Robb Vices is “a membership program centered on a monthly delivery of storied treasures.” Each month, they send a collection of curated products and/or experiences.
Subscribers should expect boxes to include “vices” like “exceptional wines and spirits to enjoy, foods to taste, tools, toys, accessories, and gadgets.”
FYI - Please read the note from Liz at the bottom of this review.
This is my first Robb Vices box, and immediately, I was shocked by how BIG this box is! It's about the size of a briefcase and roughly the shape, too, with its plastic handle. I felt like I was cracking into a treasure chest or something.
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.)
About Robb Vices
The Subscription Box: Robb Vices
The Cost: $89.95 + shipping (For reference, shipping to PA is $7.95.) Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Each box contains a curated selection of products and experiences and provides subscribers with a taste of the good life!
Ships to: Robb Vices ships to all states except ND, UT.
Robb Vices February 2018 Review
Robb Vices is celebrating Valentine's Day with a decadent fondue-themed box! Let's check it out:
As is the case with every Robb Vices shipment, this one was topped with a mini magazine.
Inside, there are articles about the products inside, information about the brands and purveyors, and recipes that incorporate the products I received.
How mouthwatering are those photos?!
Exclusive Emile Henry Fondue Set with Four Forks, 1 qt. - Value Listed $125.00*
*Please see the note from Liz at the bottom of this review regarding this item.
I've never owned a fondue set before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I've seen little electric kits at cooking stores and mini kits that work with tea lights or sterno burners. This 7" ceramic fondue pot doesn't come with a sterno kit, meaning you'll have to prep your fondue on the stove (or in the microwave or the oven) rather than in the center of your table. That also means your fondue may cool down faster than you'd like (not that it gets cold right away, but without its own heating element, it does cool off after about 20 minutes). All of that said, it's an awesome, heavy-duty pot that's able to be used in the oven, on the stove, in the microwave, or even on your grill. My electric stove can be a little finicky at times, but this pot seemed to evenly heat my cream-based chocolate fondue evenly (nothing burned, which means no wasted chocolate). I'll show the fondue-making process a little later on! Emile Henry has apparently been in the cookware business for hundreds of years, which makes me feel like this French-made fondue pot has a little more history and authentic flair than something I might pick up at the mall.
Since I'm new to fondue, I don't mind the idea of warming things up on the stove and moving the pot to a trivet on the table when it's ready (besides, it's only meant for four people, so chances are, the fondue will be used up before it cools down too much). But I can also empathize with more die-hard fondue fans who expect an at-the-table experience for their money.
Fixx Chocolate Garis's Chili Pepper Chocolate, 8 oz. - Listed Value $16.00
Fixx Chocolate Gavin's Hickory Smoked Chocolate, 8 oz. - Listed Value $16.00
Cheese fondue is delicious, but there's nothing quite like a pot of molten chocolate to get my appetite going. These two bags contain a total of 16 oz. of chopped up chocolate chunks perfect for melting. I couldn't find these items on the Fixx Chocolate site shop, so I listed the values that were included in the booklet. I love these unexpected flavors! The chili style offers the slightest, heartwarming chili flavor that burns at the end of each bite, and the hickory style reminded me of the kind of sweet-savory flavor you'd expect from bacon (if a bit subtler).
D.L. & Co. Candle in Fireside Embers, 7.4 oz. - Listed Value $30.00 (Buy an 8.5 oz. version for $40.00 here)
As yet another interpretation of this month's melty theme, Robb Vices included a candle from D.L. & Co. Looking around at the candle brand's website, this scent typically appears in a slightly bigger red votive. Personally, I'm thrilled by the black votive! It matches my decor a lot better than a red one would have. I love how warm and almost musky this candle smells—it still has that woody-cabin vibe, but there's a depth to it that I didn't expect. It kind of captures the feeling as well as the aroma of being bundled up in a blanket in front of a log cabin fire.
La Birra Di Meni Runcis - Listed Value $16.99
This beer would make a fantastic beer cheese fondue, but it also made for a pretty refreshing, indulgent beverage! This Italian amber ale is light and refreshing with a rich, hoppy, beer flavor. The bubbles felt smaller than usual, making it really easy to sip on. The booklet says it's the brewery's most "elegant" beer and that it walks the line between beer and wine. I don't know if I'd go that far—it's still very much a beer to me—but this artisanal, Italian-style creation does feel more refined than most of the craft beers I've had here in the states.
One thing to note—there was a bit of opaque, thicker foam on the cap and top of the bottle, which is presumably a part of the fermentation process (kind of like how kombucha has a "mother" drifting around in it). The back of the label says the beer is "non pastorizzata" (a.k.a. non-pasteurized), meaning there might be happier little bacteria floating around it post fermentation than you're used to.
Okay! Want to see how my first attempt at fondue went down?
Look out, waistline—making fondue is WAY too easy! I essentially boil heavy cream in my new red pot, then kill the heat and add the chocolate once the cream starts to bubble. I went with the chili chocolate for this round.
If you're feeling particularly indulgent, you can also add a touch of brandy to the mixture. Using a rubber spatula, you then stir and stir until the hot cream has melted and mixed with all of the chocolate. The liquid chocolate is a bit looser than I expected (more like a gravy consistency than a nacho cheese one, for lack of a better example, hehe), but it's perfect for dipping. (It gets a little thicker as it sits, too.)
You can dip any ol' thing you want into this chocolate fondue. Strawberries, cookies, pretzels... For this first go, I got some grocery store pound cake and cut it into bite-size squares. Pop one on the end of your fork, give it a twist through the molten chocolate and take a bite (or transfer it to a plate, if you're being sophisticated about it...). I can't tell you how rich, decadent, and addictively spicy this chocolate fondue tasted!
Verdict: Keep in mind that I'm just a fondue newbie, but I found this box to be SO much fun. The chocolate was A+, as was the beer, and although I would've liked a burner stand to complete this small, 4-person fondue set, I was blissful about how easy and burn-free the Emile Henry pot made my first fondue-making process. My electric stove isn't known for its precision—instead, it's known to burn things on the bottom of pans. But this ceramic pot made me look like a pro on the first try. Oh, and did I mention that I LOVE the way that candle smells? It smells almost as divine as my kitchen did while this chocolate was cooking.
NOTE FROM LIZ:
I asked Anna to review the items in the box only, and I would address the issues with the fondue pot. The UPC on the bottom of the pot is associated with both Emile Henry 1-Quart Sauce Pot (Approx $40 Value), and Fondue Pot with Pouring Rim ($125 Value Listed). I don't have both items in front of me, so I can't say for certain, but visually the only difference seems to be the forks. Robb Vices has responded that they are different products because they are "made of a different combination of clays and minerals."
Several forum members who are Robb Vices subscribers have reached out to both Robb Vices and Emile Henry with questions about this, and I recommend reading about what they've shared if you are considering subscribing.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Sign up by the 1st of the month to receive that month's box.
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What do you think of the February box from Robb Vices?
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