Trevor Olsen, a chef and Chicago native, brings a passion for global street and comfort food, elevating recognizable dishes with elaborate style. His diverse experience has led him to instructing classes at The Chopping Block with pleasure. Trevor takes immense pride in using cuisine to make special moments memorable, consistently pushing to leave a lasting impression on guests.
Recent Posts
Nixtamalized Corn (Hominy)
I’m always looking for new projects that help me understand food on a deeper level, especially where chemistry meets tradition. I love digging into the why behind certain techniques, and ...
Veracruz-style cuisine is a great example of how simple ingredients can create bold flavors. This dish comes from the coastal state of Veracruz, Mexico, where seafood is a staple. The combination of ...
Sous vide, meaning "under vacuum" in French, is a cooking technique where food is sealed in a bag and cooked in a precisely controlled water bath. It’s a method that ensures consistent results, ...
I’ve been collecting cookbooks since I was a child, and for me, they’ve always been more than just recipes on paper. My interest in cooking began early, sparked by my father, who bought me my first ...
If you’ve been to one of my classes or read my previous blogs, you probably know that South American cuisine is one of my favorite topics. There’s something about the bold, fresh flavors and ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
