The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

The Right Salt for the Right Job

I have come to realize throughout all these years of teaching and cooking that something as simple as using the right salt, in the right amount, and at the right time, can make a huge difference in ...

Crazy for Le Creuset

I’ve become quite the Le Creuset collector over the past few years. Taking advantage of our employee discount at The Chopping Block has certainly helped to feed my little addiction, but I’m always ...

The Twelve Days of Cooking

Holiday shopping got you down? Can’t figure out what to get for the friend/family member/casual aspiring professional chef in your life? The Chopping Block and I are here to help with…

The Future of the Food Market

This is my family’s grocery store in Springfield, IL circa 1934. Those ambitious, hard-working young men in the picture are four of my great-uncles, struggling to run a Depression-era business ...

A Chef's Moving Checklist

So, as the saying goes, life happens while you’re making other plans. I was all set to write a follow up to my blog The Only Four Knives You Need in Your Kitchen. And then life happened, and we moved ...

Le Creuset Mini-Cocotte Recipe: Gruyere Mac & Cheese with Crispy Bacon

Last September, I wrote about the colorful round mini-cocottes from Le Creuset that we carry at The Chopping Block. Like ramekins, mini-cocottes are perfect for cooking individual portions, but you ...

A Chef’s Tour of Lyon, France: Part 2

Since my first blog post on Lyon last December, I’ve had a lot of questions on where to find the best kitchenware and the differences between American and French cookware stores.

We Won Big at the Oscars of Housewares Retailing

Last Saturday night, The Chopping Block received an award that is the equivalent of winning an Oscar in the housewares retailing industry. It was the final step in a long journey of applications, ...

Truffle Honey and Truffle Salt: Two of our Favorite Foods

If you've ever stepped through the doors of The Chopping Block, you've probably sampled our famous popcorn and other fresh delicious treats featuring Truffled Salt. We sure do love this stuff ...

Science Says Drink 8 Cups of Water(Melon) a Day, Right?

I’ve been in full-on summer mode for weeks now and between boozy popsicles, frozés and too many barbecues, I’m feeling a little parched. That’s why I was delighted to find that I could have my ...

Why Popcorn is the Best Snack

If you've been to The Chopping Block, you know we love to sample out the products we carry in our retail stores. We usually offer a variety of popcorn with different seasonings such as our famous ...

Give the Gift of Cooking with Gift Cards

As you start to think about your holiday gift list, you may be overwhelmed trying to come up the perfect present. Maybe you know someone's favorite store, but have no idea what to pick out within it. ...

The Building Blocks of Cooking: Tools and Equipment

In the first part of the Building Blocks of Cooking series, we covered essential spices, vinegars and oils that home cooks should have in their pantries. This month, we'll highlight kitchen tools and ...