The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

What's So Great About Cabernet Sauvignon?

I always planned to write a blog about Cabernet Sauvignon, because, in many ways, to understand Cab is to understand wine. Unfortunately, I wasn't really sold on the Cabernet we had on our wine list ...

Grow Plants Year Round with a Moving Game

It's finally gardening season! I started a garden for the first time last year, and it grew to 26 potted plants growing on my balcony. I moved some inside for winter and a handful of the ones that ...

Road Trip Diet Survival Guide

The two greatest roadblocks to dietary adherence for most people are maintaining as healthy a diet on the weekends as the weekdays and staying on track when traveling. Those of us in Chicago are ...

New Ideas for Breakfast

It is 7am as I write this. I woke up this morning as I usually do, ready for a cup of coffee but not breakfast. In fact, I rarely wake up ready for breakfast. I’m pretty sure some of that might be ...

How to Grill on a Budget

When I first started grilling, I was horrible. Either I burned stuff to a crisp, and it was raw on the inside, or I’d do the “set it and forget it” method, and somehow expect to cook meat perfectly? ...

Food Comics: Steak Techniques Part 1

We are pleased to introduce Food Comics from The Chopping Block where our resident Cartoonist Tom O'Brien illustrates his cooking adventures. In this first part of a three-part series, he ...

Buttermilk Cornbread that Out Breads the Rest

This cornbread recipe is by far one of the best cornbread recipes that I have made. I had a Southern-themed dinner party the other night that was inspired by a 5-spiced rib recipe. Since corn is ...

The Art of the Vinaigrette

I remember the first time a house-made salad dressing rocked my world. It was the summer of 1988, and I was bussing tables at a swanky new bistro in town. I was 17, and just beginning what would ...

A Chef’s Travels Through San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: Food and Faces

If you read my blogs, you know I love to write about my travels to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I’ve been traveling to San Miguel de Allende for 11 years now, and usually for at least a month ...

Trust Us, You will Devour this Monster Cookie

Oatmeal M&M + chocolate chip + double chocolate chip cookie = a confectionary everyone becomes excited about. Three recipes, one cookie means there is something for everyone. The doughs are all ...