The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Kate A

Kate is the General Manager of The Chopping Block. 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!

Smoked BBQ Oyster Mushroom Sandwich with Chili Crunch

It’s no secret that I love to grill! I’d venture to guess that I grill 5-6 days per week from Spring to Fall. From beef ribs, to hard cider chicken, to jalapeno poppers, to grilled eggplant to ...

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars

We all have foods that remind us of certain people, or places, or a favorite memory, or season, and the combination of strawberry and rhubarb hits all of those notes for me. I’m always on the hunt ...

Haitian Heritage Month – A Growing Appreciation of Haitian Food

When I met my husband almost 11 years ago, I was already a self-proclaimed foodie. I enjoyed trying new foods, new restaurants, and new cuisines, and my husband had to quickly learn not to eat ...

Mart Memories

It all started seven years ago at a bar. That’s how all good stories start, right? I had just finished a softball game, and I started chatting with one of my teammates, Gina. Somehow (not ...

Brioche Air Fried French Toast Sticks

Brioche is one of my favorite types of bread. It’s rich, buttery and slightly sweet, and like many delicious breads and baked goods, it’s of French origin. In fact, brioche is in some ways part ...

Cajun Chicken Andouille Pasta

It’s almost time for Mardi Gras, and while I’ve not had the true experience of being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, I’ve enjoyed many a fun food-filled trip in the Big Easy!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

It’s no secret that I have a huge sweet tooth! In my opinion, it’s not a meal unless it ends with dessert. My love of all things sweet has gone on for as long as I can remember, and I enjoy making ...

Gingerbread Pancakes

There are so many amazing holiday flavors this time of year to delight the senses – you’ve got chocolate, peppermint, cranberry, chestnut, eggnog, and of course, gingerbread, just to name a few. It ...

Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk for Thanksgiving

I absolutely love Brussel sprouts. We didn’t eat them much in my house growing up (my dad still turns his nose up at most green vegetables), but I’ve come to love them in my adulthood. I’ve had ...

Mac O' Lanterns

It finally feels like Fall in Chicago, and Halloween is just around the corner! While Halloween puts lots of attention on candy and all things sweet (Reese’s are my favorite), I was racking my ...