Cheers to 20 Years

The Chopping Block is celebrating our 20th anniversary in business this April 2017. Join us for two celebrations to see just how far Chicago's largest recreational cooking school has come over the past two decades. We'll have free cooking classes by our current chefs as well as special alumni, our favorite dishes, wine and cocktail samples, special retail discounts, games, giveaways and much more!

Our Story

The Chopping Block opened in a small cottage in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1997. Owner Shelley Young came up with the idea for a recreational cooking school and antique store while on a cross-country journey.
The Early Days

Shelley taught each class herself at first, but began to grow her staff and the retail store as she found that many customers needed assistance in selecting kitchen equipment.
Lincoln Square

The idea of a cooking school with a personal touch worked and in order to accommodate the growing demand for hands-on classes, The Chopping Block opened its second location in Lincoln Square in 2003.
Merchandise Mart

The original location moved to the Merchandise Mart in 2005, where an expansive 8000-square-foot space allowed The Chopping Block to accommodate Chicago’s growing interest in private cooking parties.
Today

The Chopping Block is one of the busiest cooking schools in the country, hosting hundreds of cooking classes and private events each month. Our mission is to get the country to cook.

Join Us for Our Birthday Bashes

Lincoln Square Saturday, April 1 10am-5pm

Chef Schedule

Sean Gartland Chef, Feast Cooking School in Flint, MI 10:30am
Siobhan Straka Retail Manager/Buyer, River Valley Farmers Table 11:30am
Sari Zernich Owner, mfk 1pm
Jennifer Aranas Chef, author of The Filipino-American Kitchen 1:30pm
Shelley Young Chef/Owner, The Chopping Block 2:30pm

Cake Cutting & Champagne Toast 4pm

Merchandise Mart Saturday, April 8 10am-5pm

Chef Schedule

Carolyn Engelmann Chef, Editor 10am
Sara Salzinski Chef, The Chopping Block 10:30am
Janet Kirker Chef, Foodease Market 11:30am
Peter Tignor Chef, Firefighter 12pm
Hugh Amano Chef, Author of The Adventures of Fat Rice 1pm
Rick Ortiz Chef/Owner, Antique Taco 1:30pm
Shelley Young Chef/Owner, The Chopping Block 2:30pm
Abraham Conlon Chef/Owner, Author of The Adventures of Fat Rice 3pm