Chef Ludo Lefebvre Quarterly Subscription Box Review #LLQ01

I’ve said it before, but I really think you need to be a big fan of a curator to subscribe to a box on Quarterly and have it be a worthwhile experience. I’m subscribed to Nina Garcia’s box, the My Subscription Addiction box and the GQ box for my husband. I have read all of Nina’s books and even though I know a lot of people hate on the Spanglish items that she includes in her boxes, they really do fit her background and her values as a person. I visit Liz’s blog daily and I have similarly aligned tastes in sub boxes as she does. The GQ box is for my husband since he wears a suit and tie everyday to work. I have yet to be disappointed by a box curated by people who’s professional work I enjoy.

Quarterly is almost like a fan club subscription – so with that in mind, I don’t know who Chef Ludo is so not knowing who he is, I would have been thoroughly disappointed to receive this box. I feel like I could go get all of these things from Target right now for $20 or less. Also, Labor Day is over which typically means the end of BBQ season for me.

I feel like a lot of these Quarterly boxes are overrated!, I can only think of 4 boxes out of the whole bunch that are worth keeping.

I was so excited and signed up before I even knew it was a grilling box. Felt this was more a Fisher Paykel box (Chef Ludo now a spokesperson). The potholder is embroidered with Fisher Paykel so did not feel special for box. The spatula is part of 5 piece set ($134.00 with apron). Grill book a promo piece and the recipe not even for a grill. I sent back to Quarterly for refund. So disappointed.

I was sooooo looking forward to this box since I love to cook. I live in a apartment so most of the . content of this box is useless for me. So glad I skipped this one.

I was tempted to subscribe even though I’ve never had a good Quarterly experience (I’ve tried six different boxes!). Thank goodness I listed to that little voice inside that reminded me why I quit all Quarterly boxes! You nailed it when you said it didn’t excite you. None of those items are unique or really have anything to do with Lefebvre’s cooking style. He’s a French chef, and is NOT known for barbecue! I’ve gotten a zillion barbecues spices, tongs, etc. from subscription boxes, and would have been furious if I’d gotten this box, expecting something more, well, Ludo.

Those retail values seem REALLY inflated! In the non-subscription box, buy-at-Costco world, that’s $25 worth of stuff. The main reason I gave up on Quarterly boxes completely is the value never came close to matching what I paid. For instance, there was a Mark Freuenfelder box that had a few pieces of Japanese candy that I had gotten many times already from a couple boxes like Skoshbox (and can get in town easily), and one wasabi gum to be used as a prank. I paid $25 and received about a $10 value.

I did complain about that box, and Quarterly apologized by giving me a $50, which I used to subscribe to the Toys & Technology box. That one had a good value (especially since I paid nothing!) for the $39 price, but like the other boxes I received–and like Ludo’s box–it didn’t actually adhere to the theme it was supposed to have, and I ended up swapping two items, kept one (a sticky bomb ball that I gave to the kids), and have one I can’t even give away. Except for the ball, there were no toys, and three items related to old-school video games, and the thing no one wants is some random “art” piece. None of that matched their description of the box, just like Ludo is sort of the opposite of BBQ!