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
Mango Mania
Up until just a week or so ago, the weather in Chicago was still pretty chilly (below 40 degrees at night), and we’d been in quarantine for 2 months. My social media continued to remind me of trips ...
Short ribs are one of my favorite cool weather, comfort foods and quarantine has seemed like the perfect time for comfort food. Braising short ribs may take a few hours, but they make the house smell ...
I was at a culinary crossroads the other day. My fiancé wanted me to make my mom’s sticky pecan cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but I knew that request would take a few hours by the time I had a chance ...
Quarantine has really stirred (see what I did there?) up my love of baking. I’ve always loved eating and making desserts, but I find myself really enjoying experimenting and trying new recipes. I’ve ...
First, I was called the quick-bread queen for all my blogs related to the subject, but these days, pancake princess seems more fitting. Last month, I shared my copy cat recipe for the Original House ...
While the current state of the world, given the COVID-19 situation, is uncertain and concerning, I’ve tried to make the most of my time practicing social distancing. I’ve found joy in the simple ...
If you’ve been in either of our stores in the colder months, October to March, you know that we love Journeyman’s Old Country Goodness (OCG). It’s an apple whiskey liqueur that's made with local ...
My obsession with upside down cakes hasn’t ceased, nor has my conviction that my mom makes the best banana bread on the planet. After travelling last month to the Southern Caribbean islands of Aruba, ...
There is nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie, and everyone always thinks they make the best one. At The Chopping Block, we had so many employees sure that they made the best chocolate chip ...
Pumpkin season is in full swing for me. While I’ll admit that I like to indulge in the occasional pumpkin spice latte, I generally find that pumpkin is underappreciated and underutilized.
