The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine 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!

The Maine Event – A Girls Trip to The Southern Coast of Maine

My mom grew up in the small town of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. I was lucky to spend lots of time during my childhood experiencing snowy Maine winters and beautiful summers on Sebec Lake with my ...

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 surprising ...

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 bread ...

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 them ...

Recipes	Ingredients
Cooking Techniques	Cookbooks & Tools
Food News	Local Spots
Travel	Wine
Vegetarian	Gluten-Free
Kids	Baking & Pastry
Boot Camp	Retail

Kate A

Recent Posts

The Maine Event – A Girls Trip to The Southern Coast of Maine

Smoked BBQ Oyster Mushroom Sandwich with Chili Crunch

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars

Haitian Heritage Month – A Growing Appreciation of Haitian Food

Mart Memories

Brioche Air Fried French Toast Sticks

Cajun Chicken Andouille Pasta

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Gingerbread Pancakes

Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk for Thanksgiving

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