The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Ramps: Not Just a Plane With a Constant Slope Between Two Points

Spring is home to a class of plants that are perhaps the most magical we get all year: the ephemerals. These are plants that appear briefly as the weather begins to warm, then disappear into dormancy ...

Discovering the Hidden Powers of Prunes

Let’s talk about prunes. Yes, you heard me right… prunes. Most of us know prunes for their role in digestive health and their laxative-like effect. But this dietitian wants you to know that we’ve ...

White Burgundy Added to Stellar Class and Wine List

You may hear it in the air: birds chirping, breeze in the trees, and wine pros everywhere slurping, spitting and scratching in their notebooks. Because if it’s Spring, it’s time for wine list ...

Cream of Morel Mushroom and Spring Pea Soup

If you are in the Midwest, you might be wondering if spring will ever arrive. Every year it feels at odds that the biting cold of April will ever yield to the warm and sunny days of May. At least to ...

It's Ramp Season

As the spring season unfolds across the Midwest, a wave of excitement ripples through the culinary world as we anticipate the arrival of ramps. These wild alliums, sought after for their delicate ...

Elevate Any Dish with Microgreens

Made popular by fine dining restaurants, microgreens are a great visual addition to almost any dish. The delicate little greens are basically the seedlings or earliest stages of edible vegetables and ...

You Can Cook Delicious Meals for One

Sometimes we get requests for classes that are a little too niche for our general audience at The Chopping Block. So, when my team discussed a recent request for a “cooking for one” class, I ...

Elevate your Drinks with this Ginger Simple Syrup

Making flavored simple syrups is such an amazing way to enhance your favorite drinks. Used cocktails, seltzers, teas, lemonades and everything in between, with only three ingredients, this ginger ...

Exploring the Art of Dealer's Choice Cocktails

As a seasoned chef and bartender, I've had the pleasure of crafting and enjoying a myriad of cocktails, each with its own unique story and flavor profile. One of the most exciting aspects of mixology ...

Where to Eat if You Happen to Find Yourself in LA

It has taken me a little over 34 years of living to visit LA. The reasons I could give for taking so long include the fact that it is thousands of miles away from most of the places I’ve lived, and ...

Total Eclipse Moon Pies

Until my mom called me to tell me she was heading back to her hometown of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, to view the solar eclipse today (April 8th), because it’s located in the path of totality, I really ...

Passport to Basque Country

Have you ever heard of Basque country? This region in Europe spans over the northern part of Spain and the southern part of France. This area of the world is known for numerous culinary delights ...

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls: A Taste of Tradition

Before I met my husband, I had never experienced the pleasure of enjoying Polish cuisine. I grew up in a Jewish household and enjoyed many traditional dishes like gefilte fish, kugel, matzoh ball ...

Ramps: A Love Story

Last year, I visited friends in Iowa City as spring was breaking through the Midwest frost. On a hike, they pointed out patches of green clustered under large trees: ramps. Tons of them! The ...

Savoring Spring: Lemon Pepper Tofu Recipe for Comfort with a Twist

As the winter chill reluctantly gives way to the gentle embrace of spring, our culinary cravings find themselves torn between the zesty freshness of lemon and the comforting allure of hearty meals.

Return to Basque Country for a Culinary Immersion

Nestled within the captivating landscapes of northern Spain and southwestern France lies the Basque Country, a culinary haven that beckons travelers from far and wide. Amid the rugged beauty of the ...

Baked Potatoes: A Clean Slate for a Healthy Meal

Potatoes have gotten less love lately as we have gone crazy swapping carbs for cauliflower. I'm guilty of it too, but have you tasted my Buddha bowl with cauliflower rice? You won't miss the carbs! ...

Easy Oven-Roasted Tomato Dip

Have you ever planned a get-together with friends and focused so much on the dinner that you forgot about a little nibble beforehand? Or you’ve offered to bring an appetizer to a gathering that’s a ...

Southwest Michigan's Growing Food Scene

Being from Southwest Michigan, I have seen it change quite a bit in my lifetime. It has always been a very popular vacation destination, especially for families. With its beautiful beaches, fruit ...

Embrace Spring's Bounty: The Many Benefits of Shopping Seasonally

It’s that time of year when nature starts to awaken with a burst of vibrant colors and flavors. Yes, springtime is emerging all over the country - a time when the earth seemingly comes alive again ...

A Day In The Life of a Chef Instructor

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a chef instructor at The Chopping Block? I've got a video that documents that for you! The footage was taken in February, on a day that allows me to ...

Welcome Spring with Wine and Asparagus

While Spring busts out all over so does my favorite vegetable – asparagus.

Fatteh Veganized

The two things that are always present in Fatteh are tahini-laced yogurt and crunchy pita chips. Fatteh is a layered dish a little bit like nachos: toasted pita chips topped with a savory topping ...

Red Beans and Rice: A Louisiana Favorite

I'm back with another bean edition! I have such a variety of beans stocked up that I might as well pop in every so often with a new bean recipe for you. Legumes have been a big part of my heritage, ...

Hot Dogs in the World of Gastropub Cuisine

As a chef, I often find myself contemplating the art of transforming ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences. One such dish that has captured my imagination is the humble hot dog. ...

Birthday Cake Pancakes

Birthdays were always special in my house growing up. I managed to draw out the celebration and enjoyed the whole month rather than just one day! I got to choose what we had for dinner, and usually ...

New Seed Day (Best Day of the Year)

I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long for the follow up to my previous post regarding planting a delightful little garden as I know many of you were clamoring to know what seeds I had ordered ...

Matcha Cheesecake Brownies: Recipe Testing Adventure

One of the coolest parts of my job is being able to test new recipes and make sure they work to fit the needs of our classes and events. I love being able to take a recipe that I have never made ...

Teriyaki Salmon Sushi Sandwiches: A Fun Twist on Sushi

My family loves eating and making sushi. We also love getting creative with different maki roll fillings inspired by travels (like fried oyster maki rolls) or by things we have around the kitchen. As ...

5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day Through Food

International Women’s Day is fast approaching, and it’s one of my favorite holidays of the year. No matter who you are, there’s a woman in your life who deserves to be celebrated, and this holiday is ...

Rainbow Bagels

One of the only things that can make bagels better than they already are is by making them rainbow colored! Bagels are one of those foods that most people are intimidated by and overestimate the ...

How to Make an Excellent Breakfast Sandwich

The breakfast sandwich is one of America’s great contributions to global gastronomy. A lot of people like to talk about the U.S. as though it has no original food traditions of its own, or if it ...

Making Bacon

Welcome to the next installment of cured meats at home. Last month, we covered cured salmon at home. Next up is bacon! Don't worry, if you're an apartment dweller like myself you don't need a smoker. ...

Mussels Escabeche: A Shellfish Solution

Picture this: you’re the chef of a restaurant where you have a steamed mussels dish on the menu. You got your shipment of mussels on Friday, and the restaurant had a slower weekend than expected. ...

There’s a Riesling for Everything

There were all of three sommeliers in Chicago back in the 1980’s, but we were a feisty bunch and took on the challenge of getting our customers to enjoy dry Rosè with the gusto of their European ...

Cocktail Creativity

Cooking professionally allows you to constantly taste new flavors, experience new combinations and techniques and develop your palette, but this doesn’t end with food. That is why many chefs find ...

Understanding Potatoes

There is one thing most everyone I know has in common: they love potatoes! Fried potatoes, creamed potatoes, baked potatoes, steamed potatoes, mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, potato pancakes and ...

Sunday is for Braising

Braising and slow cooking are among my favorite cooking methods. These dishes are full of deep rich flavor, typically come together in one pot, and utilize an array of inexpensive cuts of meat. When ...

Your New Favorite Buttercream Recipe

Swiss meringue buttercream is always my go-to buttercream for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and everything in between. It has a silky smooth, soft, fluffy texture, which makes it so easy to work with. ...

Unleashing the Flavorful World of Dirty Sodas

As a research chef, I've always been fascinated by the evolution of culinary trends, especially when it comes to beverages. One particular trend that has been making waves recently is the rise of ...

Seeds in the Dirt, Grow Grow Grow; Help Me With My Garden

It may be hard to believe, but spring is nearing. Hard to believe, not because it feels like winter just began, but because (at least where I live) it feels like it never began at all. Here in ...

Pigs in a Blank-et Spaces with We Are Never Ever Getting Back to Cheddar Chili Dip for Super Bowl

Love football? Love Taylor Swift? Either way, this one’s for you!

New Product Alert: Hestan Cookware at TCB

The Chopping Block is now carrying a new stainless steel cookware line in our Lincoln Square location, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Gluten-Free Korean Fried Chicken

Sweet and spicy, crispy and crunchy, savory and scrumptious. These are the words that describe the epic Korean fried chicken my husband and I made last weekend. Everyone in my family loves fried ...

Go on a Culinary Journey for Pasta Perfection

When traveling to Italy, there is usually a list of foods people must eat while they are in the country known for its carbs: pasta, pizza, focaccia, and biscotti to name just a few. But rarely do ...

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza

Are you tired of settling for lackluster gluten-free pizza options that leave you wanting more? Does the dough taste like a flavorless cracker that falls apart by just looking at it? Well, get ready ...

Make the Most of Mushrooms

As someone who obsessively talks about, writes about, takes pictures of, and reads about food, I love asking people what foods they love and which ones they can’t stand. The number one answer I get ...

Cure Your Own Salmon

I love cured meats of all types: hot smoked ham, prosciutto, bresaola, cured salmon, all manner of dried salumi. It’s my intention to walk you through the many types of cured meats you can make at ...

Don't Have a Pasta Machine? Make Chiusoni

Pasta Workshop is one of my favorite classes to teach at The Chopping Block. Students are always so engaged in the pasta making and want to continue on with it outside of the classroom. Since most ...

Getting the Most from Your Meat: A Cookbook Guide

In fine dining circles, being very into meat has fallen a bit out of fashion. It’s much cooler at the moment to have a maniacal focus on vegetables or seafood—particularly fish[1]. I bet if you ...

Orange Crisps

“Citrus Season” is considered to be December through April, so we are smack in the midst of it right now – and does my kitchen ever show it! We have everything from Clementines and Ruby Red ...

Wine Vocabulary 201

A wine vocabulary helps you communicate aspects that you enjoy in wine and maybe some you don’t. Most modern winespeak is easy, such as the term ‘rich’, meaning a wine that’s rich in flavor and ...

Resolving to Save More at the Grocery Store

It’s January, and I know that a lot of us are in the midst of New Year’s resolutions. For some, it’s eating healthier, or exercising more, quitting smoking, or drinking less. Maybe you think New ...

Sous Vide and What It’s All About

With sous vide becoming a more accessible kitchen tool, I feel it is often seen as the one method home cooks should use to cook anything, and the truth is, it isn’t. While you technically could cook ...

Cheese Sauce 2.0: Sodium Citrate

Have you ever attempted making cheese sauce at home and found it to be a bit of a kitchen challenge? In a world where gluten allergies are on the rise, using a roux isn’t always my go to. And often ...

Everything You Need to Know about Yeast

Making bread dough can be a bit intimidating at first, especially when you don’t know what yeast to use.

Liquid Gold: Cooking with Tallow

In a previous blog, Making Sense of Cooking Fats, I briefly touch on one of my favorite fats for cooking: tallow. Tallow is rendered beef fat from the kidney and other fatty areas of the steer. ...

A Gift of Culinary Boot Camp Benefits Everyone

We always say that attending Culinary Boot Camp changes how you cook for life. Not only do students learn new skills, they are also exposed to new techniques and ingredients, but most importantly, ...

A Chef's Love Letter to Sushi

In the vast culinary landscape of Chicago, where every corner boasts a unique flavor, my gastronomic journey took an unexpected turn over the last year. As a chef, my taste buds have traversed the ...

One Weird Trick for Rich and Silky Ramen Broth

If you were to compare the number of times my wife asks me to make ramen versus the number of times I actually do it you would end up with a ratio of something like 60:1. That's because when she is ...

Happy and Healthy Chinese New Year Glass Noodles

For many of us, a new year is a time to reset our habits and commit to new healthier ones. It’s a time to get out the bucket list and review all the skills we have wanted to develop and get to work. ...

Dumplings for a Crowd

Dumplings, sweet or savory filled packages of yumminess, can be found in pretty much every corner of the world. From Polish pierogi to Korean mandu to Spanish empanadas to Italian ravioli, dumplings ...

A Classic Reimagined: French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese

If you've ever scoped out The Chopping Block's blog, you may notice that there are quite a few pertaining to French onion soup. French onion soup is a classic traditional soup that is so comforting, ...

Citrus Season is Upon Us

Now that Christmas is packed away and all of the debates about the best ways to cook a turkey are done, we can all finally focus on the most important food holiday of the winter months: the dawn of ...

Easy Tofu Miso Soup At Home

Miso soup, with its umami-rich miso paste and the subtle creaminess of tofu, creates a harmonious blend of flavors. Each spoonful brings comfort and satisfaction to your palate, in the comfort of ...

A Chef’s Year in Food

Retrospectives are in abundance this time of year, and understandably so. It's in our nature to want to look back at the year to remind ourselves of everything that happened. As I get older, I find ...

There's More than Just Cooking in Chianti

One thing you may not realize about The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour is that it is just as much focused on the wine of Tuscany as the regional cuisine. Whether you already know the ...

Get the Party Started with an Interactive Cheese Board

If you are in any way connecting with the civilized world during the holidays, you are bound to be spending more money than usual. Holiday gifts for the kids, the folks, the partners, the friends, ...

Cheers to the New Year with Prosecco Gelée

While I’m sure you’ve been busy, I hope you’ve all been able to take some time to enjoy the holiday season with your friends and family. Mine has been full of delicious food and drinks, as I tried to ...

Five Steps to Sautéing Mushrooms

“It’s not the taste, it’s more of a texture thing.” Maybe you’ve heard this or maybe you’re the one saying it, but it tends to be one of the major reasons people give when pleading their case on not ...

Cinnamon Roll Holiday Snowflake

My childhood Christmases and New Year's mornings were practically sponsored by the scent of cinnamon rolls. It was the kind of tradition that set the tone for a day filled with joy and holiday ...

Warming and Hearty Tex-Mex Beef Chili

This won’t be your traditional Texas style chili, but it will contain all of the same rich and spicy flavors you would expect from such. My Tex-Mex chili follows the techniques and flavor profiles of ...

Kolaczki for your Christmas Cookie Tray

The holiday season is in full swing, and that means Christmas cookies! This time of year always brings me back to being a little kid, baking cookies with my mom. Every year we make a variety of ...

Sipping through the Winter

Ah, as the winter winds start their chilly dance, there's something truly magical about snuggling up with a crafted cocktail. The history of winter cocktails is as rich and diverse as the flavors ...

Bubbles for Breakfast

Unless you drink for a living as do I, morning alcohol consumption may not be a recommended lifestyle choice. But in Chicagoland winters, when mornings-after don’t look much different than ...

'Tis the Unseason: Flavor Without Salt

When it comes to food and cooking, we all face various conundrums. There are allergies, intolerances and avoidance of ingredients. Personally, having lived with Crohn’s disease since I was a child, I ...

Laminated Pastry: An Endorsement

The time has come once again to start steeling ourselves for the icy embrace of winter’s dark dawn. It’s easy to let the weather get to you around this time of year, not to mention the fact that it ...

A Taste of Tuscany: Duck Ragu

After reading Andrea’s most recent blog, and living vicariously through her epic Cook Like a Tuscan culinary tour, I am super inspired by all things Tuscan right now. Plus, Italian food has a special ...

Lamb, Duck, or What?

One of my favorite classes we teach at The Chopping Block is Culinary Boot Camp. I am sure everyone has heard me talking about it a million times before, but it is one of the most comprehensive, ...

Soup’s On

It’s soup season here in Chicago. The leaves have fallen, the ground has frozen, and iced coffee sounds like a form of torture instead of a treat. Gone are the days of frozen negronis, girl dinners, ...

Cozy December Delights: Easy Meals for Chilly Nights

As December unfolds in the Midwest, the landscape transforms into a winter wonderland, painting everything in shades of white. The chilly air invites us to seek comfort and warmth, not just from ...

Carne with an 8th Generation Butcher in Panzano

When I decided to go on The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour this year, one of the most anticipated moments for me was a visit to Dario Cecchini's butcher shop and restaurant in Panzano in ...

Roasted Pears for Salads or Just Snacks

Last week was Thanksgiving and amidst all the “favorites” and “must haves” I usually like to slide in a little something fun and different. This year it was a salad with a whole roasted pear half ...

Venison: From Field to Freezer

I want to state right at the top that this post is going to have graphic images and descriptions of whole animal (deer) butchery. From right after slaughter in the field all the way through hanging, ...

Holiday Chinese 5 Spice Candied Nuts

When the holiday season approaches, I always get plenty of use out of my home kitchen. One tradition that I hold dear is crafting batches of Chinese 5 Spice Candied Nuts. Whether destined for the ...

Spice Up Your Kitchen Gadget Collection with a FinaMill

I feel like there are two types of people in the kitchen – those that love gadgets and those that keep kitchen gadgets to a minimum. My kitchen drawers would definitely disclose that I love kitchen ...

The Anatomy of Pie Crust

My passion for pie started at a very young age. My grandmother Ruby was a pie aficionado - her chocolate pie was hands down the best I ever tasted, somehow intense with chocolate, yet light as a ...

Fluffy Southern-Style Biscuits

You can never have enough recipes for biscuits, in my opinion. It’s always worth trying out a new batch of delicious flaky pillows of butter-filled dough. As we enter the holiday season, I’ve also ...

Cinnamon Apple Crisp: The Perfect Fall Dessert

It wouldn’t be fall without an apple dessert! I love a good apple pie (especially The Chopping Block's), but sometimes I don't want to fuss with pie dough. This recipe gives you everything you know ...

Why I Gave Up Turkey for the New Duck on the Block

This year I’m here to spill the stuffings, or should I say quack, on why I've happily given turkey the boot and crowned duck as the reigning star of my Thanksgiving table. If you've wondering why and ...

Questions Wine Lovers Want Answered

Most people go into hospitality because they love a good party! At The Chopping Block, we’re no exception and a good time was had by all during our recent party, a.k.a. the sold-out Lincoln ...

Between a Squash and a Hard Place: Fritters to Save your Thanksgiving

As a home cook, I am often asked about my Thanksgiving menu. This is the holiday that is known for marathon cooking (and eating) sessions. My inner chef should be elated with all the details that go ...

The Whole Fish Trilogy: Books to Level-Up Your Seafood Game

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York that didn’t have much access to seafood in general, and I don’t think I’d be exaggerating to say virtually no access to truly good seafood at all. I ...

Whiskey Preparedness

Leaves have turned, the thermometer is dipping lower (slowly, finally), and we are looking for ways to get and stay warm. In any season, we look to consume food and beverage that reflect our ...

How to Cook with Persimmons

I’m a persimmon newbie. This time of year, my grocery store stocks persimmons, and every year I eye them thinking this is the year I’ll finally try them. This has seriously been going on for at least ...

How to Plan the Perfect Dinner Party

There is nothing that brings me more joy and excitement than hosting a holiday party! I love everything from the planning, decorating, cooking, to above all, welcoming guests into my home. I even ...

Five Cookbooks to Buy This Fall

In case you weren’t aware, I’m a cookbook addict. I can’t even tell you how many I own—all I can say is that they long out-grew my kitchen shelves. I just can’t help it. I love flipping through and ...

Falling for Flavor: Irresistible Appetizers to Spice Up Your Season

Fall brings with it a symphony of colors, and what better way to complement the season than with delicious fall appetizers that tantalize your taste buds? In this post, we'll dive into the heart of ...

Savory Stuffed Pumpkins for All of Fall

I struggle with Halloween party food. I know it’s supposed to be a time to embrace the tacky (as Executive Chef/Owner Lisa Counts likes to remind me), but as I scoured Pinterest looking for something ...

Real Caramel Apples

Caramel apples have come a long way since I was a kid. Back then, caramel apples were for Halloween and nothing else.

Scary Good Brownies

Trick or Treat? Treats, please! Halloween is just around the corner. While I’ve seen lots of Halloween festivities in the past few weeks, this coming weekend is when the majority of Halloween parties ...

Low Waste Cooking: Veg Stock and Carrot Ginger Soup

Trying to minimize waste in a home kitchen can be a difficult task. As we prioritize convenience in our daily lives, we end up disposing of plenty of usable and delicious ingredients. And the kicker ...

Burnt by Choice: Allium Alchemy

In all my culinary career, few techniques offer the depth and complexity that burnt allium provides. Burnt allium is the practice of charring allium family members like onions, garlic, and shallots ...

Getting Familiar with Japanese Ingredients

One of my absolute favorite types of cuisine overall is any type of Asian food. More specifically, I love Japanese ingredients and flavor profiles. Japan is well known for sushi and Ramen but the ...

Cinnamon Rolls for Holiday Breakfasts

As the holidays approach us, I've been getting in the mood to start making my favorite desserts. In my family, we always make cinnamon rolls to enjoy for breakfast or really any time of the day.

The Nerve of Food

Get ready to embark on a journey of culinary exploration that will reveal the unsung hero of our taste experience, the trigeminal nerve. This often-overlooked fifth sense plays a profound role in our ...

It’s Gotta Be Fun: Mary's Motto for Wine Classes

“It’s gotta be fun!” is the best advice I received from my mentor Kevin Zraly, who, as founder of The Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, knows something about wine education. So, I feel as ...

Double Double Baked Potatoes

Growing up in the 1980s, one the fanciest side dishes you could get in a restaurant was a double baked potato. Maybe it wasn’t the fanciest but to a little Midwestern picky eater kid, it was the end ...

Cooking from a Market in Normandy

I think a lot of times when chefs travel they long to visit local markets and see what kind of excellent produce can be had in an area they don’t usually get to source from. Often times, however,—at ...

The Perfect Autumn Comfort: Butternut Squash Mac-n-Cheese

Last month, my husband and I dropped our daughter off for her first year of college at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. It’s been a great experience so far with all of the clubs and ...

Allergy Awareness

Many people suffer from food allergies, and it can be difficult to know what or how to cook to avoid allergens and still make food taste good. As many chefs in the restaurant industry may know, but ...

In Favor of Doing the Least

Ask anyone. Literally anyone! And you will hear from them that this is the best season to eat. It’s one of the things my grandma says the most these days, usually as she’s describing the corn she ...

The Benefits of Curry

Curry isn't just delicious; it also offers several health benefits. Many of the spices used in curry, like turmeric, ginger, and cumin are packed with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory ...

Hot Steel Cut Oatmeal – Fast

Many see the onset of cooler weather as ringing in soup season – and count me as one of those many! But when my feet hit that cold floor first thing in the morning, soup isn’t on my mind as much as a ...

Gluten Free Pâte à Choux

Gluten free baking has been on my mind a lot recently. Not because I’m gluten free myself. Personally I believe gluten is a miracle protein with attributes so close to magic that all the powers of ...

Celebrate with Cider Cocktails

We are at the height of apple season, and The Chopping Block celebrates apple season in a big way, namely at the annual Lincoln Square Apple Fest. We serve our famous Apple Pie by the slice at this ...

Apple Pie Eggrolls

I always look forward to Autumn, when the weather gets cooler, I can get out my boots, throw on some flannel, and enjoy all my favorite fall activities. At the top of my list of fall activities is ...

Dough Isn’t (that) Scary

If you’re anything like me, maybe you’ve said things such as, “I’m a good cook but not really a baker” or, “I just don’t have the patience to make bread.” Now, maybe there’s some truth behind this, ...

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Red Roux

When the cool air of Autumn arrives in Chicago, my wife often longs for her hometown of New Orleans. She misses the lively parades, the soulful jazz music, and most of all, the comforting food that ...

Many Uses of the Vacuum Sealer

Two common practices that are ingrained into you as a chef are save time and save dollars, without sacrificing quality, of course. Many commercial techniques and technologies have been made more ...

Welcome Fall with Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs

Fall is right around the corner, and nothing is better than eating cozy meals on a chilly night. There is something so special about short ribs. They seem fancy, yet they are so simple and easy to ...

Grilling up the Sea

The allure of grilling seafood is a symphony of flavors that dances between the sea and the fire, captivating both the heart and the palate. I invite you to join me in my profound love affair with ...

Searching for Scallops

Just one of the perks of living in the Panhandle of Florida is the close proximity to bays where oysters and scallops are harvested. One of my favorite late summer activities is to go to Cape San ...

Diving into a Valid Tea Leaf Salad

Last month, I started to dive into the world of Burmese cooking. Have you tried my egg curry recipe yet? I got very excited to plummet gracefully from an elevated platform of knowledge with a ...

Wake Up Shake up

Okay, everybody I’ve got some really good news. Despite what all of the displays at grocery stores, hardware stores, big box retailers, and drug store chains have been peddling for the last two to ...

New Wines for Fall Classes at The Chopping Block

Way last century, the hip sommelier closed their out-going voicemail with “Leave your message at the tone. And in case of emergency, serve dry Rosè.” Back then, Rosè meant White Zinfandel, sugary ...

Deep into Quiche

In the realm of quiche discussions, there are those who begin with a clever quip about what Real Men eat, and then there’s me, who is more bothered by the perpetual resurfacing of that maxim than the ...

3-Ingredient Homemade Hot Sauce

This summer has been a great growing season for our habanero and jalafuego plants, and they have produced quite a bit of fruit. Fortunately, hot chilies are extremely versatile, but if you’re a chili ...

Lemon Posset: Newest Internet Fad

You know I love a good food trend like butter boards but have you seen the lemon custard that has been sweeping across the internet? For the past few months, I have seen different variations of ...

Cook Off Book

In case you haven’t realized yet, I write a lot of recipes—for clients, my newsletter, blogs, and for my own use. If I had to guess, I’ve written somewhere in the neighborhood of about 800 recipes ...

The Chopping Block’s Lincoln Square Location Changes Ownership

After 26 years of teaching people how to cook, The Chopping Block is changing ownership. Founder and Chef Shelley Young officially sold the Lincoln Square business to Executive Chef Lisa Counts ...

The Adventures of Grilling

The sizzling world of grilling can turn ordinary ingredients into extraordinary delights. If you've ever wondered why grilled food holds a special place in our hearts (and taste buds), join me on ...

Culinary Boot Camp as a Professional Training Tool

We always have a wide variety of students in each of our Culinary Boot Camp classes. From retirees who now have time to learn to cook to college students who want to get a jump start on life skills, ...

A Lighter Eggplant Parmigiana

I love eggplant parmigiana, and with eggplants being in abundance this time of year, I’ve found myself absolutely craving the dish. However, I wanted a simpler preparation, something that didn’t ...

Take a Hike

There has been a slow uptick in the last 15 years or so in people interested in finding wild edibles in the landscape around them. From my perspective, this stems from the trend of featuring wild ...

Copycat Luxardo Cherries

Cocktails are back in popularity and here to stay. Our cocktail classes and wine classes are proof of that - people love to drink but not just because of the effect of the alcohol. Our students love ...

Got Blueberries? Make Lemon Blueberry Buckle

Last year, I told you all about my annual girl’s trip to Maine with my mom. This year, since we were adding a baby, my daughter Scarlett, we decided to stay a bit closer to Chicago. We settled on New ...

Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cast Iron Cookie

They say necessity is the mother of invention, now I know I didn’t invent the cast iron cookie, but I’d imagine whoever did was in a situation similar to my own: I don’t have a baking sheet.

Tangzhong: The Japanese Secret to the Fluffiest Bread

It was some years back… I was running a kitchen for a brewery on Chicago's Northside, where crafting savory dishes was my forte. Baking bread? Not my usual gig.

Butternut Squash Breakdown

When it comes to knife skills, one of the more difficult items to approach are dense gourds of awkward shapes and sizes. Today we will tackle and breakdown a large butternut squash and talk about ...

The Classic French 75 Cocktail

The French 75 cocktail is a fascinating and historic drink, with its origins dating all the way back to World War I. Discovering the history of this delightful concoction adds an interesting twist to ...

Let's Taco About It

Tacos, with their tantalizing blend of flavors and textures, have become a beloved staple in American cuisine. But these delicious handheld delights have a rich and diverse history that dates back ...

This Wine is a Mouthful

The wacky things people do to make wine never cease to amaze me. We pour herbs into it (for Vermouth). We bake it (Madeira). We encourage mold to grow on the grapes (Sauternes) and on the wine ...

Biscochitos: Traditional New Mexican Cookies

My love of New Mexican food is no secret. I try to eat all of the chiles (New Mexico's state vegetable) each time I visit, and my recent trip was no exception. I enjoyed a delicious green chile ...

Fearless Egg Curry

If I were to ever utter any regrets about my life, it would be the years I wasted being a picky eater. My remorse comes into play when I think of the doors that I never opened when I’d be given the ...

The Internet Has a Croissant Problem

Our vast planet is home to many breads, all of them excellent. This is not to say, of course, that every loaf or example of bread is excellent. No, to be sure there are loaves of bread that I have ...

The Greatest Carnival Food

Earlier this week, I spent a day at the Great Amusement Park. I was honestly surprised at how few people over the age of 30 there were. Weren’t other parents taking their kids? I mean, don’t they ...

Pupusas: A Culinary Adventure

Writing a monthly blog is a great opportunity for me to further my culinary education. I really enjoy trying new recipes from different cultures in order to expand my knowledge, but also just because ...

DIY Stroopwafels

My very first encounter with Stroopwafels was on my flight to New Zealand eight years ago. I had never heard of such a snack before. So, when the flight attendant said peanuts or waffle, I jumped at ...

Squash All Summer

I am a novice gardener. This spring, after years of sitting on the waitlist, we finally got a note that our number was up for a small plot tucked away in the back corner of the park. I was giddy. We ...

Dan Dan Noodles Made Easy: Unraveling the Sichuan Magic

Virtual cooking classes offer a gateway to a world of culinary exploration, where you can learn how to cook and unlock your inner chef. In addition to the many delightful dishes you can learn to ...

Kvass: Sweet, Refreshing and Good for your Gut

By now we’ve all heard of the benefits of good bacteria in our body’s micro biome and the wonder it does for effective digestion and overall gut health. We’ve had the kombucha, the yogurt and the ...

Building a Better Kabob

Growing up, I spent summers at Sebec Lake visiting my grandparents and cousins. I remember sitting on the porch shucking corn and shelling peas, nightly boat rides, family dinners on the porch, and ...

Ditch the Potato Salad: 3 Easy Grilled Sides to Bring to your Next BBQ

The summer is far from over and with plenty of sunny days and warm weather ahead, we can expect plenty more barbeques and backyard bashes with friends and family in the next few months.

Strawberry Memories Inspire Mascarpone Cake

Strawberries must be one of the most popular fruits. It is a rare occasion when we have a student who says they don’t like strawberries. If we put a strawberry-focused recipe or class on our class ...

Is It Done Yet?

The most frequently asked question I get during our classes here at The Chopping Block is “How long should I cook this?” The students are usually referring to timing for cooking a meat or vegetable. ...

Pesto for your Basil Abundance

What do you do when you have an abundance of basil in your garden this time of year? You make pesto! Pesto is so versatile and can be used in so many different applications and recipes.

It's Raw! A Look at Raw Fish Dishes

Have you ever wondered how people in different parts of Asia enjoy raw fish in their cuisines? Raw fish is not only delicious and nutritious, but also has a long and rich history that reflects the ...

What You Don’t Know About Your Favorite Grapes

The grape is the most important aspect of any wine, accounting for over 95% of each wine’s chemistry and more-or-less deliciousness. So, the first step in learning wine is getting to know your ...

Back to Basics: Reading Recipes

Odds are if you are follow The Chopping Blog, you either like to cook, are looking for inspiration or are one of my relatives. There is an assumption that most of us reading these blogs are familiar ...

Pink Drink or Sultry Summer Strawberry Solution

We’ve come to the point in summer where strawberries are on the wane. This is always a melancholy time of year for me because in my opinion strawberries are one of the greatest treats that warm ...

Culinary Boot Camp with Friends

It's not uncommon for couples to take cooking classes together, from date nights to wine classes to Culinary Boot Camp. We even had a proposal midway through one of the 5-day classes a couple of ...

Couscous from Scratch

I was preparing a curry with a Moroccan leaning. Everyone’s Favorite Grocery Store had no couscous (?) except for pearled/Israeli couscous of which it had two kinds (?). I wanted fine couscous, so of ...

Falafel-Bulgur Burgers: A Mediterranean-Inspired Meat-Free Option

I love a charred juicy cheeseburger with all the fixin’s, but every once and a while it’s nice to have a healthy, meat-free alternative. Most people, when they think of vegetarian burger options, ...

Peschi Dolci: Sweet Peach Cookies

Growing up Sicilian, we knew how to party! It seemed every weekend we attended some sort of a special event or get together. I remember frequenting different banquet halls all throughout Illinois and ...

Embrace Freshness with Zucchini & Corn Pasta: Farmer's Market Delight

As summer rolls around, farmers markets come alive with vibrant displays of fresh produce. It's the perfect time to explore creative recipes that make the most of these locally grown ingredients.

How to Farmers’ Market

Fellow citizens of the Midwest, we have arrived. Summer is upon us, and so is the bounty of the legendary farmers’ markets. If you’re anything like me, you have them on your family Google calendar so ...

Sweet Scarlett’s Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

It’s summer and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no better time for all things strawberry rhubarb (my mom would agree!). I’ve picked strawberries for as long as I can remember. But I’m taking a break ...

A Love Letter to Aquafaba

Finding ways to minimize waste in the kitchen is not only great for the environment, but it can be great for your wallet too. As a chef, some of these small changes can really make a difference in ...

Pretty and Easy Zucchini

Zucchini season is upon us once again, and I’d like to share with you my go-to ways to prepare it. It’s easy and versatile and the char on the zucchini makes it pretty enough to serve to company. It ...

The Best Ways to Cool Off This Summer

Summer is here, temperatures are rising, and we are all scrambling for something cold to cool us off. Frozen desserts fly off the shelves at our grocery stores, but why not make some yourself at ...

From Scratch Barbeque Sauce

I have come to notice that many of the barbeque sauce recipes I’ve come across online consist of mainly a few ingredients. They’ll contain basic condiments, some sugar, and a couple of spices. These ...

Key Lime Pie for the Summer Dessert Win

Summer is all about having fun and enjoying good food. And what better way to do that than with an easy, delicious recipe for any occasion? One of my favorite desserts for the season is Key Lime Pie!

Worthwhile Herbs With Which You May Be Unfamiliar

Herbs are among the most important ingredients in cooking. Choosing the right varieties and amounts of herbs for a particular dish can mean the difference between a meal that’s just okay, and one ...

French Cooking Techniques: A Guide for Home Cooks

Do you love French cuisine, but feel intimidated by the complex recipes and fancy terms? Do you want to learn how to cook like a pro, using simple and easy methods that will transform your dishes?

Wine Cocktails are Perfect for Summer

Imagine a recent wine shopping excursion. Whether in a grocery store, a boutique wine shop or chain outlet, if you’re most places in the U.S., your choices include wines from around the world, in ...

Butchering Beef Revisited: Old Meat

If you read my previous post on breaking down a forequarter of beef you may recall that we put some pieces into a ramshackle dry aging chamber so that they could age for a bit before we cut them. ...

Low Country Boil Meets The Midwest

The beginning of summer is probably one of the most challenging times for me when it comes to meal preparation. My days are overwhelmed adjusting to the change of routine that inevitably comes with ...

Beef Jerky Three Ways - What's the Winner?

Whether you're on a road trip, hiking in the mountains, or just need a quick protein boost, beef jerky is the perfect snack to satisfy your hunger and keep you going. It's a great source of protein, ...

Preserve Rhubarb with Mostardo

During the growing season, there are some crops I’m happy to see arrive at local markets. I buy them and serve a nice meal incorporating them or featuring them. Zucchini, for one. Then there are ...

Restaurant Redemption: Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad

A couple months ago my husband and I set out to see the funk band Lettuce, and grabbed a bite to eat beforehand. I didn’t want to be bogged down by a heavy meal and I love salads with a protein, so I ...

Stuffed Fresno Chiles: A Versatile Filling for Your Next Party

It all started with me needing to clean out my fridge. I had Fresno chilis that were about to go bad, ground beef that was starting to oxidize… what was I going to do? I have had stuffed peppers on ...

The Joys of Cheating

My grandma is a legendary pie crust maker. She knows her way around a canister of Crisco like nobody else, and the flakiness she gets in her pie crust is unmatched. I have her recipe, but mine never ...

Zucchini Pie (aka Mock Apple Pie)

Zucchini season is just around the corner and with that comes the inevitable mass quantities of it. If you are a gardener, you know exactly what I am talking about. Us gardeners are coupled with the ...

Grill your Salsa this Season

I make salsa year-round, but there is something so much more enjoyable about making and eating it when the weather is warmer. As it gets nicer out, grilling becomes an option and one of the first ...

Global Grilling with Galbi

It’s grilling season, finally! The weather in Chicago has vastly improved within the last week which inspired me to clean up my deck over Memorial Day weekend so that I could officially enjoy my ...

Very Good Masa Harina, and a Simple Tortilla Technique

Hey folks, have you ever tasted the difference between a typical grocery store corn tortilla, and one made fresh in your kitchen? If you live in Chicago then maybe you haven’t, because why would you? ...

Get to Know Your Spring Fruits and Veggies

It is officially Spring! Farmers markets are reopening and grocery stores are stocking our favorite fresh spring fruits and vegetables. The hot weather has arrived, and we can take this opportunity ...

Cold Pressed Juice - Is it Worth It?

I recently started cold press juicing and with all the wonderful benefits I have experienced, I thought I would share why I think it is worth the hype.

How to Build your own Recipes

Once you’ve honed a few keys techniques and have had success executing some delicious or more elaborate recipes at home, it’s time you start building some of your own tasty creations! This is how you ...

A Catalog of Worthwhile Food Establishments in NYC

Living in upstate New York has many benefits, but a rollicking and vibrant food scene is definitely not among them. No matter where in upstate you might reside, I can pretty much guarantee your ...

A Simply Delicious Lesson in Tarts

Tarts are one of the most versatile and delightful desserts you can make at home. They are easy to prepare, elegant to serve, and can be filled with almost anything you like. But do you know where ...

Enjoy the World's Best Rosè

Check out this fun video depicting world-wide wine consumption:

Frozen Assets: Proper Freezer Usage

As someone who loves to cook, I also love to freeze food. Even typing that sentence seems like an odd thing to write but there is a pleasure in finding a special ingredient or making a favorite dish ...

Trees: Not Just for Fruit Anymore

The spring is a unique time of year for gathering edible goodies from the landscape. While there may not be as much growing as in the height of summer, there are a great many wild plants that only ...

How to Use Harissa or How Can You Not Use Harissa?

I've had a hankering for harissa lately. The spicy and aromatic chile paste that is widely used in Middle Eastern and North African cooking adds a kick of spice to any meal, from soups and stews to ...

Crostini from the Grill

As Chicago's Spring seems to be redefined as alternating bursts of frost and scorch, I’m trying to take advantage of the occasional gorgeous night. This means grilling. Last Tuesday, I hit up the ...

Treat Mom to an Elegant Brunch this Mother’s Day

Did you forget to make brunch reservations this Mother’s Day? Don’t worry, because you’re going to learn how to make an impressive restaurant-quality brunch that will have the special mom in your ...

Sautéing 101

I was recently interviewed for a Mashed.com article discussing the most common mistakes home cooks make when sautéing and it got me thinking of all of the techniques we teach at The Chopping Block, ...

4 Ways to Turn a Can of Beans into Dinner

If you’ve spoken to me at all, ever, in the entire course of my adult life, you know that I feel a deep, passionate love for beans. I always tell my husband that if there's a can of beans in the ...

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