The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Grilled Eggplant Three Ways

I find that eggplant generally gets a bad rap. I’m not sure if people are averse to its texture or flavor, or they are just not familiar with how to prepare it, but I absolutely love eggplant, so I’m ...

Summertime Barbeque Smoke Out

If you are like me, you would agree that summertime is the best time for cooking. With the gorgeous weather, cooking and eating outdoors just can’t be beat. All of the bountiful produce from the ...

The Easiest Way to Grill Fish and Seafood

It’s summer, and I’ve been putting the grill to good use. In Chicago, we need to seize each day of our short grilling season! I want meals that are simple and fast, yet also healthy and delicious. ...

How to Cook a Steak Accurately

Cooking a steak is one of the most basic skills a cook can learn, and yet it is one that eludes even the best of cooks. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t mastered the art of steak cookery. How many ...

Follow this Rule for Every Type of Grill

Summer has officially started, and I know many of us are excited to spend a lot of of it outside grilling! Here in Chicago, we are moving into phase 4 of re-opening, which means restaurants can ...

Summer Grilling isn't Cancelled

Memorial Day weekend is always called the unofficial start to summer. In years past, the long holiday weekend was a time for first of the year beach vacations, large barbecues with friends, swimming ...

Grilled Fish Tacos: A Twist on a Summer Classic

The hot summer months here in Chicago always make me think of a few things: milkshakes at Susie’s, burgers on the patio at Paradise Pup, and mostly, tacos. To be more specific, fish tacos. Don’t ...

Cooking en Papillote

After my previous post on grilled Ratatouille, a few people noticed that I had an aluminum foil pouch next to my cast iron pan on the grill and wanted to know what was in it. When I explained it ...

Grilled Ratatouille

Lots of people have summer gardens, and there is nothing more satisfying than eating the fruits of your labor for dinner. I often find myself with a lot of odds and ends in my refrigerator: a ...

Grilled Boston Beef Roast with Carrot Top Pesto

I recently got back from a “Beef Trip” to Certified Angus Beef® brand test kitchens in Wooster, Ohio. I was thrilled to learn about so many different cuts of beef from their meat scientist (never ...