The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Easy, Anytime, Oven-Baked Onion Rings

Onion rings are one of those dishes I would never think to make at home. They are delicious, but who wants to deep fry in August? I certainly don't! But here lies the dilemma… I don't want to ...

A Writer's Journey through Culinary Boot Camp

We encounter many different types of students in our Culinary Boot Camp. From retirees to newlyweds to college students, The Chopping Block's week-long intensive deep dive into the culinary arts ...

Sumac Foraging and Preparation

First things first... no, we are not talking poison sumac! Secondly, it is extremely easy to tell the difference between poison sumac and Staghorn Sumac, Staghorn Sumac being the edible version. We ...

Party On at Chicago’s Top Patios

With Summer officially halfway over, now is the time to get outside and take advantage of our beautiful Chicago evenings. Last week I had friends visiting from LA, and we embarked on a power-tour ...

To Market, To Market, We Go

It’s mid-summer in Chicago and the local farmer's markets are in full swing. Throughout the city – and in many suburban neighborhoods – you can find the freshest fruit, vegetables, bread, meat and ...

Do Wine Appellations Really Matter?

Last week, a co-worker came to me after one of our wine classes and asked if I thought appellations really matter. Apparently, it was a topic of discussion during class and there had been good ...

Food Comics: Liquor Infusions

We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. Here, he shows us how to improve your summer cocktails ...

The Flat-Pack-Taco-Stack, Freeze-n-Broil Technique

When I cook at home, I want to make my life as easy as possible. On my days off, I tend to prepare things in bulk, and freeze them in Ziploc bags. I arrange the bags so they are as thin and square ...

Got Fruit at Different Stages of Ripeness? Make Fruit Salsa

I love to have fruit around the house, but sometimes I end up with too much fruit to keep up with. Between farmers market season, CSA boxes, and impulse shopping at grocery stores, it’s easy for a ...

My Husband's Grilled Chicken Experiment

I can remember the first time my husband ever said to me, “I’ll grill some chicken tonight!” “Great,” I replied, “How are you going to do it?” His answer? “Oh, this is my special chicken!” And so ...