The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Hans

Hans graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute in Pegnitz, Bavaria in Germany. He also completed an apprenticeship program at the Rosenthal Casino in Selb Bavaria. Hans' professional career extends to several hotels. He worked for Hilton International in London before transferring to Chicago where he held different positions for several hotels within the company. We are now proud to have him as a Chef Instructor at The Chopping Block. When Hans is not teaching, you can find him at local museums, coffee shops, farmers markets, or concert venues—mainly classical music. He is an avid reader, loves to travel, and enjoys the company of his family and friends.

The Building Blocks of Cooking: Spices, Vinegars and Oils

Is your pantry stocked well so that you are set up for success in the kitchen? Or do you find yourself running to the store for last-minute ingredients all of the time? If you are a newer home cook ...

It's White Asparagus Season

I noticed some really good quality white asparagus while visiting Whole Foods the other day. It made me think about how abundant this vegetable is in this country compared to ten years ago.

A Chef's Tour of the National Restaurant Show in Chicago

For the past 96 years, Chicago has hosted the National Restaurant Show, or NRA. Unfortunately, the four-day show is not open to the public, but it’s considered a sort of Disneyland for chefs and ...

In Search of Hard-Crusted Bread in Chicago

Bread is a big part of our diet in Germany, however, it's not the kind of bread you find at the grocery store. I'm talking about what we call “artisanal bread” here in the States. For example, in ...