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The Chopping Block

@the_chopping_block

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The Chopping Block is Chicago’s premier recreational cooking school, private event venue and gourmet retail and wine 🍷 store. We'll get you #cooking!

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That jar of honey in your pantry can do more than sweeten your tea.

#chef @nealbukiet's latest blog puts it to work in three meals:

Breakfast: Honey Cashew & Seed Granola with yogurt and blueberries.
Lunch: Honey Butter Grilled Cheese with Chili Crunch, complete with a crisp, caramelized crust.
Dinner: Honey Mustard Shrimp with Crunchy Cabbage Salad.

And for a sweet finish? Honey & Thyme Olive Oil Cake with Whipped Honey Yogurt!

Which would you make first? See link in bio for the recipes and take the honey challenge in your own kitchen.

#TheChoppingBlock #CookingWithHoney #HoneyRecipes #HomeCooking #CookingTips #ChicagoCooks taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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3 hours ago

Who says pasta salad is just for summer?

Our Autumn Harvest Pasta Salad brings roasted butternut squash and sweet potato together with crisp Honeycrisp apple, dried cranberries, crunchy almonds and salty feta. A maple-Dijon dressing ties all those sweet, tangy and savory flavors together.

Make it ahead for weekday lunches, and roast extra vegetables while you’re at it to use in other meals throughout the week. A little prep now means less work later!

Get the recipe from @foodtabulouschicago at the link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #PastaSalad #FallRecipes #ButternutSquash #MealPrep taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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a day ago

Want to cook Indian dishes at home but aren’t sure where to start? Get to know your spices.

Earthy cumin, citrusy coriander, fragrant cardamom and golden turmeric each bring something different to the pan. And how you use them matters: toasting whole spices or blooming them in oil helps bring out their flavor.

@ajw.author's latest blog explores common spices, flavor pairings and garam masala, a warming blend that varies by region and kitchen.

You don’t need to fill your cabinet with 20 new spices. Start with a few, experiment and build confidence one dish at a time.

Read the full guide: see link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #IndianCooking #Spices #GaramMasala #HomeCooking #CookingTips #ChicagoCooks taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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2 days ago

Could your measuring cup be changing your baked goods?

How you measure matters. Flour packed into a cup can throw off the balance of a recipe, while weighing ingredients helps keep those ratios consistent.

In our latest blog, we put oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to the test: one batch made with measuring cups and spoons, another with a kitchen scale. Both were delicious, but the weighed batch had a better texture and more oat flavor.

See link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #BakingTips #HomeBaking #BakingScience #OatmealChocolateChipCookies taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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3 days ago

Few things say fall quite like breaking through a bubbling layer of Gruyere to get to a bowl of rich French onion soup underneath. 🧅

Tomorrow night, you can learn to make it yourself in our Hands-On Simmer and Savor: Cozy Soups and Stews class. You’ll also make Crab and Andouille Gumbo and Chicken and Herb Dumplings while learning the techniques that make soups and stews so deeply flavorful.

Tuesday, October 13 at 6pm
Ready to get cozy? Sign up through the Class Calendar link in our bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #ChicagoCookingClasses #ChicagoFoodies #CookingClass #HandsOnCooking #SoupSeason #FrenchOnionSoup #ComfortFood #FallCooking #LearnToCook #LincolnSquareChicago #ChicagoEats taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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4 days ago

Why do we call it beef instead of cow, and why is there no ham in a hamburger?

A question in our Culinary Boot Camp sparked a closer look at the words we use in the kitchen.

@lilliser31's latest blog explores how language, geography, and marketing have shaped familiar food names.

Read the full story—see link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #FoodHistory #FoodEtymology #FoodForThought #HomeCooks #CookingEducation #ChicagoCooking taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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5 days ago

Some recipes belong in every generation’s cookie jar.

In our latest blog, @cbone_jones shares the peanut butter cookies that went from childhood lunchboxes to baking days with kids and grandkids. One simple dough gives everyone room to make them their own.

Gather your family, put out the toppings and make a batch together. A cold glass of milk is a welcome finishing touch!

Get the recipe and chocolate-decorating ideas—see link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #PeanutButterCookies #FamilyBaking #BakingWithKids #FamilyRecipes #HomemadeCookies #ChicagoCooks taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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7 days ago

Some days in Tuscany are unforgettable, and our day with legendary butcher Dario Cecchini in Panzano is always one of them.

Our travelers got an up-close look at the craft, tradition and philosophy behind one of Tuscany’s most celebrated butchers during a class at his famous butcher shop. Then came the best part: gathering around the table for an incredible lunch featuring plenty of meat, plenty of wine and the kind of hospitality that makes you want to linger all afternoon.

This is exactly what we love about traveling through food. You don’t just taste a place. You meet the people keeping its traditions alive, learn from them and experience their world firsthand.

A true highlight of our Cook Like a Tuscan adventure. 🇮🇹🥩🍷

#CookLikeATuscan #Tuscany #Panzano #DarioCecchini #CulinaryTravel FoodTravel TheChoppingBlock TuscanyItaly Chianti taken in Antica Macelleria Cecchini by @the_chopping_block

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9 days ago

Sweet Dungeness crab, buttery Ritz crumbs and just enough seasoning to let the crab shine. These are crab cakes worth gathering around the table for!

On a Pacific Northwest visit, @andrearosamiller went from pulling crab pots in Port Townsend Bay to cracking fresh crab with friends and enjoying homemade crab cakes.

The lesson for your own kitchen: when you have a delicious ingredient, you don’t need to overwhelm it. Use less filler and fold gently to keep those tender pieces of crab intact.

Read the full adventure and get the Dungeness crab cake recipe. See link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #DungenessCrab #CrabCakes #PacificNorthwest #SeafoodRecipes #HomeCooking #CookingSkills #ChicagoCooks taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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9 days ago

Craving a hearty dinner for a cool fall night? Cassoulet brings together tender white beans, savory meats and a golden-brown crust for a French classic you can make at home.

It takes time, but most of the cooking is hands-off. Our latest blog from Chef @s_salzinski breaks it into manageable steps, with flexible swaps like chicken thighs in place of duck confit and a finishing sprinkle of crisp rosemary breadcrumbs.

Get the recipe and step-by-step tips: see link in bio.

#TheChoppingBlock #Cassoulet #FrenchCooking #FallCooking #ComfortFood #HomeCooking #CookingWithConfidence #ChicagoCooks taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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9 days ago

We spent the day cooking, eating and drinking the most delicious wine in Tuscany today, including a bottle of Chianti Classico Riserva from 2006! by @the_chopping_block

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11 days ago

One of the best ways to become a more confident and efficient cook? Improve your knife skills.

Our most popular class, Hands-On Knife Skills, is Wednesday, October 7 at 6pm. You’ll get plenty of hands-on practice mincing, slicing and dicing while learning proper technique, knife selection and care, sharpening and honing.

These are foundational skills you’ll use every time you step into the kitchen.

Reserve your spot at the class calendar. taken in Chicago by @the_chopping_block

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11 days ago