Kitchen Table Passport helps you explore the world (without leaving your kitchen!) by sending information, recipes, spices, music, and mementos from a new country every month.
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: Kitchen Table Passport
The Cost: $25 per month (Discounts are available for longer subscriptions and single boxes can be purchased for $29.95. There is also a “taste only” subscription for $9.95 per month.)
COUPON: Save $10 off the Full Subscription with code TENBUCKSFROMMSA
The Products: Everything you need to “see, hear, taste, touch, and smell a different country” every month.
Ships to: US
Check out all of our Kitchen Table Passport reviews the Food Subscription Box Directory to discover other boxes that feature international spices!
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My box contained a card introducing me to this month’s featured country- Russia!
The inside of the card revealed that the meal selected for this box is Solyanka, one of the most popular dishes in Russian cuisine.
There were A LOT of supplemental materials inside this box.
Each card in the supplemental bundle spotlights a different aspect of Russia, from food to geography to indigenous animals to famous sites. (There were 10 cards in total!)
The cards are beautifully printed and provide a lot of fun info!
There was also a card describing this month’s chosen mementos.
I received a Matryoshka doll and a Khokhloma spoon.
The nesting dolls are handmade in Semyonov in Western Russia, an area famous for its traditional crafts.
Here’s a shot of the un-nested dolls.
The Khokhloma spoon was also made in Semyonov. “Khokhloma is the name of the Russian woodcraft painting style and national ornament.” This style of painting often incorporates metallic gold paints and floral patterns.
Kitchen Table Passport included a recipe card for this month’s dish, Solyanka.
This recipe had an epic ingredient list that included beef chuck, kielbasa sausage, ham, salami, and bacon. That’s a TON of meat! Since the recipe card stated that this recipe is not carved in stone and that the dish is often adapted by different Russian families, I decided to adapt it, too. I added mushrooms to the mix and omitted most of the meats.
The spices for this dish were packaged in a small pouch.
The blend contained Tellicherry peppercorns, allspice berries, and bay leaves.
When I scanned the QR code on the front of the packet, I was taken to a digital version of the recipe and a link to a playlist to play on Kitchen Table Passport night!
Even with my omission of most of the meats, this recipe still utilized a ton of ingredients! In Russian, “solyanka” means salty, which is a pretty accurate way to describe this dish. In addition to the salty, cured meats, this tomato-based stew is made with capers, olives, and pickles. I topped it with sour cream, parsley, and scallions and served it with some grilled bread on the side.
This dish was… interesting. There was certainly a TON of flavor, but I didn’t love it. My husband seemed to enjoy it more than I did, but he hasn’t gone back for any of the leftovers (which is pretty telling).
The Verdict: I really like the idea of Kitchen Table Passport, and I think it’s a lot of fun discovering a new country every month! The supplemental materials are thorough and well-designed, and I think the mementos are a thoughtful touch. I didn’t love this month’s meal, but it definitely taught me a bit about Russian cuisine. While I haven’t put a valuation on the spice mix or the mementos, I think it’s certain that they do not reach the $25 cost of the box. This subscription is clearly all about curation, and I have to say that Kitchen Table Passport’s curation is spot on. The emphasis of this subscription is definitely on creating a memorable learning experience, and I think this subscription would be an incredible way to get kids engaged in geography and world cultures. I know I would have loved exploring a box like this with my family when I was younger!
Have you tried Kitchen Table Passport?
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