Giving customers access to making restaurant-grade meals without leaving the house—that was the inspiration behind Chicago-based Home Chef, whose team delivers boxes of fresh, local ingredients and the recipes that go along with them to 60% of the United States. Home Chef chefs devise nine new recipes each week and source the needed ingredients from quality suppliers in nearby delivery areas—jumping, as Chicagoist enthuses, "head-first onto the locally sourced bandwagon."

Though the recipes are always changing, they're always inspired by flavors from around the globe. The menu balances proteins such as steak, chicken, and fish with seasonal vegetables and grains, and includes gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options too. Each recipe is laid out on a visual card that details every step, from the measuring and mixing of the first ingredients to the building of the oven that the food goes inside. Meal packages can feature any combination of that week's offerings and customers also choose their dietary preferences and desired delivery day.