CLASSES
The Chopping Block is teaching you how to cook virtually! Virtual cooking has been part of our strategic planning for years, and we are excited to bring this curriculum to fruition. Get cooking in the comfort of your own kitchen with our virtual Demonstrations and Cook Along classes. Choose from:
Our Virtual Demonstration classes, via Zoom, are a fun opportunity to watch your chef in action. During class, your chef will teach you how to prepare the dishes while you observe and take notes. Our Zoom moderator will make sure your questions submitted through the chat option are answered during or after class. The recipe packet will be provided upon registration. Please note that some recipe steps may be prepared ahead due to the length of the class.
Our Virtual Cook Along classes, via Zoom, will have you and your chef cooking together in real time. We’ll provide you with the recipe packet and equipment list upon registration, so you’re prepared to get cooking, and when it’s over you’ll have a meal on the table! Our Zoom moderator will make sure your questions are answered live by the chef either during or at the end of class.
Please note: all virtual class sales are final. All virtual students will receive a recording of the class within 24 hours of the class that is able to viewed within one week.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 6pm CST
This class is in partnership with Common Threads and you can choose to make a donation to this national nonprofit that provides children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits that contribute to wellness. Common Threads equips under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play. The organization knows that food is rooted in culture and tradition so it promotes diversity in our lessons and recipes, encouraging our participants to celebrate the world around them.
Since 2003, Common Threads has reached more than 150,000 children, parents and educators across the greater Chicago, and more than 600,000 people across all of its markets. During COVID, the organization has shifted its efforts to virtual instruction, but has returned with limited in-person programming in Chicago and other markets. Donations received through this class will go toward Common Threads’ Giving Tuesday goal of $50,000, which will allow the organization to enhance and sustain its virtual and in-person cooking and nutrition education programming.
Our virtual classes will have you and your chef instructor cooking together in real time, or if preferred, enjoy the class as an engaging demonstration with the flexibility to prepare the dishes at another time. Either way, you will gain a full understanding of the techniques. Upon registration, chose which option is best for you.
Friday, December 3, 2021 6pm CST
The Christkindlmarket and Chopping Block are joining forces to bring you a piece of traditional German culture to the comfort of your own home. Join The Chopping Block's Chef Hans Mooser for a virtual cooking demonstration via Zoom featuring your favorite Christkindlmarket dishes. Guten Appetit!
This virtual class is being co-sponsored with Christkindlmarket, and The Chopping Block. Your class registration supports CKM and TCB.
Yes! You can make pizza from scratch! Learn a new skill in the comfort of your own home as our chef instructor virtually guides you through the ins and outs of making yeast dough from scratch, how to shape pizzas, and bake on a pizza stone for an extra crispy crust. We’ll teach you the step-by-step process on how to make an impressive Italian feast in this intensely interactive 2-hour virtual workshop.
Saturday, December 4, 2021 2pm CST
During World War II the Nazis took control of France and began to systematically plunder the cellars of France’s most revered wine regions; Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux. We will take a walk through history while drinking wines from these regions as we unfold the story of French resistance as the German wine Weinführers attempted to pillage the cellars of hundreds of wineries.
In this virtual class, sommelier Christophe Bakunas will discuss the history of World War II through the lens of vignerons, the battles that raged inside the country and the power of the French resistance in the world of wine. You will have a new understanding of a unique struggle that occurred in WWII as well as an introduction to three of the most prominent appellations of France. Six different wines, including a reserve Champagne, will be sampled in class today.
Saturday, December 4, 2021 6pm CST
Sunday, December 5, 2021 4pm CST
Our virtual classes will have you and your chef instructor cooking together in real time, or if preferred, enjoy the class as an engaging demonstration with the flexibility to prepare the dishes at another time. Either way, you will gain a full understanding of the techniques. Upon registration, chose which option is best for you.
In quality, quantity and pure enjoyment, Italy is the world’s greatest wine-grower. But until the 1950’s, most Italian wine was sold in bulk, with no reference to grape, region or vintage. How did this nation known for straw-wrapped bottles of plonk transform into America’s favorite import? Join Advanced Sommelier Mary Ross in this virtual wine seminar as we taste 5 favorite Italian wines paired, practice Italian wine terms and reveal how Chicago became the heart of Italy’s wine Renaissance.
Friday, December 10, 2021 6:30pm CST
Join food blogger and meal prep whiz Biz Velatini for a special virtual demonstration as she shows you how to be creative in the kitchen and savvy at the grocery store. Biz will teach you how to cook and meal prep for yourself while taking advantage of the deals at the store so you’re set up with a variety of delicious dinners for the week while saving money.
Biz was a typical home cook until she realized she needed to widen her culinary horizons, so she started getting busy in the kitchen and her popular blog, My Bizzy Kitchen, was born in 2008. She left her desk job to pursue cooking and blogging full time, and is now getting ready to launch her second cookbook, Cooking for One. In her new book, Biz teaches you how to prepare delicious, homemade food you’ll want to eat everyday with some advanced planning and prep. By utilizing a variety of ingredients, some prepared foods, an Instant Pot and some creativity, she shows you how to create endless new meal ideas that are perfect for single servings or increased in volume to feed a family. Because no one wants to eat the same dishes all week long, Biz will share her secrets on how to meal prep and make dinner exciting with a few simple tips and tricks that can be utilized at the grocery store and at home. In class today, Biz will show us just how doable meal prep can be by turning a chuck roast into three different meals (one featuring her viral Skinny Pizza Dough recipe) to make feeding yourself and your family a snap.
Saturday, December 11, 2021 11am CST
If you love tamales as much as we do, then join us for an intensively interactive 2-hour virtual class where our chef will teach you how to make these bundles of goodness from scratch, a celebrated tradition of the holiday season in Latin culture. We’ll cover all of the basics, so you can feel confident in making these Latin specialties from the comfort of your own home.
Sunday, December 12, 2021 4pm CST
The Christkindlmarket and Chopping Block are joining forces to bring you a piece of traditional German culture to the comfort of your own home. Join Chopping Block chef Hans Mooser for a virtual cooking demonstration via Zoom featuring your favorite Christkindlmarket dishes. Guten Appetit!
This virtual class is being co-sponsored with Christkindlmarket, and The Chopping Block. Your class registration supports CKM and TCB.
Friday, December 17, 2021 6pm CST
What could be better than spending an afternoon making homemade chicken pot pie from the comfort of your own home? Learn new skills as our chef instructor virtually guides you through all of the classic techniques in order to prepare this homey and seasonal meal in this interactive 2-hour virtual workshop.
Saturday, December 18, 2021 3pm CST
Have you ever wondered where and how Bourbon and Rye began in America? Was it the first charred, barrel aged spirit in global history? Join Christophe Bakunas virtually, our spirits expert, as our story begins in 1789 and weaves through the next couple of centuries in our unique American history of distilling brown spirits. Grab your favorite bottle as we shake and stir three cocktails.
To enhance your experience, we recommend you’re using the same spirits as Christophe during class. Reserve your spirits package now that includes Bull Run Bourbon and Journeyman Not a King Rye Whiskey, and indicate when you would like to pick it up at Lincoln Square prior to the class. We'll have it ready when you arrive, and you'll pay for the spirits at pickup. This package is priced at $128.88, and that price includes tax.
Saturday, December 18, 2021 6pm CST
Sunday, December 19, 2021 11am CST
Our virtual classes will have you and your chef instructor cooking together in real time, or if preferred, enjoy the class as an engaging demonstration with the flexibility to prepare the dishes at another time. Either way, you will gain a full understanding of the techniques. Upon registration, chose which option is best for you.
Thursday, December 23, 2021 6pm CST
Our virtual classes will have you and your chef instructor cooking together in real time, or if preferred, enjoy the class as an engaging demonstration with the flexibility to prepare the dishes at another time. Either way, you will gain a full understanding of the techniques. Upon registration, chose which option is best for you.
Sunday, December 26, 2021 4pm CST
Our virtual classes will have you and your chef instructor cooking together in real time, or if preferred, enjoy the class as an engaging demonstration with the flexibility to prepare the dishes at another time. Either way, you will gain a full understanding of the techniques. Upon registration, chose which option is best for you.
Join us for a virtual class celebrating the marriage of wine and cheese as it’s one of our most exciting taste sensations, from easy appetizers to an elegant cheese board, even Mac ‘n Cheese. Join Advanced Sommelier Mary Ross in this virtual class, and learn the secrets of successful wine and cheese pairing in this tasting of 5 prominent cheese styles mixed-&-matched with 5 wines. This seminar is fun and delicious for all wine and food lovers!
Thursday, December 30, 2021 6:30pm CST
Enjoy an evening cooking a mouth-watering feast while ringing in the new year. In this intensive 2-hour virtual workshop, our chef will guide through all of the techniques and skills to prepare this elegant-yet-approachable meal in the comfort of your home.
Friday, December 31, 2021 6pm CST
Join us from the comfort of your own kitchen as our chef leads a live, in-person sushi class at our Merchandise Mart location while you participate virtually at home. Watch and listen to all of the real-time action via Zoom while the chef teaches you the process of preparing and seasoning the rice, making maki rolls and nigiri, and reviews sushi vocabulary, essential tools and ingredients. You’ll have the opportunity to ask the chef questions in Zoom through the chat pane with the help of our moderator. If you need a maki-rolling refresher after the class, you’ll have access to the video recording for 1 week so you can review the skills covered.
Friday, January 7, 2021 6:45pm CST
Join us virtually for classes inspired by our most popular series in the history of TCB, The Building Blocks, featuring the skills and techniques all home cooks should know. Each class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of how to confidently make better decisions in the kitchen, cook delicious meals by opening your taste buds, and explore the basic science behind cooking. The skills covered in class will not only be very applicable to how you cook, but also stretch your knowledge in the kitchen and broaden your palate. Sign up for all nine courses or just the ones you like, but either way each week’s curriculum will provide you with a comprehensive and concise experience in order to build your level of confidence.
Saturday, January 8, 2021 10am CST
Join us for our most popular class… virtually! Join our Chopping Block Chef in real time for a chopping session that’ll have you mincing, slicing, and dicing vegetables and herbs like a pro via Zoom. Knife care, selection, sharpening and honing are also covered. You’ll be able to hear and see everything the chef is doing in class, but also have the opportunity to ask questions in Zoom through the chat pane with the help of our chef/moderator. If you need a refresher after the class, you’ll have access to the video recording for 1 week so you can review the skills covered.
Saturday, January 8, 2021 12:30pm CST
Want to make fantastic cocktails that are slim on the waist but don’t skimp on flavor? Then this is the class for you! Join spirits expert, Christophe Bakunas, virtually as he teaches you how to shake and stir three homeruns that are packed with flavor but low in calories.
Friday, January 14, 2021 6:30pm CST
Join us virtually for classes inspired by our most popular series in the history of TCB, The Building Blocks, featuring the skills and techniques all home cooks should know. Each class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of how to confidently make better decisions in the kitchen, cook delicious meals by opening your taste buds, and explore the basic science behind cooking. The skills covered in class will not only be very applicable to how you cook, but also stretch your knowledge in the kitchen and broaden your palate. Sign up for all nine courses or just the ones you like, but either way each week’s curriculum will provide you with a comprehensive and concise experience in order to build your level of confidence.
Saturday, January 15, 2021 10am CST
Have your cake and eat it, too! Join us in the comfort of your own home as our chef instructor virtually guides you through the ins and outs of making cupcakes and frostings from scratch. Have fun whipping up impressive treats as we cover essential baking and pastry techniques in this intensely interactive 2-hour virtual workshop.
Saturday, January 15, 2021 2pm CST
Sauces have the power to elevate a dish and transform it from good to amazing, and with a little guidance from our chef you’ll be well on your way to making sauces like a pro. In this intensively interactive 2-hour virtual class, our chef will teach you how to prepare sauces perfect for the cold weather that are loaded with culinary techniques designed to make your food pop at the dinner table. We’ll give you lots of serving suggestions for your sauces along the way, so you can put them to use in the coming weeks.
Sunday, January 16, 2021 3:30pm CST
Why is one wine lemony and refreshing, while another is chewy and meaty? Why does one wine complement shrimp and another a juicy T-bone? Join Advanced Sommelier, Mary Ross, virtually as she shows you how the answers lie in four simple variables that determine all wine flavors. Learn these variables to understand how all wine is the same and each wine – sometimes each bottle – unique. We’ll also explore wine history, wine chemistry, food pairings and practice professional tasting techniques. This class is a must for entry-level wine drinkers and a fun refresher for aficionados.
Friday, January 21, 2021 6:30pm CST
Join us virtually for classes inspired by our most popular series in the history of TCB, The Building Blocks, featuring the skills and techniques all home cooks should know. Each class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of how to confidently make better decisions in the kitchen, cook delicious meals by opening your taste buds, and explore the basic science behind cooking. The skills covered in class will not only be very applicable to how you cook, but also stretch your knowledge in the kitchen and broaden your palate. Sign up for all nine courses or just the ones you like, but either way each week’s curriculum will provide you with a comprehensive and concise experience in order to build your level of confidence.
Saturday, January 22, 2021 10am CST
Celebrate the Year of the Tiger by learning how to prepare Chinese favorites in this virtual class. Join us from the comfort of your own kitchen as our chef leads a live, in-person Chinese New Year class at our Merchandise Mart location while you participate virtually at home. Watch and listen to all of the real-time action via Zoom while the chef teaches you how to prepare the delicious recipes. You’ll have the opportunity to ask the chef questions in Zoom through the chat pane with the help of our moderator. If you need a technique refresher after the class, you’ll have access to the video recording for 1 week so you can review the skills covered.
Friday, January 28, 2021 6:15pm CST
Join us virtually for classes inspired by our most popular series in the history of TCB, The Building Blocks, featuring the skills and techniques all home cooks should know. Each class is designed to teach you the fundamentals of how to confidently make better decisions in the kitchen, cook delicious meals by opening your taste buds, and explore the basic science behind cooking. The skills covered in class will not only be very applicable to how you cook, but also stretch your knowledge in the kitchen and broaden your palate. Sign up for all nine courses or just the ones you like, but either way each week’s curriculum will provide you with a comprehensive and concise experience in order to build your level of confidence.
Saturday, January 29, 2021 10am CST
French macarons take a bit of finesse to get that...je ne sais quoi. Join us virtually in this 2-hour intensively interactive class as our expert pastry chef guides you through every step of the technique as you learn and practice how to make these elegant cookies filled with buttercream and jam.
Saturday, January 29, 2021 2pm CST
Learn how to prepare a variety of delicious Asian dumplings and fillings in this 2-hour intensively interactive virtual workshop. Join us from the comfort of your own home as our chef shows you just how creative you can be with using store-bought gyoza and wonton wrappers to create an assortment of dumpling favorites from appetizer to main course.
Sunday, January 30, 2021 3pm CST
