The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Crossroads Diner at Smyth: “Come As You Are” Dining in West Loop

To start off this edition of Crossroads Diner: At the Intersection of Hospitality & Community, I wholly and unabashedly admit to huge bias towards the restaurant featured in the ensuing piece. I ...

Dinner and a Show at Alinea

The past few months have been a whirlwind of epic meals: birthday dinner at Le Bernadin; Nashville Hot Chicken at its birthplace, Prince’s; rabbit and truffles in a cave in Rome; and salsiccia ...

First Encounter with a Purple Pig

It has been a while since I have ventured out to try a new restaurant, so last weekend I made plans with my girlfriend to stay downtown and try something different. We decided to visit The Purple Pig ...

What to Do with an Abundance of Rhubarb

by Kelly K 5/9/25 10:30 AM

Rhubarb is thriving this time of year here in the Midwest, both in home gardens and in the...Read more

Chicago Bakeries Worth The Wait

by Kate A 5/8/25 10:30 AM

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

Summerween

by Lisa C 5/7/25 10:30 AM

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?

by Sara 5/6/25 10:30 AM

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

by Andrea 5/2/25 10:30 AM

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

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Crossroads Diner at Smyth: “Come As You Are” Dining in West Loop

Dinner and a Show at Alinea

First Encounter with a Purple Pig

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