Robb Vices Subscription Box Review – February 2016
Robb Vices is “a membership program centered on a monthly delivery of storied treasures.”
Each month, they send a collection of curated products and experiences.
Subscribers should expect boxes to include “vices” like “exceptional wines and spirits to enjoy, foods to taste, tools, toys, accessories, and gadgets.”
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Robb Vices
The Cost: $74.95 + shipping (Shipping costs may vary. For reference, shipping to DC is $7.95.)
The Products: Each box contains a curated selection of products and experiences to help subscribers experience a taste of the good life!
Ships to: US
Check out the Artisan Subscription Box Directory and make sure to add Robb Vices to your subscription list or wishlist!
With each shipment, Robb Vices sends out a glossy booklet that outlines the products and curation story of each box.
The booklet is very well designed, and it includes beautiful photographs and lots of information about the included products.
This month’s box is curated by Daniel Boulud (!!!), and it includes a number of specialty food items. Chef Boulud has also included a couple of exclusive recipes for Robb Vices subscribers.
French Trout Roe (100 g.)- $24.99
I’ve tried caviar once or twice before, but I’m by no means an expert. Since I don’t really know what I like, I’m always hesitant to spend money on a variety I’m unfamiliar with. I’m so excited that I get to expand my caviar horizons with this box!
Paddlefish Roe (30g.)- $24.50
It’s important to point out how beautifully this box was packed.
The packaging is gorgeous, but it’s clear it was designed with function in mind. Caviar is extremely delicate and heat-sensitive, and I was confident that the laser-cut foam and included cold packs kept it safe while in transit.
Mother-of-Pearl Caviar Spoons– $29.98
Caviar is often served with mother-of-pearl or bone spoons because metallic utensils can affect its delicate flavor. I think it’s a lovely touch that this box included two mother-of-pearl spoons. They’re gorgeous (and super cute)!
Russian Cocktail Blini (135 g.)- $7.99
Caviar is often served atop warm blini, so Robb Vices also sent a package of cocktail-sized, Russian-style blini.
My husband and I sampled the caviar with warm blini and creme fraiche. The different types of roe had surprisingly different flavors. We enjoyed them both, but I think we preferred the paddlefish. The flavor was salty, rich, delicate, and slightly less fishy than the trout.
Daniel Boulud Highland Smoked Salmon (4 oz.)- $15.99
Daniel Boulud recently released an entire line of smoked salmon, and he’s included two different kinds in this box. For the Highland flavor, Scottish smoked salmon is cured with whisky and cardamom.
Daniel Boulud Artisanal Cut Salmon (4 oz.)- $13.99
The second pack is a more traditional smoked salmon, made using only premium cuts of fresh Atlantic salmon.
Both packs were delicious, but I especially loved the unique flavors in the Highland salmon.
Nuestro Carisma Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil (750 ml.)- $18
Nuestro Carisma Arbequina Olive Oil is best utilized as a finishing oil. The flavor is sweet and nutty, and “it is ideal for the preparation of desserts and fruit salad.”
Here’s a closeup of the bottle.
This box also included a couple of gift vouchers that can be used at Daniel Boulud’s restaurants.
One can be redeemed at DBGB Kitchen and Bar in NYC for a complementary bottle of sparkling, white, or red wine.
The other card entitles the bearer and guests to a glass of sparkling wine at any of Boulud’s other US restaurants.
At Daniel Boulud’s DBGB in DC, the cheapest glass of sparkling wine is $12. Considering that this card does not specify a limit to the number of guests, I think this is a very generous voucher. Granted, not all subscribers will live close enough to one of Boulud’s restaurants to redeem this voucher, so I think I need to view it as a bonus item. Still, it’s an extremely impressive bonus!
Verdict: I am incredibly impressed with my first Robb Vices box. The packaging is gorgeous, the box was packed with extreme care, and the included items are delicious and high-end. Sampling all of these fabulous food items truly made me feel like I was queen for a day! In terms of value, the combined retail cost of the items in the box (without the vouchers) is nearly $136. That’s fantastic value- especially considering the complementary bonus vouchers could easily be worth an additional $50+!
Have you tried Robb Vices? What do you think of the culinary treasures they sent subscribers this month?
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Written by Lindsey Morse
I’m so glad you will be review this box monthly now. I will stalk this for a couple more months before deciding but right now I am so tempted!
I don’t like caviar, but I love the curation and the concept. The value seems great too. Maybe I’ll give the March box a try. It’s so tempting!
WOW!! Amazing! Is there a coupon anywhere? I am thinking of the yearly sub, since it has such a big monthly saving.
Putting aside the extra money and cancelling my Hampton’s Lane sub to gift this to my hubby this Christmas. This looks amazing. Couldn’t find all the previous months offerings, but what I found was spectacular.
Christmas list
Hubby (Check!)
This box looks like an amazing treat. The items in their past boxes look great too. However I wouldn’t be able to bite the bullet each month unless I knew a good spoiler for it. Since I don’t enjoy fish or fish products, I wouldn’t have enjoyed this month. But it looks amazing! This box seems like something Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle would enjoy. 😀
Exactly what I was thinking. I would not have enjoyed this box, but it looks like a great box overall. I try to occasionally be like Donna & Tom: “Treat Yo Self!”
Oh. My. GOD! I literally squealed out loud when I saw it was curated by Daniel Boulud!!! I am SO JEALOUS, Lindsey! Lucky you that you got to try this amazing box!!!!
Ha! I squealed, too, Gabbi! Glad I’m not the only Boulud super fan! 🙂
This looks like a beautiful package. Paddlefish are an amazing fish, they’ve been on earth for 300 Million years, and have been built pretty much the same for 75 million. (Google them, they look incredible.) Hopefully the Paddlefish roe is farmed. Those farms in the US are generally pretty sustainable (freshwater and well-contained unlike ocean farmed fish). In the wild there are (sort of) two species still, but one is believed extinct (last seen in 2003), due to fishing for roe. I’m not familiar with Robe Vice, but he doesn’t include sourcing information on his website for the seafood he sells.
Looks amazing! Although I must admit that if I had the $75 I’ll just go to one of the fancy markets and curate a “box” myself…
I was really impressed by this box. I love fish and would love to try different types of caviar. the spoons were amazing. The only problem is the price. It is just too costly for my budget. I will live vicariously through your reviews.
Hehehe does anyone else notice the misspelling on the gift card? “Recieve??” Still this box looks amazing, a great gift idea for someone who deserves something high class and luxurious 🙂
This box looks amazing! Do you know if you can opt out of a certain month? I’m vegetarian and wouldn’t be able to use this box, for example.
I don’t care for fish or caviar, but this box is stunning. I’ll be really interested to see what else they come up with in future boxes.
I’m not an expert in the kitchen. Who puts olive oil in fruit salad?