The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Rigatoni Pie Alla Vodka: a Terrifying Challenge Conquered

I love taking on challenges in the kitchen, and they usually involve baking. But for at least two years I’ve been curious about the process of making a Rigatoni Pie.

A Cooking Project for You and your Kids

Over the holidays, my girlfriend's daughter Amelia had a school project in which she was assigned to make a traditional dish. The students picked a country randomly from a hat and then had to ...

Grits vs Polenta: A Match of Equal Deliciousness

When I broke in my new kitchen a few weeks ago with a dinner party for friends, the star of the show was my Asiago cheese grits with fresh herbs. Just recently, my good friend Dan Smith of The ...

How to Cook with Pancetta

Now that you know how to make pancetta, I wanted to provide a few tips on cooking with it and recipes that highlight those techniques. Although pancetta is edible in the same way bacon is, its high ...

Viva il vino Italiano

In food, in wine and in the enjoyment thereof, no country rivals Italy. Prosecco, Italy’s fabulous fizz, is the rising star in the world’s sparkling wine scene. Pinot Grigio is America’s 2nd ...

Pork Involtini: Italian Grilling at its Finest

Just because Labor Day has come and gone doesn't mean you should pack up your grill. Standing over a flaming hot grill during the height of summer can have its challenges, so take advantage of the ...

Vegan Gnocchi: Potato Pillows of Goodness

There seems to be this unwritten phenomenon among The Chopping Block's employees, where after our Know Your Gnocchi class, someone who worked the class is inspired to go home and make gnocchi from ...

Passport to Italy

Italy is one of those places you can’t help but love. You’re guaranteed a good meal nearly anywhere, anytime, in every region. My love of Italy started on a trip during middle school, so I knew when ...

Our Upcoming Chef's Dinner Brings Back Memories of Italy

I have been to Italy twice in my life, once when I was 17 with my fellow high school students and once when I was 24 with my family. As you can imagine, both trips served very different purposes.

“Andiamo Per Bacari” with Italian Cicchetti

Ah, Venezia! It’s quiet, cobbled streets hide a secret world of ancient beauty, romance and divine eats! Even as a repeat visitor, I’m constantly lost in its back alleys of mouldering palaces and ...