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Kate A

Kate A
Kate is the General Manager of The Chopping Block. Originally from the East Coast, she moved to Chicago 8 years ago and loves the strong food culture of the city. She loves entertaining for friends, trying new restaurants, and cooking (of course). Her friends know not to eat until she's snapped a picture of any dish! She credits her mom and grandmothers for getting her interested in cooking at an early age. Her most utilized tool in the kitchen is the recipe book her late grandmother left her. Kate also enjoys traveling and is on a mission to visit each baseball stadium in America, but even then she's really there to sample the local food!

Recent Posts

Chicago Bakeries Worth The Wait

I’m always asked by friends, local to Chicago and those visiting, for the best places to eat in the city. It’s also a question we get a lot from students visiting for cooking classes like Culinary ...

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Dining at Alinea

I recently had the opportunity to check off a huge bucket list experience – dining at Alinea! Alinea is one of the top restaurants in the world. In fact, only 13 restaurants in the United States have ...

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Trade Girl Scout Cookies for Homemade Samoas

We’re right in the middle of Girl Scout cookie season. I always look forward to seeing my friends post their daughter’s links on social media to buy cookies, and seeing the Girl Scout troops at our ...

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Game Winning Philly Cheesesteak Pretzel Sliders

It’s almost time for Super Bowl LIX! This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs (yes, again) will play the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs are hoping to make history and win their third consecutive ...

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Chicago’s Breaded Steak Sandwich

Chicago is known for being a vibrant food-centric city – it’s one of the many reasons I was excited to move here over 15 years ago. We’re lucky to have so many delicious options and talented chefs ...

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Cinnamon Raisin Bagel Bread Pudding

A couple of years ago, I professed my love of bagels in my blog Everything Bagel Strata. It’s a delicious way to enjoy the classic savory flavors of everything bagels, smoked salmon, cream cheese and ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)

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 ...

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Eat Your Way Through Western Michigan

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 ...

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Most Recent Posts

Chicago Bakeries Worth The Wait

  I’m always asked by friends, local to Chicago and those visiting, for the best places to eat...Read more

Summerween

  Did you know that there is a large faction of people that celebrate Halloween in the summer?...Read more

What is Chinese Black Vinegar and How to Use It?

  Believe it or not, in all my years of professional cooking, I had never used Chinese black...Read more

Crawfish 101: How to Boil, Peel, and Enjoy This Southern Delicacy

  It's the season of the crawfish boil, where flavors are bold, hands get messy, and the...Read more

Spring Into these New Techniques

  Spring has finally sprung here in the Midwest, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to...Read more

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