The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Kate S

Kate is the General Manager of The Chopping Block at the Merchandise Mart. Originally from the East Coast, she moved to Chicago 8 years ago and loves the strong food culture of the city. She loves entertaining for friends, trying new restaurants, and cooking (of course). Her friends know not to eat until she's snapped a picture of any dish! She credits her mom and grandmothers for getting her interested in cooking at an early age. Her most utilized tool in the kitchen is the recipe book her late grandmother left her. Kate also enjoys traveling and is on a mission to visit each baseball stadium in America, but even then she's really there to sample the local food!

Rugelach for all of the Holidays

I’ve always loved the holiday season. I grew up in a household that celebrated Christmas and Hannukah, so the month of December was always fun! There was lots of good food and friends and family to ...

Apple Extravaganza

Every September, I convince my girlfriends to go apple picking, and until we go and eat half a dozen (fine, sometimes a dozen) cider donuts in the car, it never really feels like fall. There’s ...

It’s Getting (Nashville) Hot In Here!

Nashville has been on my list of places to go for a while. Between the food scene and the music scene, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. So when my friend and I found some cheap plane tickets, we ...

This Coffee Cake is Bananas

I recently was faced with an abundance of overripe bananas, and while my go-to in this situation is usually my mom’s banana bread, I was inspired by Banana’s Foster, another of my favorite banana ...

Chocolate Avocado Zucchini Bread

A while back I shared my mom’s recipe for perfect Banana Bread, then I shared my recipe for Blueberry Zucchini Bread. Now, in my effort to reign supreme as the quick bread queen, I’m sharing my ...

Pineapple Party

I’ve always loved pineapples. Not only are they delicious, and a real taste of summer, but they’re the universal symbol for hospitality, which we really focus on here at The Chopping Block!

What-A-Melon: Four Ways to Use a Watermelon

I look forward to summer for two reasons – softball and watermelon. Since eating a softball is frowned upon, I’m focusing on a few of the amazing ways you can enjoy watermelon. The first step is ...

Greece: A Spectacular Culinary Adventure

Two weeks ago, I was packing my bags for my big trip of the year – last year was Paris, Rome, and Florence – this year was Greece. I was looking forward to new sights, experiences, good weather, ...

Brunch Eats: Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Once or twice a year, a few of my girlfriends and I get together for a girls only weekend. We look forward to the getaway and use the time to relax and catch up. We change up the location each ...

April in Paris

Last year, when I came back from my trip to Paris in May, I shared the art of making homemade croissants. Recently, while planning my upcoming trip to Greece, I realized that I never properly paid ...