If you want to hear that there are lots of sparkling wines just as good as Champagne but cheaper, you need to ask someone else. Given the choice, I always recommend true Champagne, especially when ...
When people think of Italian pasta sauces, one of the most popular that comes to mind is Bolognese, a hearty meat sauce with roots in Bologna. However, bolognese (or ragù alla bolognese) is often ...
Over the past month, my one-year-old daughter Willa has become increasing obsessed with pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and fall leaves. Before the autumn season, anything that resembled an apple ...
Students always ask me: What made you want to go into the culinary industry? My simple answer is: Nothing makes me happier than bringing people together over food. Thanksgiving is a day where ...
Many moons ago, I created a class at The Chopping Block called Modernist Boot Camp. This class was… long. And complicated to put on. And expensive. And of limited appeal. For these reasons, the class ...
Still have Halloween Candy? Make these Cookie Bars
Halloween is over and chances are, you might have some (in my case, a ton) leftover candy to deal with! My days of hosting a big Halloween party are over, but my daughter, Scarlett, is now 20 months ...
We have all been there - you buy an ingredient for a recipe and then you don’t know what to do with the rest of it! Or, you buy too much of something and then have to figure out how to use it all ...
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Crostata for Your Holiday Table
The holidays are quickly approaching whether we like it or not, so now is the time to start thinking about recipes for the holiday table and/or dinner parties with friends.
We’re here. Fall has arrived, and with it, the promise of a Chicago winter to come. Though the weather this fall has been deceivingly gorgeous, there’s cold, dark days ahead, and we all know it. I ...
I’ve never met a biscuit that I don’t like. Now that we are in full pumpkin season, I am finding ways to add them to my recipes. These pumpkin biscuits are slightly sweet, so flaky and delicious.
The Chopping Block has been teaching Culinary Boot Camp for many years, over 16 years to be exact. We’ve obviously tweaked the program during that time, but it’s essentially the same as when we ...
Fall is, hands down, my favorite season. The foliage, the beanies and most importantly, the comforting food. Every year, my friends and I host a potluck meetup with a bountiful table of food that ...
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit self-conscious when it comes to baking and pastry. I also have a very ornery dog with a huge appetite. He is too cute (and tall) for his own good!
Different types of seaweed have always fascinated me. With their amazing nutrient quality, I consider them a “super food.” At my university, I set up a tasting table to let others experience and ...
As we embrace fall flavors and start delving into holiday cooking and baking, it is the perfect time to get kids in the kitchen. Picture books provide a great starting point for ambivalent young ...
I always look forward to the change of season to Autumn. The crisp cool air, rustling leaves in the wind and colorful foliage make me nostalgic. During this time, we move from summer grilling to the ...
It's finally my favorite time of year: soup season! I am a big fan of one pot wonders packed full of flavor and satiety. I like to make big batches of soups or stews because they are easy to reheat, ...
I recently visited my hometown in Michigan as I often do, and on my way back I was passing through New Buffalo and passed a sign labeled Farmette. This immediately caught my interest as it just ...
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Healthy, Family-Friendly Snack Dinner
Let’s face it: some nights, as parents, we are just tired. And I’ll admit that I’ve been feeling this a lot lately. Maybe you had a long day at work, chased after kids, or tackled an endless list of ...
At The Chopping Block, our sushi classes offer a fun and interactive way to dive into the world of sushi making, whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills. Chef Alex recently took a ...
This dish utilizes by far one of the oldest known cooking methods from across the world, not to mention one of the most labor-intensive ones as well. That's on account of having to dig a large hole ...
When the air is crisp, and the leaves have exploded in beautiful colors, what better way to celebrate the season than with a drink that tastes just like apple pie? Making big batches of this apple ...
The Unifying Power of Food: How Sharing a Meal Brings Us Together
There’s a story I often tell when people ask me why I became a chef. It wasn’t just about my love for food, though that certainly played a part. It was about the way food made me feel connected to ...
There are a few reasons why fall is the best time of year. The oppressive summer heat is abating, mosquitos are dropping dead, new and wonderful fruit is coming into season, and of course the most ...
Planning A Private Cooking Event for Your Next Corporate or Social Outing
Let’s face it, we’ve all received an invite to a corporate outing and opened it with dread. Team building is such a buzz word in the corporate world. People plan team building events in the hopes of ...
It's that wonderful time of year again - the weather is changing, and apple season is in full swing. That means Apple Fest is right around the corner! This is one of my favorite neighborhood events ...
Garam masala is a magical spice blend because it can be used in sweet and savory recipes. The name literally translates to “warming spices” because it contains a blend of spices that, when combined, ...
I know I’m not the only one who comes back from a weekend of apple picking in Wisconsin cursing myself for getting overeager in the orchard and wondering what to do with these pounds and pounds of ...
This golden mushroom beef stew is the best beef stew I’ve made to date. The secret ingredient? Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup. I must have been living under a rock, because in my 56 years on this ...
Apples are the true favorite fruit of fall, and with good reason. If you live in the Midwest, there's ample access to apple picking, and you can find a wide variety of fresh, crisp flavors at local ...
I recently visited my soon-to-be in-laws and was met with some trouble cooking them dinner. The possibilities were endless but somewhat limited because their nieces and nephews are so, so picky! The ...
I have always been obsessed with coffee, just like most of us are, not only for the taste but for the caffeine kick. Though recently, I have found myself drifting away from making myself coffee or ...
During the pandemic, people had the opportunity to explore new interests and old interests in new ways. Two innovations included virtual events and learning, which are here to stay. The Chopping ...
If you’ve been keeping up with The Chopping Block’s blog, Facebook page, and Instagram posts, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a lot of apple references! Well, it’s definitely the season with apples ...
Did you know that hamburgers are the most frequently sold menu item in the United States? So, it's no surprise that the second most popular item is French fries. What’s a burger without fries?! I ...
Fall in Love with Apples' Health Benefits and this Recipe
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. We've heard this old-school mantra all our lives. But just how true is that statement about the quintessential fall fruit?
Prior to working as an instructor at The Chopping Block, I worked as a private chef for about a year and a half. I have fond memories of this part of my career, and I often get a lot of questions of ...
As consumers become more health-conscious, the demand for grass-fed beef has risen sharply. In fact, The Chopping Block is excited to offer an upcoming hands-on class in partnership with Driftless ...
Wine & Cheese: Culinary Heaven or Eden? You Decide
You say you adore sea salt caramels and suppose it’s because they’re just so darn delicious! Sort of. In fact, we’re hard wired to crave the nutritional necessities of salt, sugar and fat in modern ...
Feeding My Sourdough Starter Rye Flour: A Flavorful Twist
One of the joys of maintaining a sourdough starter is its versatility. It adapts easily to different flours, making every loaf a new adventure. If you’re just starting out with sourdough, you might ...
The Western term for barbecue typically refers to a low temperature, slow cooking method in a grill or smoker to achieve a tender and juicy texture. In the case of Korean barbecue or Gogigui, ...
Lincoln Square's Apple Fest is right around the corner, which gets me thinking about all things apple. When September rolls around, I am excited to go pick apples. The first thing that comes to mind ...
As a chef who's spent countless hours in restaurant kitchens, when I first heard about The Bear, I was intrigued. A TV show about the inner workings of a Chicago-based restaurant? Okay, that hits a ...
When we decided to relocate to upstate New York part of the agenda was to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Living in Chicago, this was one area of life that was definitely lacking. In order to ...
Is it apple season? Or pumpkin season? Or both? Some people have strong opinions on which fall flavor reigns supreme. I do love a pumpkin spice latte (I’ll admit that I’ve already enjoyed one this ...
Summer is coming to an end, but you wouldn’t know it with this recent heat wave that we’ve been having here in Chicago. The best way to cool off is to make some homemade ice cream. I don’t know about ...
How to Make Crispy Crunchy Fish Tacos Everyone Will Love
I spent a lot of time teaching our kids and teens camps this summer, and my favorite experience is seeing a young cook enjoy something they didn’t think they liked. This was the case when the teens ...
The grill is an elusive cooking tool here in the Midwest. It sits outside or in the garage all winter, accumulating snow and spider webs, until that moment in the spring where you can’t stand it any ...
When I saw that The Chopping Block was offering a Cooking for Life class, I was SO excited! The class is focused on eating to nourish your body and mind, which is exactly what I’ve been doing for ...
From Classroom to Kitchen: A Journey from Teacher to Chef
I spent a majority of my adult life teaching at a Reggio Emilia school in Chicago. “Reggio Emilia” is an approach to teaching that centers around the child as a person with developmental rights, each ...
There are lots of reasons to host friends and family at your home: to bask in the camaraderie of those you love, to celebrate an event or milestone, or just to have fun. I think for a lot of those ...
As a future registered dietitian studying nutrition, I try to make healthy home-cooked meals as much as possible, but that doesn’t always happen. However, there is one aspect of my cooking that gives ...
One of the best parts of planning a trip is researching the local food scene to make sure I hit all of the highlights. I recently returned from a trip to Maui, Hawai'i with my sister, and the food ...
As a teacher, I strive to nurture my students to be lifelong learners. I want them to make connections between learning in the classroom with what they do outside of the classroom and find learning ...
I will never tire of hearing the term 'simple and delicious' in regard to meals prepped and enjoyed at home. I am a firm believer in the notion of eating your first meal of the day within the first ...
Once upon a time in my cooking career, I worked at a seafood restaurant that featured an oyster bar, and it was one of my favorite experiences in my career. That job made me fall in love with all of ...
Food as Medicine: Nourishing Body and Mind in Everyday Life
Imagine that you visit a doctor or registered dietitian for a particular ailment. They hand you a piece of paper with a prescription (like the good old days) and all it says is to eat one cup of ...
Rosè wine sales are down, and that’s fine by me. Don’t get me wrong: I love a rosè and a nosh at the end of a day, a rich Spanish rosado to wash down barbeque, an elegant rosè Champagne to enhance a ...
My love for tomatoes started when I was really little, eating them straight off the vine from the garden. Tomatoes are so versatile, you can do just about anything with them. From eating them raw to ...
If you’ve been following my culinary adventures, you might remember that time I burnt my onions (on purpose, of course!) and made a leek ash, or the deep dive we took into the world of fermentation ...
Bean Club deliveries from Rancho Gordo are piling up! So, it’s time for another bean blog, but this time, we'll focus on a different legume. Occasionally, we get a grain or kernel as a special ...
The Joy of Visiting Farmers Markets: A Chef's Perspective
As a chef, my heart beats faster at the mere thought of visiting a farmers' market. There's something truly magical about wandering through stalls brimming with fresh, vibrant produce, artisan goods, ...
Looking around at the landscape of what types of books are being published when it comes to cooking, you could be forgiven for thinking that your only options are books from celebrities of one flavor ...
Last summer my mom, my daughter, and I took a girls trip to New Buffalo, Michigan, about 75 miles from Chicago. We enjoyed our trip so much that we decided to make it an annual tradition, and I ...
I just love when I have a 'Eureka!' in the kitchen. It’s that moment when you come up with an idea and just need to test it out to see if it works. I am sure I have not reinvented the wheel and ...
I have cherry fever! It started when we took a trip to Traverse City, Michigan last month, and cherries were everywhere. It’s known as “The Cherry Capital of the World” because the climate and soil ...
This is it—what my grandma used to call “the best time of year to eat.” We’re in it now, relishing in mountains of fresh heirloom tomatoes, piles of squash, and more peaches than we know what to do ...
I can’t be the only one whose FYP on social media was flooded with different variations of smash burger tacos, and I’m not mad at it! These went viral for good reason – they're burgers in taco form ...
Do you love a good tart, but hate making the crust? This one’s for you! The folded phyllo sheets create a beautiful “crust” that’s light and flaky. An easy savory-with-a-hint-of-sweetness dish, along ...
Chicago summer has turned out quite nice. Given the warmer weather, I have been inspired to eat more salads lately. My favorite homemade dressing also happens to be clean eating. This cashew ranch ...
Making stuffed pastas can seem like a very daunting task for home cooks, but can be a great and impressive thing to show off to your family and friends. I want to take the fear of making these pastas ...
Behind The Scenes: Prepping for a Restaurant Part II
When you work as a cook in a restaurant, getting food from raw ingredients to finished dishes can, in some ways, be more straightforward than cooking at home, or less, depending on your point of ...
Summer is a time of vibrant colors, fresh flavors, and an abundance of seasonal vegetables. It’s also a great time to get creative in the kitchen by converting some of your fast food favorites into ...
Here’s one of my aha! moments with wine: I’m a young sommelier, tasting a Gewurztraminer for placement on my wine list. With my nose deep in the glass, I sniff - and poof! In an instant, I’m ...
Culinary Boot Camp is a commitment. You spend 40 hours in our kitchens in one week (or five consecutive Saturdays) learning everything you need to transform you from a beginner or intermediate level ...
We're excited to introduce a brand-new series at The Chopping Block called "Tasting Table." Each month, one of our talented chef instructors will host a special culinary demonstration, sharing their ...
Pizza just might be the most recognizable, if not most popular, food in the world! The market for frozen pizza in the U.S. alone is nearly $7 billion dollars with hundreds of brands and styles across ...
Anyone who knows me, knows I love snacks. I also love recreating classic snacks from scratch. There’s something special about making wholesome food at home with simple ingredients, knowing exactly ...
Flan, a luscious and creamy dessert, has been a beloved treat for centuries. Its rich history, unique texture, and delightful flavor make it a standout on any dessert menu. Join me on a journey ...
We find ourselves in the early stages of high summer. This unfortunate circumstance comes with many downsides if you live in upstate New York. Blistering temperatures (hotter every year!), air thick ...
Although I’m mostly retired from recreational softball, that’s how I met my wonderful friends Adam and Celine Kaleta. In addition to being teammates, we also share a love of good food – that’s how ...
Well, here we are again! Nobody asked for it, but here is another egg obsession blog. I am always in search of new and different ways to prepare eggs. I admit my daily go-to styles are scrambled or ...
When my daughter heads back to college in the fall, she will be living in an apartment with three of her friends. Because she won’t have the convenience of walking over to the dining hall for her ...
Summer is here! If you’re like me, you’re trying to put off installing your window units for as long as possible, and you’re searching desperately for any strategies that can support you in your ...
Hooters' Buffalo Shrimp is an iconic dish for good reason. The shrimp are perfectly coated in a crispy batter and tossed in a buttery buffalo sauce that is seriously lip-smacking delicious. The ...
Producing homemade jam is an experience that connects you with the farmers that grow seasonal produce, the process of working with that produce, and the joy of taking such delicious fruit and turning ...
I began my health-focused journey a few years back and making delicious smoothies became a regular task in my kitchen. There are many things that I love about smoothies. They are simple and easy to ...
You already know I love carbon steel pans. Now I want to showcase a technique that illustrates just why I enjoy cooking with carbon steel so much: cold-start crispy skin fish.
Why Getting Kids in the Kitchen Early is a Recipe for Success
In a world dominated by fast food and quick fixes, one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children is the skill of cooking. Teaching kids how to cook from a young age is more than just a ...
A wine tasting at home is a fun and unique way to entertain. It requires some organization and some ground rules, but you may be surprised by the benefits!
I started cooking seriously when I was about 10 years old. By the time I was 11, I made all the dinners for my family. People are astonished at this fact. I know the world is different now. Kids are ...
In the array of Korean cuisine, one dish reigns supreme: Kimchi. It's a versatile staple, gracing tables as a side or condiment for nearly every meal. Traditionally, it's made with Napa cabbage or ...
Tasting Table: A New Chopping Block Chef Experience
The Chopping Block is lucky to have many talented chef instructors dedicated to helping the local community and beyond learn how to cook! Unlike other recreational cooking programs, the chefs at TCB ...
Scapes are here! Many are unaware of this wonderful vegetable, but if you know where to look for them during this brief season, you are in for a treat. Scapes are only around in late spring - early ...
Cooking is not just about flavors and techniques; it's also about presentation. The art of plating is a crucial skill that can elevate your home cooking from ordinary to extraordinary. Just like a ...
I’ve lived in a lot of places. Not as many as some, but I'd venture to say more than most. In the last 15 years, I’ve lived in 19 different apartments, rooms, or houses. That’s 19 kitchens I've had ...
May was Haitian Heritage month. My husband is Haitian, and I’m always looking to learn more about Haitian cuisine so I can pass that part of her heritage onto my daughter. I learned a long time ago ...
Teaming Up with Driftless Prairie Meats and Market
Farmers market season is finally upon us. One of my favorite parts of shopping at the market is being able to meet the farmers and become familiar with where my food is coming from. I love that The ...
If you haven't yet jumped on the beet bandwagon, consider this your official invitation! Beets are truly one of nature's vibrant treasures, and there's no better way to dive in than with a delicious ...
When you visit your friend who has a fabulous garden full of fruit, vegetables and herbs, and she gives you more rhubarb than you know what to do with, you make jam. Rhubarb is a perennial plant ...
A few months ago, The Chopping Block team sent me over a document full of mouth-watering recipes, and I started taking photos for what will someday soon be a beautiful digital cookbook. As I am ...
With the official first day of Summer not scheduled for another few weeks, Memorial Day always seems to be the unofficial start of the season. It certainly was for us! While we ate indoors, our first ...
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with a large brain tumor and went through several surgeries to have it removed. Needless to say, this was a life-changing event! It took me 45 years and a life of ...
If you have ever taken our Knife Skills class, then you have a little bit of knowledge about the difference between carbon steel and stainless steel knives. If you haven't taken our Knife Skills ...
Fresh tarragon, beloved herb, French staple, is in full swing. With an extensive early spring through early fall harvest, this hardy perennial is here and taking over our culinary tool belts. ...
Sweet and Savory Delight: How to Make Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
When you take one of The Chopping Block's culinary vacations with Onward Travel, you will be part of a small group of travelers who all enjoy food and wine. Each group is different, of course, but ...
What goes on in the kitchen of a restaurant can be a bit of a mystery. Even if the restaurant has an open kitchen, by the time the public at large is looking on, almost all the work has already been ...
There’s an intricate connection between what we eat and how we feel. It's a fascinating journey that unveils how our food choices influence our moods and vice versa, creating what often feels like a ...
One of the most impossible questions I get asked as a chef is “What is your favorite thing to cook?” It's hard to answer because I rarely cook the exact same dish twice! The exception to this rule is ...
Butter is the backbone of most things delicious, but making your own cultured butter opens doors to a multitude of culinary endeavors. It's easy, requiring just a bit of patience and offering a burst ...
Spring has sprung, so it's time to get outside and fire up the grill. There is truly something mesmerizing to me about cooking over an open fire, especially with hot coals or natural wood! Growing up ...
We are in peak asparagus season! When you have an asparagus patch in your garden, you are never short of these amazing vegetables through the spring and summer. Asparagus is a perennial and one of ...
As a chef, my life revolves around food. From the crack of dawn to the dead of night, I’m immersed in a world of flavors, techniques, and relentless passion for culinary artistry. But amidst the ...
Cooking eggs is one of those things that professional cooks tend to obsess over. Even the number of pleats in a traditional French toque (100) supposedly represent the 100 different ways to cook an ...
Finally, it’s plum season! Plums are typically in season May through October, but they are at their peak in June through August in the U.S. California grows the majority of domestic plums, but ...
Hello, my name is Lisa, and I have an egg addiction! For those of you who know me, I tend to bring up eggs in almost every conversation and cooking class I teach. I seriously eat eggs every single ...
When teaching a class, there’s one question I get asked most and that’s “what’s your favorite type of food to make?” It’s a really hard question to answer, because I love all types of food and ...
As a food photographer and stylist, I’m often asked about the craziest, grossest thing I’ve ever done to a piece of food to get it to look good on camera. The answer? You’ve got the wrong stylist. ...
Grilling season is here, and it’s my favorite time of the year! There's something magical about firing up the grill, gathering friends and family, and indulging in the smoky, charred goodness of ...
I was first introduced to Dukkah when I received a copy of Instantly Mediterranean by Emily Paster in advance of a virtual Instant Pot class (remember those days?!) we did together two years ago. For ...
Ramps: Not Just a Plane With a Constant Slope Between Two Points
Spring is home to a class of plants that are perhaps the most magical we get all year: the ephemerals. These are plants that appear briefly as the weather begins to warm, then disappear into dormancy ...
Let’s talk about prunes. Yes, you heard me right… prunes. Most of us know prunes for their role in digestive health and their laxative-like effect. But this dietitian wants you to know that we’ve ...
White Burgundy Added to Stellar Class and Wine List
You may hear it in the air: birds chirping, breeze in the trees, and wine pros everywhere slurping, spitting and scratching in their notebooks. Because if it’s Spring, it’s time for wine list ...
If you are in the Midwest, you might be wondering if spring will ever arrive. Every year it feels at odds that the biting cold of April will ever yield to the warm and sunny days of May. At least to ...
As the spring season unfolds across the Midwest, a wave of excitement ripples through the culinary world as we anticipate the arrival of ramps. These wild alliums, sought after for their delicate ...
Made popular by fine dining restaurants, microgreens are a great visual addition to almost any dish. The delicate little greens are basically the seedlings or earliest stages of edible vegetables and ...
Sometimes we get requests for classes that are a little too niche for our general audience at The Chopping Block. So, when my team discussed a recent request for a “cooking for one” class, I ...
Making flavored simple syrups is such an amazing way to enhance your favorite drinks. Used cocktails, seltzers, teas, lemonades and everything in between, with only three ingredients, this ginger ...
As a seasoned chef and bartender, I've had the pleasure of crafting and enjoying a myriad of cocktails, each with its own unique story and flavor profile. One of the most exciting aspects of mixology ...
It has taken me a little over 34 years of living to visit LA. The reasons I could give for taking so long include the fact that it is thousands of miles away from most of the places I’ve lived, and ...
Until my mom called me to tell me she was heading back to her hometown of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, to view the solar eclipse today (April 8th), because it’s located in the path of totality, I really ...
Have you ever heard of Basque country? This region in Europe spans over the northern part of Spain and the southern part of France. This area of the world is known for numerous culinary delights ...
Before I met my husband, I had never experienced the pleasure of enjoying Polish cuisine. I grew up in a Jewish household and enjoyed many traditional dishes like gefilte fish, kugel, matzoh ball ...
Last year, I visited friends in Iowa City as spring was breaking through the Midwest frost. On a hike, they pointed out patches of green clustered under large trees: ramps. Tons of them! The ...
Savoring Spring: Lemon Pepper Tofu Recipe for Comfort with a Twist
As the winter chill reluctantly gives way to the gentle embrace of spring, our culinary cravings find themselves torn between the zesty freshness of lemon and the comforting allure of hearty meals.
Nestled within the captivating landscapes of northern Spain and southwestern France lies the Basque Country, a culinary haven that beckons travelers from far and wide. Amid the rugged beauty of the ...
Potatoes have gotten less love lately as we have gone crazy swapping carbs for cauliflower. I'm guilty of it too, but have you tasted my Buddha bowl with cauliflower rice? You won't miss the carbs! ...
Have you ever planned a get-together with friends and focused so much on the dinner that you forgot about a little nibble beforehand? Or you’ve offered to bring an appetizer to a gathering that’s a ...
Being from Southwest Michigan, I have seen it change quite a bit in my lifetime. It has always been a very popular vacation destination, especially for families. With its beautiful beaches, fruit ...
Embrace Spring's Bounty: The Many Benefits of Shopping Seasonally
It’s that time of year when nature starts to awaken with a burst of vibrant colors and flavors. Yes, springtime is emerging all over the country - a time when the earth seemingly comes alive again ...
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a chef instructor at The Chopping Block? I've got a video that documents that for you! The footage was taken in February, on a day that allows me to ...
The two things that are always present in Fatteh are tahini-laced yogurt and crunchy pita chips. Fatteh is a layered dish a little bit like nachos: toasted pita chips topped with a savory topping ...
I'm back with another bean edition! I have such a variety of beans stocked up that I might as well pop in every so often with a new bean recipe for you. Legumes have been a big part of my heritage, ...
As a chef, I often find myself contemplating the art of transforming ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences. One such dish that has captured my imagination is the humble hot dog. ...
Birthdays were always special in my house growing up. I managed to draw out the celebration and enjoyed the whole month rather than just one day! I got to choose what we had for dinner, and usually ...
I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long for the follow up to my previous post regarding planting a delightful little garden as I know many of you were clamoring to know what seeds I had ordered ...
One of the coolest parts of my job is being able to test new recipes and make sure they work to fit the needs of our classes and events. I love being able to take a recipe that I have never made ...
Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Sandwiches: A Fun Twist on Sushi
My family loves eating and making sushi. We also love getting creative with different maki roll fillings inspired by travels (like fried oyster maki rolls) or by things we have around the kitchen. As ...
5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day Through Food
International Women’s Day is fast approaching, and it’s one of my favorite holidays of the year. No matter who you are, there’s a woman in your life who deserves to be celebrated, and this holiday is ...
One of the only things that can make bagels better than they already are is by making them rainbow colored! Bagels are one of those foods that most people are intimidated by and overestimate the ...
The breakfast sandwich is one of America’s great contributions to global gastronomy. A lot of people like to talk about the U.S. as though it has no original food traditions of its own, or if it ...
Welcome to the next installment of cured meats at home. Last month, we covered cured salmon at home. Next up is bacon! Don't worry, if you're an apartment dweller like myself you don't need a smoker. ...
Picture this: you’re the chef of a restaurant where you have a steamed mussels dish on the menu. You got your shipment of mussels on Friday, and the restaurant had a slower weekend than expected. ...
There were all of three sommeliers in Chicago back in the 1980’s, but we were a feisty bunch and took on the challenge of getting our customers to enjoy dry Rosè with the gusto of their European ...
Cooking professionally allows you to constantly taste new flavors, experience new combinations and techniques and develop your palette, but this doesn’t end with food. That is why many chefs find ...
There is one thing most everyone I know has in common: they love potatoes! Fried potatoes, creamed potatoes, baked potatoes, steamed potatoes, mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, potato pancakes and ...
Braising and slow cooking are among my favorite cooking methods. These dishes are full of deep rich flavor, typically come together in one pot, and utilize an array of inexpensive cuts of meat. When ...
Swiss meringue buttercream is always my go-to buttercream for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and everything in between. It has a silky smooth, soft, fluffy texture, which makes it so easy to work with. ...
As a research chef, I've always been fascinated by the evolution of culinary trends, especially when it comes to beverages. One particular trend that has been making waves recently is the rise of ...
Seeds in the Dirt, Grow Grow Grow; Help Me With My Garden
It may be hard to believe, but spring is nearing. Hard to believe, not because it feels like winter just began, but because (at least where I live) it feels like it never began at all. Here in ...
Sweet and spicy, crispy and crunchy, savory and scrumptious. These are the words that describe the epic Korean fried chicken my husband and I made last weekend. Everyone in my family loves fried ...
When traveling to Italy, there is usually a list of foods people must eat while they are in the country known for its carbs: pasta, pizza, focaccia, and biscotti to name just a few. But rarely do ...
Are you tired of settling for lackluster gluten-free pizza options that leave you wanting more? Does the dough taste like a flavorless cracker that falls apart by just looking at it? Well, get ready ...
As someone who obsessively talks about, writes about, takes pictures of, and reads about food, I love asking people what foods they love and which ones they can’t stand. The number one answer I get ...
I love cured meats of all types: hot smoked ham, prosciutto, bresaola, cured salmon, all manner of dried salumi. It’s my intention to walk you through the many types of cured meats you can make at ...
Pasta Workshop is one of my favorite classes to teach at The Chopping Block. Students are always so engaged in the pasta making and want to continue on with it outside of the classroom. Since most ...
In fine dining circles, being very into meat has fallen a bit out of fashion. It’s much cooler at the moment to have a maniacal focus on vegetables or seafood—particularly fish[1]. I bet if you ...
“Citrus Season” is considered to be December through April, so we are smack in the midst of it right now – and does my kitchen ever show it! We have everything from Clementines and Ruby Red ...
A wine vocabulary helps you communicate aspects that you enjoy in wine and maybe some you don’t. Most modern winespeak is easy, such as the term ‘rich’, meaning a wine that’s rich in flavor and ...
It’s January, and I know that a lot of us are in the midst of New Year’s resolutions. For some, it’s eating healthier, or exercising more, quitting smoking, or drinking less. Maybe you think New ...
With sous vide becoming a more accessible kitchen tool, I feel it is often seen as the one method home cooks should use to cook anything, and the truth is, it isn’t. While you technically could cook ...
Have you ever attempted making cheese sauce at home and found it to be a bit of a kitchen challenge? In a world where gluten allergies are on the rise, using a roux isn’t always my go to. And often ...
In a previous blog, Making Sense of Cooking Fats, I briefly touch on one of my favorite fats for cooking: tallow. Tallow is rendered beef fat from the kidney and other fatty areas of the steer. ...
We always say that attending Culinary Boot Camp changes how you cook for life. Not only do students learn new skills, they are also exposed to new techniques and ingredients, but most importantly, ...
In the vast culinary landscape of Chicago, where every corner boasts a unique flavor, my gastronomic journey took an unexpected turn over the last year. As a chef, my taste buds have traversed the ...
If you were to compare the number of times my wife asks me to make ramen versus the number of times I actually do it you would end up with a ratio of something like 60:1. That's because when she is ...
For many of us, a new year is a time to reset our habits and commit to new healthier ones. It’s a time to get out the bucket list and review all the skills we have wanted to develop and get to work. ...
Dumplings, sweet or savory filled packages of yumminess, can be found in pretty much every corner of the world. From Polish pierogi to Korean mandu to Spanish empanadas to Italian ravioli, dumplings ...
A Classic Reimagined: French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese
If you've ever scoped out The Chopping Block's blog, you may notice that there are quite a few pertaining to French onion soup. French onion soup is a classic traditional soup that is so comforting, ...
Now that Christmas is packed away and all of the debates about the best ways to cook a turkey are done, we can all finally focus on the most important food holiday of the winter months: the dawn of ...
Miso soup, with its umami-rich miso paste and the subtle creaminess of tofu, creates a harmonious blend of flavors. Each spoonful brings comfort and satisfaction to your palate, in the comfort of ...
Retrospectives are in abundance this time of year, and understandably so. It's in our nature to want to look back at the year to remind ourselves of everything that happened. As I get older, I find ...
One thing you may not realize about The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour is that it is just as much focused on the wine of Tuscany as the regional cuisine. Whether you already know the ...
Get the Party Started with an Interactive Cheese Board
If you are in any way connecting with the civilized world during the holidays, you are bound to be spending more money than usual. Holiday gifts for the kids, the folks, the partners, the friends, ...
While I’m sure you’ve been busy, I hope you’ve all been able to take some time to enjoy the holiday season with your friends and family. Mine has been full of delicious food and drinks, as I tried to ...
“It’s not the taste, it’s more of a texture thing.” Maybe you’ve heard this or maybe you’re the one saying it, but it tends to be one of the major reasons people give when pleading their case on not ...
My childhood Christmases and New Year's mornings were practically sponsored by the scent of cinnamon rolls. It was the kind of tradition that set the tone for a day filled with joy and holiday ...
This won’t be your traditional Texas style chili, but it will contain all of the same rich and spicy flavors you would expect from such. My Tex-Mex chili follows the techniques and flavor profiles of ...
The holiday season is in full swing, and that means Christmas cookies! This time of year always brings me back to being a little kid, baking cookies with my mom. Every year we make a variety of ...
Ah, as the winter winds start their chilly dance, there's something truly magical about snuggling up with a crafted cocktail. The history of winter cocktails is as rich and diverse as the flavors ...
Unless you drink for a living as do I, morning alcohol consumption may not be a recommended lifestyle choice. But in Chicagoland winters, when mornings-after don’t look much different than ...
When it comes to food and cooking, we all face various conundrums. There are allergies, intolerances and avoidance of ingredients. Personally, having lived with Crohn’s disease since I was a child, I ...
The time has come once again to start steeling ourselves for the icy embrace of winter’s dark dawn. It’s easy to let the weather get to you around this time of year, not to mention the fact that it ...
After reading Andrea’s most recent blog, and living vicariously through her epic Cook Like a Tuscan culinary tour, I am super inspired by all things Tuscan right now. Plus, Italian food has a special ...
