The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

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!

Watermelon-Tomato-Feta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

I absolutely love watermelon. It’s delicious and refreshing, and there’s just something about it that screams summer! I make every effort to eat, drink, and incorporate as much watermelon in my life ...

Savory Monkey Bread

Growing up my mom always made something she called pull-apart garlic bread. It was pieces of bread dough covered in garlic butter, piled in a loaf or Bundt pan, and baked until golden brown. It was ...

Was that the Wedding Bell or the Dinner Bell?

At this point, it feels like I’ve been planning my wedding forever. After postponing three times due to the pandemic, it’s finally happening this August! A few weeks ago, my mom hosted an incredible ...

Switch Up Flag Cake for Brownie Fruit Pizza this Fourth of July

For as long as I can remember, I’ve made a flag cake every Fourth of July, and it’s become an integral part of my summer holiday tradition. I often spent the Fourth of July on a Sebec Lake in Maine ...

Sloppy Joe Sliders

I love to entertain, and since the world is starting to finally reopen, I’m really excited to get back to gathering together with friends and family to enjoy and share delicious food. One of my ...

Summer Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

Seeing as I’ve got less than ninety days to rock a wedding dress, I’m really making an effort to make healthier eating choices and up my exercise. Luckily, I’m a veggie lover, so eating vegetables ...

Buffalo Blue Cheese Burgers

I absolutely love burgers. I mean, what’s not to love? Earlier this year, I successfully waited in a line to get free Big Macs for a year, so if that doesn’t prove my love of burgers, what will?

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Feta

If you’re local to Chicago, you know about Mother Nature’s wild mood swings when it comes to spring weather. One day it’s 75 degrees and sunny, and the next day it’s snowing. Despite the fluctuating ...

Everything Bagel Strata

I’m passionate about a lot of foods – flats over drums when it comes to wings, smooth over crunchy if debating peanut butter, cheese curds over mozzarella sticks when I’m digging into fried cheese, ...

Triple Boozy Irish Brownies

What’s better than a delicious fudgy brownie? A triple boozy brownie, of course! When I studied abroad 15 years ago, I spent a weekend in Dublin, Ireland. It was a beautiful place with friendly ...

Recipes	Ingredients
Cooking Techniques	Cookbooks & Tools
Food News	Local Spots
Travel	Wine
Vegetarian	Gluten-Free
Kids	Baking & Pastry
Boot Camp	Retail

Kate A

Recent Posts

Watermelon-Tomato-Feta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Savory Monkey Bread

Was that the Wedding Bell or the Dinner Bell?

Switch Up Flag Cake for Brownie Fruit Pizza this Fourth of July

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Summer Sesame Soba Noodle Salad

Buffalo Blue Cheese Burgers

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Feta

Everything Bagel Strata

Triple Boozy Irish Brownies

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