Hamptons Lane ’50 Shades of Chicken Box’ unboxing review

Hamptons Lane creates themed food boxes and sells them individually or as a monthly subscription service. In each box you’ll find both ingredients and cooking implements for a unique experience. They have many themes to choose from. I decided to try out their "50 Shades of Chicken Box" which revolves around the parody cookbook based on the infamous series of erotica novels.

Since I ordered a single box instead of the subscription service, my order was shipped in the plain white box seen above. I had to check the label to know who it was from. They clearly mark their subscription boxes with a blue and white logo. The box isn’t the important part though, so as long as everything was packaged well (it was) and arrived without breakage (it did), I’m perfectly fine with a plain package.

Inside was the fun stuff. The first items I pulled from the box were a jar of Pink Peppercorn Lemon Thyme All-Purpose Rub by Spiceologist, a ball of trussing rope by Hamptons Lane, a glass vial of Lemon Zest Flake Salt by Jacobsen Salt Co. and an insert telling more about the theme and included items. On the back were a couple of recipes directly from the cookbook for easy access. The items’ value ring in at $8, $4 and $8 respectively.

Below the lighter items were the box’s main attractions. These included a bottle of Lusty Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil by Calivirgin at Coldani Olive Ranch, a Non-Stick Vertical Roaster by Norpro and the Fifty Shades of Chicken cookbook by FL Fowler. The list prices on these items are $9 for the olive oil, $9.50 for the roaster and $19.99 for the recipes.

I’ve tried out everything in the box except the rub. I chose to make the recipe on the back of the insert (and from the book) called "Erect Chicken with Spicy Tomato Potatoes." I rubbed a whole chicken with the lemon olive oil, lemon salt and pepper and followed the recipe for the potatoes that used both the salt and olive oil again. I tied the chicken up, placed it on the roaster and set it in a 9x13 baking pan surrounded by potatoes and carrots. In the oven it went and I followed the instructions until it was done.

The salt and oil gave the chicken and potatoes a wonderful flavor. The rope held up nicely and the roaster stayed upright like it was supposed to. I liked the potatoes enough that I served them to company when I made a pot roast in the crock pot over the weekend. Everyone loved them. I do, however, think they were better in the oven where they were able to crisp up a bit.

I believe the chicken box is the only box Hamptons Lane offers that includes a cookbook which, by the way, is hilarious. They do email you a list of recipes with every box when they ship though. They have a wide variety of boxes to choose from and you’ll always get cooking implements to use with the recipes, as well as ingredients. Individual boxes for non-members are $59. You’ll find you break about even for the overall price of the items. The members price is only $47 and the shipping is free.

To become a member, you have to sign up for their monthly subscription service. You can do that here. You can also link from there to the individual boxes. The subscription sends you a new food box every month. They give you five days to decide if you want it. If you do, great. It will be shipped to you later that month. If you don’t, you can choose another box from their list, skip that month or send it to a friend. That’s a lot more options than most services offer.

Overall, I find Hamptons Lane to be the most unique food subscription service available. You always know ahead of time what you’ll be receiving and they send you pans, pastry cutters, roasters, etc. You can be sure that you have everything you need to make the recipes they send you. I highly recommend their service.