Celebrity Chefs, Thanksgiving Help & Order your Pies at The Chopping Block

Holiday Pies

With another successful Apple Fest under our belt (see the pics here), our pie makers are getting ready for our next challenge: bake hundreds of Thanksgiving pies. We offer two pies, two days and two pick up locations to make your holiday stress-free.

Our deep-dish Apple Pie is chock full of Granny Smith Apples and served in a 10" cast iron skillet. We're so confident this pie is a winner that we're entering it in the "pro" division of the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest this Sunday. Wish us luck!

Our classic Pumpkin Pie is spiced to perfection and served in a 10" disposable aluminum pan.

Order here for Tues. 11/20 pie pick up at Lincoln Square.

Order here for Wed. 11/21 pie pick up at Lincoln Square.

Order here for Tues. 11/20 pie pick up at the Mart.

Order here for Wed. 11/21 pie pick up at the Mart.

Apple Pie

Hopleaf Beer Tasting

Beer and food lovers hail Hopleaf with its out of this world beer selection and Belgian specialties. Owner Michael Roper brings his beer knowledge to The Chopping Block next month. You'll taste several beers that define a specific style and have a unique historical story to tell. Beer beginners and connoisseurs alike will raise a glass to this class! You'll also enjoy a sampling of Beer-Steamed Mussels during class.

Monday, November 12 7pm
Merchandise Mart

Sign up here.

You've Got Mail

Have you ever taken a cooking class and left your recipes behind? Now, you don't have to worry about keeping up with your paper copies. As a courtesy to our students, The Chopping Block now emails you your recipes the day after your class. Share them with your friends and family and give them tips and advice you learned in class. It's just another way we are trying to achieve our mission of "Getting the Country to Cook".

The Chopping Block Hangout: Grilling Fish

Hangout with Us

We recently held our first live Google+ Hangout. Chef Michele tackled the technique of grilling fish while some of our followers submitted their questions live. Watch the Hangout by clicking on the picture above. Be sure to follow us on Google+ to be in the know about future Hangouts and join our conversation about cooking.

Like food porn? Follow us on Pinterest to see amazing dishes we make in our cooking classes, as well as fun food ideas for every occasion. We've got boards for Bacon Lovers, Food Artists, Food in Jars, Waffle Wonders, Minis and lots more. Happy pinning!

Meet Celebrity Chefs

We are thrilled to welcome two James Beard award-winning chefs to our kitchens soon.

Ming Tsai's Simply Ming in Your Kitchen

Simply Ming Ming Tsai is no stranger to The Chopping Block, and we love when he brings us a new cookbook. His fifth book includes over 80 recipes that are quick, easy and affordable with shopping lists that can be downloaded right to your phone.

Plus, there's a new twist with this cookbook: Each recipe contains a QR code so you can have Ming in your kitchen with you as you cook. Simply scan it with your smart phone and watch a video of Ming demonstrating the techniques and methods you'll need to create each dish.

Students will receive a signed copy of the book, as well as a sampling of Ming's favorite recipes.

Tuesday, October 30 12pm-1:30pm

Merchandise Mart $45/person

Norman Van Aken's My Key West Kitchen

My Key West Chef Norman Van Aken is known internationally as the "founding father of New World Cuisine" and for introducing "fusion" to the culinary world. It was in Key West that the chef first found his passion for cooking and where the unique cultural make-up of the island really influenced his cuisine.

Van Aken's new cookbook "My Key West Kitchen", co-written with his son, chef Justin Van Aken, is literally the father-and-son team's love letter to the island. Part cookbook, part travelogue, part memoir, follow the two as they stroll through the streets of Key West, reminiscing and recreating dishes from "little joints," established restaurants, and from the kitchens of friends and family past and present.

Chef Van Aken will demonstrate his favorite recipes from the book during the class, which includes a signed copy of the book.

Thursday, November 8 12pm-1:30pm

Merchandise Mart $45/person

Thinking Thanksgiving

It's time to think Thanksgiving! Whether you are cooking your first holiday meal or you've done it for generations, we have something new for you in our Thanksgiving cooking classes.

Want the ultimate test run for the big meal? Our Thanksgiving Workshop lets you create the entire feast, hands on, in real time. Cover turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, savory pudding and pumpkin pie.

Want to go into even more depth? Our most popular and comprehensive class Thanksgiving Crash Course gives you a clear timeline, chef tricks, shopping lists and classic, well-tested recipes to ensure your success in the kitchen.

Turkey Carve

After roasting your turkey to perfection, you don't want to cave on carving. So, take our FREE How to Carve a Turkey class. Did we mention it's FREE?

Dietary restrictions don't have to make for a lean holiday meal. You'll learn meat-free masterpieces like Sweet Corn and Gouda Bread Pudding with Shiitake Mushroom Gravy in Vegetarians Eat Thanksgiving, Too. You can leave the gluten behind with dishes like Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo and Sage in our new class A Gluten-Free Holiday.

Chef Carrie rolls out pie dough.
Photo courtesy of darelphotography.com.

Get new ideas for remaking your leftovers like Turkey and Potato Croquettes with Mushroom Gravy in our new Delicious Thanksgiving Leftovers class.

If your pie-making skills could use some sweetening up, our Holiday Pies and Tarts will give you techniques to create stunning desserts like Apple Cranberry Pie and Sweet Potato Pie with Praline. Plus, you'll make a pie to take home!

All of our Thanksgiving classes are offered at multiple locations, days and times, so please view all of our just-released November classes on our website.

Get Your Grill On Before it's Too Late

The chill in the air means it's almost time to put our Lincoln Square patio into hibernation for the winter. But there's still time to enjoy an outdoor grilling class before the weather turns wicked.

Grill Demo

Conquer spice rubs with dishes such as Cumin-Spiced Beef, Onion and Pepper Kebabs with Chimichurri and Couscous in Beef on the Grill this Thursday, October 11.

Learn how to combine unusual ingredients for a perfect pairing like Grilled Fennel Salad with Cannellini Beans in Rendezvous Under the Stars on Friday, October 12 & Saturday, October 27.

Our Beer, Bourbon & Beef class on Saturday, October 13 and Friday, October 26 features hearty football fare such as Grilled Beef Tenderloin Sliders with Caramelized Onions and Blue Cheese.

Enjoy The Thrill of the Grill on Friday, October 19 and be a better briner after making dishes like Brined and Grilled Jerk-Rubbed Chicken Breasts.

Get your fill of Wood-Fired Apple Cobbler plus other grilled delights in Fireside Feast on Saturday, October 20.