Miss Fresh is a food delivery service that started in Quebec. They’ve recently expanded into the Toronto area and they asked me to give them a try.
Initially, I didn’t know what to expect because I typically don’t use recipes for cooking. I know enough of the basics to balance out flavours– so I wing it. And whenever I want to be adventurous, I use websites like epicurious.com to find the ideal recipe. However, Miss Fresh combines all these elements together to make cooking as easy and as healthy as possible. So, I was intrigued.
When a large brown parcel arrived at my doorstep, I was a tad overwhelmed at the size, but soon realized that most of the bulk comes from packaging i.e. ice packs and liners to ensure that food remains fresh. Proteins came pre-portioned as well as herbs and vegetables (all locally sourced). Liquids, sauces, and seasonings came in small pouches or bottles. Also included was an apron, a measuring chart you could write on and recipes– which included amounts for 2, 4 and 6 people. Aside from the cilantro looking a little worse for wear, every other ingredient looked fresh and vibrant. And the aspect I appreciated most was how the proteins were packaged. Because they’re vacuum sealed, they freeze as quickly as they defrost in the fridge– I found this to be super handy for those unpredictable nights at home and suddenly requiring a meal.
Peeking at their website ( www.missfresh.com, I noticed that they offer gourmet and vegetarian dishes for each week, so you get a sense of what you’ll be receiving.
Also, the cost per week for Gourmet ( 5 meals per week and 2 portions per meal) works out to $104.90 per week. They can offer as much as 6 portions per meal if you have i.e. a large family ($8.99 per portion or total per week: $269.70). Miss Fresh offers free shipping and you can skip a weekly meal at any time or cancel your subscription without penalties. This flexibility is ideal for those who have variable schedules or travel for work.
I tried three recipes over the weekend: the glazed salmon on soba noodles, the lamb meatballs with Greek salad, and chicken wraps with Mexican spices. I liked how they integrated a variety of colourful ingredients as well as cuisine types. The favourite amongst the recipes was definitely the lamb meatballs with pine nuts and feta cheese in the mixture. Miss Fresh is an ideal way to be introduced to cuisines you wouldn’t normally prepare at home. As well, all dishes were made under 30 minutes.
However, the only dish dud was the chicken- the flavour was lacking. Since this was my first time trying the recipe, I followed the directions and cooked the strips using a frying pan. But I suspected they’d likely end up dry since it was the breast cut. And that’s what ended up happening. Aside from that, most dishes were exciting for their use of different proteins and starches; they were flavourful and integrated as many fresh components as possible (i.e. grated ginger over ground ginger). The amounts are also perfectly portioned so there were no leftovers or waste.
For Torontonians (i.e. couple and families) who desire to eat healthy and save some money by not dining out, Miss Fresh does a good job at cultivating a healthy range of ingredients and offering easy-to-follow recipes. I’m even thinking that roommates studying at college or university would benefit from this service. They’re usually too time-pressed to shop for food, so rather than resort to take-out, Miss Fresh would be an affordable option. Also, for those who may not have a lot of space (i.e. condo fridge) or time on their hands, it’s incredibly simple to make these dishes. Aside from prep, they only require one or two steps (one, to cook the protein & vegetables and the other to cook the starch (i.e. noodles, rice).
For the latest weekly menu and more information visit www.missfresh.com.
