johnsmachines

I started cooking regularly after I retired almost 11 years ago.

My wife, who is still working, said to me at the time “well, since you are no longer working” (not entirely true), “you needn’t think that I am cooking for you”. Or words to that effect.

“OK” I replied. “I have always wanted to learn how to cook”. So I started.

I quickly discovered an aspect that I did not enjoy, was the shopping, and especially deciding what to shop for.

On mentioning this to the extended family, a son in law suggested Hello Fresh, which he had used on and off for years. So I subscribed, and I have been using Hello Fresh (HF) or Marley Spoon (MS) ever since then, for 4 evening meals per week. The other three are leftovers often on toast, scratch meals, eating out, or home delivery of pizza etc.

Every week a cardboard box is delivered to our home. It contains 4 recipes, 4 paper bags containing ingredients and one sealed package with an ice block(s) and temperature sensitive ingredients.

This post is to compare and comment on the two providers mentioned above. These are my assessments/opinions, with a score out of 10 for each aspect.

1. Quality of ingredients: HF 7/10. MS 8/10. MS has fewer soft vegetables, and unusable ingredients almost never. I have the impression that HF uses slightly older veges sometimes. Overall, both were pretty good or very good. When we ate meat, SWMBO was definite that the MS meat cuts were better than HF. I have only cooked vegetarian meals for approx 8 years, so the meat assessment is out of date.
2. Missing ingredients: HF 8/10. MS 9/10. Both occasionally missed a listed ingredient. MS sometimes listed an ingredient as unobtainable and included a substitute. I don’t recall HF ever doing that. The worst was when MS did not include the packet of curry in an Indian curry dish. Fortunately we had some in our pantry, 20 years old!, and I had no idea how much to use. But the meal was actually great even with our aged curry.
3. Quantity of ingredients. For 2 adults, both slightly above ideal weight, but one recovering from cancer treatment and has reduced appetite. So, probably 1.75 adult serves required per meal. But extra score given for enough leftovers for a lunch the next day. HF 11/10. MS 10/10
4. Clarity of the recipes. HF 9/10, MS 8/10. Both were pretty good, but I did often have to ask SWMBO for explanation of cooking jargon. “What is seasoning?” “How many liters is a large saucepan”, “how much is a pinch or a dash” “how much salt do you put in the water for potatoes” etc etc. I have gradually learnt. Then there are the mistakes. An ingredient in the list, but never mentioned in the actual instructions for example. Or lack of clarity in the instructions. HF 10/10. MS 7/10. I formed the impression that MS did not test their instructions on newbie cooks like me.
5. Packaging. ie. sealing of the carton, sealing of the bags, leakages. Both pretty good. Both occasionally show evidence of carelessness in sealing bags or box. HF = MS = 9/10
6. Enjoyment of the actual meals. Both actually shone here. SWMBO and I actually really enjoy the meals. They taste great! Both 10/10. In truth, I now prefer my own cooking to eating at a restaurant. SWMBO still likes a restaurant meal occasionally.
7. Variety of recipes. HF 9/10. MS 9/10. Our vegetarian diet does limit the providers’ options somewhat.
8. Cost. HF $98/8 meals/4 recipes/week. MS $110/8 meals/4 recipes/week. Maybe HF spends less on the ingredients, which would account for the difference in quality. SWMBO says that we now spend less on food than when we did all of our own food shopping.
9. Deliveries. This is my most frequent irritation. I require the delivery to my front door, which involves opening an unlocked front gate, walking about 20 meters, opening a metal grille, and placing the carton on the front doormat where it is in the shade, and out of any rain. The delivery instructions are clearly spelled out. I often leave a note on the doormat “Please leave box here”. And leave a light on for very early morning deliveries. However, about 25-30% of the time the cartons are left on the driveway in view of the passing pedestrians and in the rain or sun, or even occasionally on the busy public footpath outside the gates. Where the carton has been stolen on occasion. Or possibly never delivered despite the confirmatory photograph. Complaints are more difficult to register than they used to be. And any improvement is invariably temporary. I now have a personal policy that 3 complaints leads to a cancellation and provider change. MS 6/10, HF 8/10.
10. Waste. Very little. A few small empty plastic sachets, recipe page, ice block plastic bag, almost no food waste. The carton is reused as long as it is not rain damaged. The paper bag is used to contain peelings and plastic sachets, and goes to landfill. Tins are washed and recycled. HF=MS=8/10

So. Overall HF and MS has been a positive experience, and we are continuing with it. I enjoy the cooking and we both enjoy the meals. The cost is reasonable. We are introduced to new foods and tastes. I have learned a new skill. I just wish that they would improve the deliveries.

Hello Fresh or Marley Spoon? Honestly, they are both good. Our deliveries have been more problematic with MS than HF, so we have had a recent change back to HF. We will see for how long. I have gradually become more experienced with food and grocery shopping, and have become more efficient, and watch prices. I have tried most local supermarkets and have formed a definite preference for ALDI for most items. They are the least expensive, and the quickest to walk the aisles due to smaller size buildings. Their range of items is smaller which I rarely find is an issue, but I do prefer bread and free range eggs and fruit from our nearby “market” shop. Cannot comment about meat and fish because I never buy or cook them. Mainly shop for olive oil, butter, cereal, cheese, biscuits. Yes we are vegetarian, but not vegan. Got to draw the line somewhere.

And my cooking skills and knowledge have definitely improved. I am now confident to alter ingredients, change quantities and temperatures, and use alternative cooking methods.