 1020 calories, 55g of fat, 109g of carbohydrates, 31g of protein, and 1220mg of sodium, this Harissa-Spiced Chickpeas delight has got it all.

Spanish Fiesta Steak

There’s flavorful fun going on in the Spanish Fiesta Steak: you’ve got the steak, of course, seared edition, and you’ve got a mild salsa, corn, and roasted potatoes. Oh, and mayo on the side, please. 

If you’re lacking iron, red meat[6] like steak can help, as it’s a high-quality protein and a great source of iron. One study[7] showed that iron-deficient women who consumed a high-iron diet, which included steak, increased their iron levels. Meat has long been an essential source of nutrients and protein for people of all ages.

This yummy meal powers you up with 780 calories and has 42g of fat, 65g of carbs, 40g of protein, and 2290mg of sodium.

One-Pot Italian Fish & Farro

Fiber-filled farro grains come together with Basa fillets to bring you this one-pot, stew-like meal. Farro is chock-full of nutrients like fiber, zinc, and magnesium. Meanwhile, the consumption of fish like basa can be fantastic for your health since it’s a tremendous source of protein and essential fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice per week, so this Chef’s Plate meal can help you get there.

In one serving of this Italian dish elevated with zesty tomatoes and delicious parmesan cheese, you consume 660 calories, 9g of fiber, 32g of fat, 60g of carbs, 38g of protein, and 1380mg of sodium.

Are Chefs Plate Meals Healthy?

Chefs Plate Review

Chefs Plate meals are indeed healthy. They are balanced, nutritional, portion-controlled meals that are crafted with love.

On the website, you can check out the nutritional value of some of the tastiest meals on this week’s menu to make sure they’re up to your health standard and needs.

Is Chefs Plate Vegan? 

Chefs Plate Review

Chefs Plate offers a vegetarian meal plan. There are often dairy-free meals on the menu, but there is currently no vegan-only meal plan available.

Who Is Chefs Plate For? 

Chefs Plate Review

Chefs Plate is for singles, couples, families, omnivores, and herbivores alike. You can fit up to 4 people on each plan with 2-4 meals per week.

Comparison: Chefs Plate vs. HelloFresh

Chefs Plate Review

Chefs Plate and HelloFresh are very similar brands. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that one is owned by the other, but still, the Chefs Plate Canada division of HelloFresh does have their own unique traits.

How are they similar?

  • Up to 4 people per plan
  • Offers Meat & Veggies, Vegetarian, and Family Friendly plans
  • Cook times are 30 minutes or less

And besides their nationality, how is HelloFresh different?

  • An extra plan offered: Smart Meals
  • $10 delivery fee
  • 3 or 4 meals per week
  • Slightly more expensive

Here’s hoping that HelloFresh brings over some of their extra options to the Chefs Plate Canadian market sometime soon! In the meantime, both brands offer delicious meals across the board.

How Much Is Chefs Plate?

Chefs Plate Review

This is the big question, really. We’ve seen what they have to offer, but what’s the attached price tag? Costs depend on how many people are eating and how much they’re eating:

For 2 people:

  • 2 meals/week: $46 + $6 shipping
  • 3 meals/week: $60
  • 4 meals/week: $80

For 4 people:

  • 2 meals/week: $72
  • 3 meals/week: $108
  • 4 meals/week: $144

Chefs Plate Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Chefs Plate Review

The brand site itself doesn’t have any customer reviews, but external sites do. TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Facebook give us more info on what the brand really is like, right from the mouths of the well-fed.

On TrustPilot, most customers were satiated and satisfied. Many of them love getting to try new cuisines and discover new favorite bites, use ingredients that are “Primo quality and very fresh,” and save both time and money.

And let’s not forget how big meal kit subscriptions are for families. One Chefs Plate review raved about the company, saying:

For busy people this service gives you what is the most valuable thing, Especially to parents. TIME. Shopping? DONE! Figuring out dinner? DONE! Prepwork? Mostly done too! You won’t regret giving this fabulous service try.”

Another customer was equally ecstatic and said that they recommended the brand to all their friends because the service is a true gamechanger for convenience and ease, plus customer service is responsive and helpful in a crisis.

This Chefs Plate review explained how easy and smooth the whole deal is:

The meal kits always come with a great instruction sheet along with images so you can easily see how to complete the meal. I have not ordered a meal that my family hasn’t loved and the quick prep time really helps at the end of my work day.”

Most reviews were positive, and negative testimonials usually included at least one compliment because the affordability and convenience are too good to ignore.

On Facebook, tons of happy home cooks flexed their deliciously crafted Chefs Plate meals. Overwhelmingly, customers were so pleased with the service because the food was delicious, “easy to cook,” and conveniently packaged and portioned.

Also, as one customer attested, “We have cut back our grocery expenses substantially since switching to chef’s plate.”

Another testimonial perfectly sums up what customers are loving most about the Chefs Plate Canada company:

Great pricing, delicious recipes, variety, fresh ingredients, easy to make and fun to cook are all reasons we’ll continue with chefs plate. Everyone should give it a try.

In conclusion: most reviews are happy. The customers offering two thumbs up love the affordable prices, variety of cuisines and meals, fresh ingredients, and easy-to-follow recipes.

Is Chefs Plate Subscription Worth It?

Chefs Plate Review

This Chefs Plate review says… YES! Chefs Plate has proven themselves to be worthy. They’re cheaper than other meal kit subscriptions and provide healthy, balanced, and yet tasty meals of a variety of cuisines that are oh so convenient and easy to make. Plus, customer testimonials are majorly positive. All in all, this Chefs Plate review recommends the brand.

Chefs Plate Promotions & Discounts 

Chefs Plate Review

Everyone loves deals. Here’s what Chefs Plate has to entice you:

  • Get 50% off your first box
  • Subscribe to the newsletter to snag the next Chefs Plate promo

Sign Up For Chefs Plate Subscription

Chefs Plate Review

Okay, so you’ve decided you’re in. Here’s how to sign up for Chefs plate:

  1. Head to chefsplate.com.
  2. Click “Get Started.”
  3. Choose your meal plan.
  4. Choose how many people and meals per week.
  5. Click “Select this Plan.

Checkout and you’re done!

FAQ

Chefs Plate Review

Is Chefs Plate Canadian? 

Born and raised.

As we talked about in our comparison (scroll above), Chefs Plate is the Canadian little sibling to the all-American HelloFresh.

How do I cancel my Chefs Plate subscription?

Our Chefs Plate review found that you can cancel your subscription anytime. Just make sure that you cancel before the cutoff point of next week’s delivery—Wednesday the week before—to get a full refund if you have already been charged. If you miss the cutoff point, you will be charged in full.

There are 2 simple ways you can cancel:

  1. Email [email protected]
  2. Call 647-695-3265

What is Chefs Plate’s Shipping Policy?

The brand is the Great White North’s first meal kit subscription service to be available across the country. Right now, this Chefs plate review is happy to report that they currently deliver to:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia

For 2 people ordering 2 meals per week, delivery is $6. Everyone else and their meals get free delivery. Your weekly meals arrive by 8 pm on your chosen delivery day.

The days of the week that you can choose from depend on where you live. Some regions choose between Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, while others don’t have Sunday as an option.

There’s always variety, so checkout and enter your postal code to see which days are available for your location.

What is Chefs Plate’s Return Policy?

There are no returns because the product here is food. But you can receive a full refund for damaged or defective items in your cart, including shipping costs when applicable.

Also, if you have already been charged for next week’s delivery but decide to cancel by the Wednesday before, then you will get a full refund (as you should).

How to Contact Chefs Plate

If you have any questions after this Chefs Plate review, you can get in touch with the brand through two methods of contact:

  1. Email: [email protected]
  2. Phone: 1 (855) 420 2327

If you are looking for more ways to get meals delivered to your home, here are a few other options to consider:

Factor 75

Blue Apron Weight Watchers

Everytable

Veestro

Article Sources

  1. Winpenny, E. M., Winkler, M. R., Stochl, J., Van Sluijs, E. M., Larson, N., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. Associations of early adulthood life transitions with changes in fast food intake: a latent trajectory analysis International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(1), 1-11
  2. Namin, A., Ratchford, B. T., Saint Clair, J. K., Bui, M. M., & Hamilton, M. L. Dine-in or take-out: Modeling millennials’ cooking motivation and choice Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 53, 101981
  3. Moyer, S. M., Sharts-Hopko, N., & Oliver, T. Leisure-time Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Young Adult Millennials Western journal of nursing research, 42(10), 795-804
  4. Wallace, T. C., Murray, R., & Zelman, K. M. The Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Chickpeas and Hummus MDPI Nutrients, 8(12), 766
  5. Baxevanis, G. K., Sakketou, E. K. I., Tentolouris, N. K., Karathanos, V. T., Fragkiadakis, G. A., & Kanellos, P. T Tahini consumption improves metabolic and antioxidant status biomarkers in the postprandial state in healthy males Springer Link European Food Research and Technology, 247(11), 2721-2728
  6. McNeill, S., & Van Elswyk, M. E. Red meat in global nutrition Meat science, 92(3), 166-173
  7. Patterson, A. J., Brown, W. J., Roberts, D. C., & Seldon, M. R. Dietary treatment of iron deficiency in women of childbearing age The American journal of clinical nutrition, 74(5), 650-656

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