Growing up in the countryside, I learned a healthy respect for weather. We had galoshes for rain, flashlights for when ice broke power lines and - for when the cold got the best of our heater – ...
It’s the time of year when I get inspired by fruits and vegetables growing in my yard. Every year, I grow new food but there is one vegetable you will always find in my garden: beets!
My mom, daughter, and I recently enjoyed our annual summer girl’s trip, and it’s one of my favorite traditions. This year we stayed in New Buffalo, Michigan but made stops in Saint Joseph, South ...
I am sure at some point in your life you have tried risotto. It is a very common menu item at restaurants, but most home cooks have not tried to make it for dinner because it seems very difficult or ...
My family and I just returned from an epic Italian adventure where we ate our hearts out! We spent four days in Rome and then another four days in Palermo, Sicily and did our very best to try all of ...
Summer is here, in all of its humid glory. The stands at the farmers’ markets are teeming with fresh vegetables and fruits, thank goodness, because I for one may not turn on my stove or oven until ...
When it comes to bold, comforting, and crave-worthy meals, Indian-inspired flavors always hit the spot. The warm spices, creamy textures, and complex layers of heat and sweetness are what make dishes ...
If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that preserves are a big part of my repertoire. I love pickles, fermentations, cures, brines, dehydration, you name it. I usually write about the more obscure ...
Don’t Toss That Pickle Brine: How to Reuse It in Your Cooking
If you’ve ever polished off a jar of dill pickles and poured the leftover brine down the drain, it’s time to rethink your life choices. That salty, tangy liquid gold is more than just a pickle ...
While I have shelves teeming with cookbooks, I’m often just as likely to find myself turning to the internet for inspiration. Don’t get me wrong - I still love paging through my books whether it’s to ...
Beyond the Ball: Crafting Creamy Stracciatella and Luxurious Burrata at Home
Remember that moment? The thrill of transforming humble curds into glistening, fresh mozzarella right in your own kitchen? If you haven’t experienced that cheesy magic yet, take a quick detour and ...
Make the Most of Your Local Farmers Market This Summer
Your local farmers market is probably coming into full swing! This is your chance to take advantage of local produce and ingredients. It really doesn’t get any fresher than coming straight from the ...
It has been four months since my last pasta blog, which is far too long for me. This one is so simple and truly one of my favorite pasta recipes of all time – ricotta gnocchi.
Better Than Takeout: Pork and Shrimp Dumplings Two Ways
There’s something magical about dumplings. Whether it's a bowl of comforting wonton soup on a winter day or the satisfying crunch of a golden potsticker, these little parcels of joy are worth every ...
Feast with Your Eyes: Simple Plating Tips for Home Cooks
Our students can always expect delicious food, but they are often surprised that it's so delicious since they just learned to make it themselves. As I recently watched students serve up their wedge ...
Get a Taste of our New Artisanal Breads Boot Camp with this Cinnamon Swirl Brioche
For the past few months, I’ve been collaborating with Chef Gram on The Chopping Block's new Artisanal Breads Boot Camp class. We’ve been developing a menu that we are so excited to share with you! We ...
After a cold spring, it’s finally getting warmer in Chicago! Street festivals and farmer’s markets are in full swing and there are so many options for both around the city. One of my favorite foods ...
When your husband brings home a bag of chocolate pistoles, there’s only one thing to do and that’s to make the most decadent chocolate dessert you can think of. In my book, this is Chocolate Pot de ...
There’s something in the air here in Chicago right now. And no, I’m not talking about seasonal allergies. Or the Midwestern impulse to make plans for every weekend of the summer. I’m talking about ...
Not Your Average Sandwich: Homemade Banh Mi That Packs a Punch
If your go-to sandwich routine is feeling a little... meh, it’s time to meet the Banh Mi. This Vietnamese classic is everything you didn’t know you needed between two halves of a baguette: crunchy ...
A Recipe Revival: Prosciutto Cups with Corn Custard
When I first started working at The Chopping Block almost 23 years ago, our class recipes looked a lot different than they do today (and I'm not just talking about our old school Comic Sans font!).
Now you might say it’s because I was raised in Wisconsin, but I claim there are few things that add that extra “umph” to any dish or dinner like a good cheese, and if you haven’t had fresh cheese, ...
I love to bake, and I’m frequently asked to bake cakes and cookies for all sorts of special occasions. It’s long been something I enjoy and has become more than “just a hobby” – although nowhere near ...
I'm back with another bean blog! It’s been a while since I’ve had the canned classic of "franks and beans" and it brings back some childhood nostalgia. I often like to pick foods to cook that I may ...
TCB Chef Wins America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation
If you watched America's Test Kitchen: The Next Generation you already know the great news: our very own Chef Alex Heugel has been crowned the winner of season two!
Although my family comes from Burma, many of our traditions are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, as my grandfather and my grandmother’s parents were originally from China. In Chinese culture, ...
Grilling season is finally in full swing, and I couldn’t be more excited! After years of not wanting to splurge on a grill and running through a few cheap charcoal grills (the red and black ones from ...
A coworker recently asked me what my favorite nontraditional herb is. It was a great question, and after a few moments of thought, my answer was tarragon. Its combination of minty, licorice, and ...
As a chef, I’m always looking for ways to stretch ingredients and make the most out of quality cuts. Buying a whole primal and breaking it down yourself might seem intimidating, but once you’ve done ...
Rhubarb is thriving this time of year here in the Midwest, both in home gardens and in the wild. Rhubarb is a springtime delicacy and gets us excited for the abundance of seasonal produce to come. ...
I’m always asked by friends, local to Chicago and those visiting, for the best places to eat in the city. It’s also a question we get a lot from students visiting for cooking classes like Culinary ...
Did you know that there is a large faction of people that celebrate Halloween in the summer? Move over Christmas in July, the new trend is spooky summers!
Spring has finally sprung here in the Midwest, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go spend my life’s savings at the farmers’ market. By this point in the growing season, I’m desperate for ...
Fluffy, Flavorful & Dairy-Free: Pancakes That Break the Rules
There’s a long-standing myth in the brunch world that dairy-free pancakes are, well... sad. Dry. Flat. Lifeless. The kind of breakfast that makes you wish you’d just grabbed toast instead. But I’m ...
I want to share a project my wife and I worked on together a few years ago. I felt inspired to share this because I have been noticing that as an adult, it becomes progressively more difficult to ...
Tasting the Trend: Can Hearts of Palm Noodles Replace Pasta?
If you're anything like me, pasta has always been a go-to comfort food, it's easy, satisfying, and endlessly customizable. But as much as I love a big bowl of penne, I don’t always love the calories ...
Pemmican is one of the most important foods that you’ve probably never heard of. Pemmican dates back several millennia as being made and consumed by the indigenous peoples of North America, ...
When you walk into Community Tavern, located on the bustling six corners of Portage Park, the sounds of busy Chicago traffic dissipate, replaced by upbeat, classic R&B and hip hop. The restaurant ...
Pancakes for Desserts? These Apple Banana Oat Pancakes Satisfy
I’ve always loved experimenting with ways to make desserts healthier. After a meal, I often find myself craving something sweet. While an occasional indulgence is completely fine, I enjoy taking on ...
For a weeknight dinner, few things beat a whole or half roasted chicken in my book. But my personal goal as well as our goal at The Chopping Block, is to bring home cooks to the next skill level. So, ...
I’ve just returned from a trip to the Catalonia region in northeast Spain, as a guest of the EU’s “Taste the Difference: Quality Wines from the Heart of Europe” campaign.
Crunch Into Tradition: Delicious Passover Matzo Granola
The holiday of Passover is currently underway. This eight-day holiday commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and escape from slavery. As the Israelites left the desert, they didn’t have time ...
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 ...
It is once again springtime here in the Midwest, which got me thinking about one of my favorite cakes to make. Since Easter is right around the corner, I thought I better share my absolute favorite ...
In my neck of the woods, Spring has been fickle so far this year. Flitting in and out so as soon as you get a glimpse of mild temperatures and vivacious green pushing up from the ground, the temp ...
I recently had the opportunity to check off a huge bucket list experience – dining at Alinea! Alinea is one of the top restaurants in the world. In fact, only 13 restaurants in the United States have ...
I cannot believe that The Chopping Block has been around for 28 years! I am in awe of my predecessor for building such a wonderful company that I can only hope to continue her legacy for another 20 ...
It’s Time to Grill! Make Grilled Greek-Lemon Chicken
The weather is still very inconsistent, but that’s not stopping us from firing up the grill. After many months of deliberation, my husband just recently purchased a new charcoal grill, and decided to ...
I can remember a few times that eggs have been expensive or hard to find, but I can’t remember the last time I had so much trouble first finding them on the shelf and then making myself fork over a ...
Grilled Sirloin Tip Roast on the Pit Barrel (or Your Backyard Grill)
Now that the temperatures are on the rise in the Midwest, it’s time to break out the grill! If you're looking for a beefy, satisfying main dish that won’t break the bank - or your calorie (or WW ...
Lemons truly rule in the Spring! Their bright yellow color reminds me that Summer is only a heartbeat away, their zip and tang reminds me how good cold lemonade is on a hot day, and lemon desserts ...
For me, there is no better start to the day than steak and eggs. It stands high in the ranks of any breakfast or brunch menu with the likes of Eggs Benedict or a hot stack of pancakes, and any diner ...
It’s my favorite time again: recipe testing time for a new How to Bake Breads class! Since the pandemic, home cooks have really taken to learning how to make their own bread at home. We offer two ...
A Taste of Home: Crafting Mexican Rice in Tradition
I grew up in a household with a mixture of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican cuisines. While these cuisines can have quite a few differences, there is one ingredient that ties them all together: ...
Lent is a tradition observed by many Christians dedicated to prayer, fasting, and reflection held the 40 days prior to Easter. These 40 days signify the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert before ...
I am tired of hummus. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes amazing, and I will never turn it down, though I have decided I have a new favorite bean dip. But if you are looking for a good hummus recipe, ...
Recently while making Ginger-Jalapeño Tofu Marinated Soup with Fried Rice Noodles, it happened again. I realized my food would have turned out better had I taken time to carefully read the recipe and ...
I am constantly cooking and trying out new recipes at home, including different cuisines from all around the world. One issue that this can present is not being able to cross utilize certain ...
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'll admit it's not typically a holiday I celebrate (green beer and Jello shots, yuck!) and now that I don't live in Chicago anymore, there are no bodies of water being dyed ...
French Onion Soup wasn’t the only reason Julia Child said, “It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions.” As far back as 3200 B.C., the onion was so central to our daily diet that it appeared ...
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 ...
From Chicagoland to the Coast: Finding the Freshest Catch
Each year, my family takes a trip to Florida. It's become a tradition that we always look forward to because we visit different parts of the state each year. There’s something special about escaping ...
Food has the power to bring people together. There is no social balm quite like sharing a table with someone. Over human history, one can find countless examples of treaties being brokered, feuds ...
We’re right in the middle of Girl Scout cookie season. I always look forward to seeing my friends post their daughter’s links on social media to buy cookies, and seeing the Girl Scout troops at our ...
I love preparing homemade pasta because it’s a really fun activity with extremely delicious results. One of our most popular classes at The Chopping Block, and my favorite class to teach, is our ...
Of all of the dorky holidays that we celebrate, Pi Day might be my favorite. Though I’d never describe myself as a math person, any holiday that honors an entire genre of dessert is worth celebrating ...
Cucumber Shrimp Boats: An Easy, Satisfying Alternative to Sushi Rolls
If you love sushi but struggle with rolling it at home, you're not alone. Getting the perfect roll can be tricky, and sometimes, you just want something simple without sacrificing flavor. Enter ...
New Zealand is a land of breathtaking landscapes, but its culinary scene is just as remarkable. From fresh seafood and world-class lamb to the legendary meat pies and Māori hāngī (traditional New ...
Anytime I need to feed our sourdough starter here at The Chopping Block, I’m overcome with the urge to bake something! I saved some discard from the feeding and decided to try something different. We ...
I don’t know about you, but I am way too old and way over going out bar hopping for St. Patrick’s Day - a tradition that is very prevalent in Chicago. If you are like me, then you would probably ...
At some point this month, we all looked at the price tag for a carton of eggs and gasped. I wandered the aisles of my local grocery store, thinking about ways to make a satisfying snack (or meal if ...
There have been quite a few birthdays at The Chopping Block recently. One of my favorite things to learn about people is their “Birthday Dinners,” or the meal that they look forward to each birthday ...
Are Carbs Really Bad for You? The Truth About Carbohydrates
You may have heard about diet trends like "cutting carbs," "low carb," or "avoiding carbs." As a graduate student studying nutrition, I get asked: “What’s up with carbs, anyway?” and “Are carbs ...
I am early for spring cleaning, but I recently did some organizing and cleaning out of my home. I came across a brand-new Cuisinart and my underused waffle iron. I am still working on a home for the ...
One of my favorite aspects of cooking is taking my favorite foods and reformatting them into something else. Pasta is an especially great format for this, particularly stuffed pastas because you can ...
Ever since the 1600’s, when the glass bottle and cork stopper became the preferred package for wine, we’ve been trying to figure out how to get the wine back out of the bottle!
Loaded Cereal for Gut & Brain Health: A Morning Power Bowl
Remember the Loaded Cereal trend on TikTok? It had its moment in the spotlight and while the hype may have faded, I’m still very much on board. If you missed it, the trend featured people piling all ...
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, ...
With Valentine's Day around the corner, Crème Brûléeis one of the first desserts that comes to mind. This classic French dessert has become something everyone knows and loves. It might seem daunting ...
Imagine you’re hosting a dinner party and there’s a particular dish that everyone is particularly enjoying - so much so that they want to try making it themselves at home. They will, pretty much ...
It’s almost time for Super Bowl LIX! This Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs (yes, again) will play the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs are hoping to make history and win their third consecutive ...
The Great British Baking Show has a very special and tender place in my heart. When my mom was coming to the end of her life and wasn’t able to communicate anymore, we would snuggle together on the ...
If you’ve ever met me, even for the course of an hour, it’s likely that kale has come up. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why, but kale has become a cornerstone of my cooking philosophy and a ...
Decorating cookies is so much fun for me! I love my “go-to” royal icing recipe, and I completely enjoy the focus it takes to decorate really pretty cookies.
Chicken and dumpling soup was a fall and winter staple in my grandmother's kitchen in Texas. I have had this thick and rich stew in many places and it can take different forms. I’ve tried thick ...
I am often asked the following questions: What is your favorite dish to cook? How did you start The Chopping Block? What is your favorite restaurant? What is your top cooking show? All of these ...
I am very proud of my Sicilian heritage, and I can’t believe I have never been there. My dad was born in Sicily and came to the states as a teenager and hasn’t been back since then. Until now!
2025 greeted me with a pretty bad cold. I spent several days bedbound with hot tea and honey, lozenges and a lot of cough medicine scrolling through social media until my eyes got blurred. I needed ...
The past year has been an exciting, fun, and challenging one for me. One specific event that happened last year was being proposed to by my now-fiancé. This was and remains to be one of my favorite ...
Salsa Macha is a Mexican type of chili oil or chili crisp with a toasty, smoky, and nutty flavor that is an amazing, underrated condiment! "Macha" derives from the word "machacar," which translates ...
Multi-tasking is a regular mode of operation for people these days and often gets a bad rap. Why do one thing when you can do two things at once? Whether I grade papers with a movie on or read a ...
On New Year's Day, I spent a few hours touring Flushing, Queens, which is home to the largest and fastest growing Chinatown in the world. Eating all the incredible food that Flushing had to offer was ...
Small Changes, Big Impact: 8 Easy Habits to Start Eating Healthier This Year
When it comes to building healthier eating habits, the idea of a complete lifestyle overhaul can feel overwhelming. If your time looks anything like mine these days, you know that there are plenty of ...
I’m all about following rules: I stop at stop signs, I accept a breath mint when offered, and I’ll never again wear horizontal stripes on my hips. But there’s one rule I break often and it’s the most ...
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 ...
Tasting Sicily: Our New Culinary Adventure in Italy
2025 marks our seventh year of bringing small groups of travelers to Tuscany to experience the iconic food and wine of this region of Italy with our Cook Like a Tuscan tours. This year, we are ...
After the holidays are over and life slows down again, it's the perfect time to stay in and make cozy meals. There’s nothing I love more than a really good bowl of soup, especially when I'm not ...
As I get older, it feels like each year goes by a little bit more quickly than the last. It can be easy to forget, without taking some time to reflect, just how much really does happen in 12 months. ...
Chicago is known for being a vibrant food-centric city – it’s one of the many reasons I was excited to move here over 15 years ago. We’re lucky to have so many delicious options and talented chefs ...
White Bean and Ham Soup: How to Use Your Leftover Ham and Hambone
It’s our family tradition to serve ham for dinner on Christmas, along with cheesy and creamy scalloped potatoes and sautéed green beans. I grew up in a Jewish household, so eating ham, especially on ...
4 Sweet and Sour Ways to Make Use of Seasonal Citrus
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: these dark, wintery days in Chicago really test my love for the Midwest. But there’s one bright spot in these gloomy days: citrus season! I don’t think ...
When I write a blog, I generally gravitate to a recipe that has multiple components with many steps and some sort of assembling. I enjoy being able to break down complicated procedures into a dish ...
When it’s my turn to make desserts, my go-to are usually pies, crisps and cobblers. For me, these desserts are much easier to prepare, probably because they are more formula-driven than recipe-driven ...
I’ll never pass up an opportunity to participate in a holiday cookie exchange, so when The Chopping Block revealed we were hosting an annual employee cookie swap in December I thought it was the ...
As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the traditions that bring us comfort, joy, and a little extra hope as we step into a new year. Across the globe, people have their own special ...
You likely have heard of samosas, a spiced potato or sometimes meat filled fried pastry. They are flavorful, crispy, and filling-amazing little treat. Burmese-style samosas are a bit different. Thoke ...
Prior to working at The Chopping Block, I was a teacher. School started early; my days started even earlier. I arrived well in advance of the first bell to prepare and get set for the day. This ...
Last month, I wrote about my love for homemade Parmesan stock. While it is absolutely the “secret weapon for soup season” as I claimed, I want to demonstrate a different use for the stock which is ...
7 Stress-Relieving Snack Foods to Keep You Calm Over the Holidays
The holidays are a season filled with joy, but they can also bring a good dose of stress. From last-minute gift shopping to hosting holiday dinners, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if ...
A Step-by-Step Guide with Video to Opening Champagne and Sparkling Wine
“Here’s to Champagne, the drink divine, that helps us forget all our troubles. It’s made from a dollar’s-worth of wine and three-dollars’-worth of bubbles.” (Anonymous)
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 ...
Many regions have their own variations of rice porridge, but "gruel" or the boiling of starchy foods dates back to prehistoric times where it was an early application of harnessing fire and cooking. ...
I love making signature cocktails for special occasions and this cocktail is definitely one of my favorites. It has flavors of rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, and cranberry, complemented with a splash of ...
As a chef, I've always believed appetizers are the unsung heroes of dining. These small but mighty plates set the stage for any meal, offering a chance to impress, indulge, and experiment, all before ...
My mother is what I’ll conservatively refer to as a Christmas enthusiast. Her dedication to the season is both authentic and egoless. She doesn’t need ostentatious displays of decorations in order to ...
A couple of years ago, I professed my love of bagels in my blog Everything Bagel Strata. It’s a delicious way to enjoy the classic savory flavors of everything bagels, smoked salmon, cream cheese and ...
Cook Like a Tuscan is a Hands-On Introduction to Italian Cuisine
I fell in love with Tuscany on The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour last fall. I had never been to Italy before, and this seven-day trip was the perfect introduction to the region's beautiful ...
Chewy, Chocolatey and Festive: Hot Cocoa-Peppermint Cookies for the Holidays
Now that another Thanksgiving is in the books, we’re on a fast track to the winter holidays. This can mean a lot of different things to many people, but for me, my holidays always revolve around ...
This is the time of year wherein everyone I know is traveling: between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it feels like my transplanted group of friends is in mass-migration mode, heading back to where we ...
When it comes to cookies, snickerdoodles hold a special place in my heart and are the first cookie I make each holiday season. Their soft, buttery centers paired with the slight tang of cream of ...
For a lot of us, the holiday season evokes many memories. I love looking back at the traditions we had as a family when I was growing up, and it’s fun to recognize how they evolved into traditions ...
I checked the weather for the week and saw rain, rain, rain, snow. Instant sadness. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing the first untouched snow on the ground and watching every holiday movie Hallmark ...
I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. My family reigns from the south, the west, and all throughout Asia. My parents are both retired, and it’s hard to get all of us in one ...
Have you ever walked into an international grocery store or an Asian grocery store and were overwhelmed by the number of different sauces, pastes, or vinegars, or the different types and brands?
The decorated windows, Christmas lights strewn on houses, and blow-up turkeys in neighboring yards epitomizes the honest reality that the holiday season is here! This means it is time for me to ...
If you have you never tasted a butternut squash pie, it might be hard to imagine that it is even better than a pumpkin pie. I am not saying that pumpkin pie isn’t delicious, and I know it is ...
Soup season is in full swing, and in my and many other chef’s opinions, what makes a great soup is a great stock. While homemade chicken, vegetable, and beef stock are great, I want to introduce you ...
Thank You to The Chopping Block: The Culinary Classroom That Shifted My Career Path
When I first started working at The Chopping Block as a class assistant back in 2010, I had no idea it would change my life. What began as a fun part-time gig (on top of my full-time gig at the time) ...
If you want to hear that there are lots of sparkling wines just as good as Champagne but cheaper, you need to ask someone else. Given the choice, I always recommend true Champagne, especially when ...
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 ...
Over the past month, my one-year-old daughter Willa has become increasing obsessed with pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and fall leaves. Before the autumn season, anything that resembled an apple ...
Students always ask me: What made you want to go into the culinary industry? My simple answer is: Nothing makes me happier than bringing people together over food. Thanksgiving is a day where ...
Many moons ago, I created a class at The Chopping Block called Modernist Boot Camp. This class was… long. And complicated to put on. And expensive. And of limited appeal. For these reasons, the class ...
Still have Halloween Candy? Make these Cookie Bars
Halloween is over and chances are, you might have some (in my case, a ton) leftover candy to deal with! My days of hosting a big Halloween party are over, but my daughter, Scarlett, is now 20 months ...
We have all been there - you buy an ingredient for a recipe and then you don’t know what to do with the rest of it! Or, you buy too much of something and then have to figure out how to use it all ...
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Crostata for Your Holiday Table
The holidays are quickly approaching whether we like it or not, so now is the time to start thinking about recipes for the holiday table and/or dinner parties with friends.
We’re here. Fall has arrived, and with it, the promise of a Chicago winter to come. Though the weather this fall has been deceivingly gorgeous, there’s cold, dark days ahead, and we all know it. I ...
I’ve never met a biscuit that I don’t like. Now that we are in full pumpkin season, I am finding ways to add them to my recipes. These pumpkin biscuits are slightly sweet, so flaky and delicious.
The Chopping Block has been teaching Culinary Boot Camp for many years, over 16 years to be exact. We’ve obviously tweaked the program during that time, but it’s essentially the same as when we ...
Fall is, hands down, my favorite season. The foliage, the beanies and most importantly, the comforting food. Every year, my friends and I host a potluck meetup with a bountiful table of food that ...
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit self-conscious when it comes to baking and pastry. I also have a very ornery dog with a huge appetite. He is too cute (and tall) for his own good!
Different types of seaweed have always fascinated me. With their amazing nutrient quality, I consider them a “super food.” At my university, I set up a tasting table to let others experience and ...
As we embrace fall flavors and start delving into holiday cooking and baking, it is the perfect time to get kids in the kitchen. Picture books provide a great starting point for ambivalent young ...
I always look forward to the change of season to Autumn. The crisp cool air, rustling leaves in the wind and colorful foliage make me nostalgic. During this time, we move from summer grilling to the ...
It's finally my favorite time of year: soup season! I am a big fan of one pot wonders packed full of flavor and satiety. I like to make big batches of soups or stews because they are easy to reheat, ...
I recently visited my hometown in Michigan as I often do, and on my way back I was passing through New Buffalo and passed a sign labeled Farmette. This immediately caught my interest as it just ...
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Healthy, Family-Friendly Snack Dinner
Let’s face it: some nights, as parents, we are just tired. And I’ll admit that I’ve been feeling this a lot lately. Maybe you had a long day at work, chased after kids, or tackled an endless list of ...
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 ...
This dish utilizes by far one of the oldest known cooking methods from across the world, not to mention one of the most labor-intensive ones as well. That's on account of having to dig a large hole ...
When the air is crisp, and the leaves have exploded in beautiful colors, what better way to celebrate the season than with a drink that tastes just like apple pie? Making big batches of this apple ...
The Unifying Power of Food: How Sharing a Meal Brings Us Together
There’s a story I often tell when people ask me why I became a chef. It wasn’t just about my love for food, though that certainly played a part. It was about the way food made me feel connected to ...
There are a few reasons why fall is the best time of year. The oppressive summer heat is abating, mosquitos are dropping dead, new and wonderful fruit is coming into season, and of course the most ...
Planning A Private Cooking Event for Your Next Corporate or Social Outing
Let’s face it, we’ve all received an invite to a corporate outing and opened it with dread. Team building is such a buzz word in the corporate world. People plan team building events in the hopes of ...
It's that wonderful time of year again - the weather is changing, and apple season is in full swing. That means Apple Fest is right around the corner! This is one of my favorite neighborhood events ...
Garam masala is a magical spice blend because it can be used in sweet and savory recipes. The name literally translates to “warming spices” because it contains a blend of spices that, when combined, ...
I know I’m not the only one who comes back from a weekend of apple picking in Wisconsin cursing myself for getting overeager in the orchard and wondering what to do with these pounds and pounds of ...
This golden mushroom beef stew is the best beef stew I’ve made to date. The secret ingredient? Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup. I must have been living under a rock, because in my 56 years on this ...
Apples are the true favorite fruit of fall, and with good reason. If you live in the Midwest, there's ample access to apple picking, and you can find a wide variety of fresh, crisp flavors at local ...
I recently visited my soon-to-be in-laws and was met with some trouble cooking them dinner. The possibilities were endless but somewhat limited because their nieces and nephews are so, so picky! The ...
I have always been obsessed with coffee, just like most of us are, not only for the taste but for the caffeine kick. Though recently, I have found myself drifting away from making myself coffee or ...
During the pandemic, people had the opportunity to explore new interests and old interests in new ways. Two innovations included virtual events and learning, which are here to stay. The Chopping ...
If you’ve been keeping up with The Chopping Block’s blog, Facebook page, and Instagram posts, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a lot of apple references! Well, it’s definitely the season with apples ...
Did you know that hamburgers are the most frequently sold menu item in the United States? So, it's no surprise that the second most popular item is French fries. What’s a burger without fries?! I ...
Fall in Love with Apples' Health Benefits and this Recipe
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. We've heard this old-school mantra all our lives. But just how true is that statement about the quintessential fall fruit?
Prior to working as an instructor at The Chopping Block, I worked as a private chef for about a year and a half. I have fond memories of this part of my career, and I often get a lot of questions of ...
As consumers become more health-conscious, the demand for grass-fed beef has risen sharply. In fact, The Chopping Block is excited to offer an upcoming hands-on class in partnership with Driftless ...
Wine & Cheese: Culinary Heaven or Eden? You Decide
You say you adore sea salt caramels and suppose it’s because they’re just so darn delicious! Sort of. In fact, we’re hard wired to crave the nutritional necessities of salt, sugar and fat in modern ...
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 ...
The Western term for barbecue typically refers to a low temperature, slow cooking method in a grill or smoker to achieve a tender and juicy texture. In the case of Korean barbecue or Gogigui, ...
Lincoln Square's Apple Fest is right around the corner, which gets me thinking about all things apple. When September rolls around, I am excited to go pick apples. The first thing that comes to mind ...
As a chef who's spent countless hours in restaurant kitchens, when I first heard about The Bear, I was intrigued. A TV show about the inner workings of a Chicago-based restaurant? Okay, that hits a ...
When we decided to relocate to upstate New York part of the agenda was to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Living in Chicago, this was one area of life that was definitely lacking. In order to ...
Is it apple season? Or pumpkin season? Or both? Some people have strong opinions on which fall flavor reigns supreme. I do love a pumpkin spice latte (I’ll admit that I’ve already enjoyed one this ...
Summer is coming to an end, but you wouldn’t know it with this recent heat wave that we’ve been having here in Chicago. The best way to cool off is to make some homemade ice cream. I don’t know about ...
How to Make Crispy Crunchy Fish Tacos Everyone Will Love
I spent a lot of time teaching our kids and teens camps this summer, and my favorite experience is seeing a young cook enjoy something they didn’t think they liked. This was the case when the teens ...
The grill is an elusive cooking tool here in the Midwest. It sits outside or in the garage all winter, accumulating snow and spider webs, until that moment in the spring where you can’t stand it any ...
When I saw that The Chopping Block was offering a Cooking for Life class, I was SO excited! The class is focused on eating to nourish your body and mind, which is exactly what I’ve been doing for ...
From Classroom to Kitchen: A Journey from Teacher to Chef
I spent a majority of my adult life teaching at a Reggio Emilia school in Chicago. “Reggio Emilia” is an approach to teaching that centers around the child as a person with developmental rights, each ...
There are lots of reasons to host friends and family at your home: to bask in the camaraderie of those you love, to celebrate an event or milestone, or just to have fun. I think for a lot of those ...
As a future registered dietitian studying nutrition, I try to make healthy home-cooked meals as much as possible, but that doesn’t always happen. However, there is one aspect of my cooking that gives ...
One of the best parts of planning a trip is researching the local food scene to make sure I hit all of the highlights. I recently returned from a trip to Maui, Hawai'i with my sister, and the food ...
As a teacher, I strive to nurture my students to be lifelong learners. I want them to make connections between learning in the classroom with what they do outside of the classroom and find learning ...
I will never tire of hearing the term 'simple and delicious' in regard to meals prepped and enjoyed at home. I am a firm believer in the notion of eating your first meal of the day within the first ...
Once upon a time in my cooking career, I worked at a seafood restaurant that featured an oyster bar, and it was one of my favorite experiences in my career. That job made me fall in love with all of ...
Food as Medicine: Nourishing Body and Mind in Everyday Life
Imagine that you visit a doctor or registered dietitian for a particular ailment. They hand you a piece of paper with a prescription (like the good old days) and all it says is to eat one cup of ...
Rosè wine sales are down, and that’s fine by me. Don’t get me wrong: I love a rosè and a nosh at the end of a day, a rich Spanish rosado to wash down barbeque, an elegant rosè Champagne to enhance a ...
My love for tomatoes started when I was really little, eating them straight off the vine from the garden. Tomatoes are so versatile, you can do just about anything with them. From eating them raw to ...
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 ...
Bean Club deliveries from Rancho Gordo are piling up! So, it’s time for another bean blog, but this time, we'll focus on a different legume. Occasionally, we get a grain or kernel as a special ...
The Joy of Visiting Farmers Markets: A Chef's Perspective
As a chef, my heart beats faster at the mere thought of visiting a farmers' market. There's something truly magical about wandering through stalls brimming with fresh, vibrant produce, artisan goods, ...
