Purple Masthead  

   

Cook with Dad  

First Mom, Now Dad 

Mom's special day is this weekend and Dad's day is coming up soon. Treat them to a fun cooking class with the kids.

Kids Cook with your Mom Sunday, May 12 10am
Merchandise Mart

Kids Cook with your Dad
Sunday, June 16: two classes!
Merchandise Mart
Lincoln Square

Grilling with Dad on Father's Day
Sunday, June 16 11am
Lincoln Square
 
Cook with Mom

   

Cooking up Summer Fun 

Kids and Teen Cooking Camps are back starting in June.

Kids 7 to 11 years old have their choice of three different four-day camps, featuring hands-on cooking and lots of eating. In our five-day Teen Camps, teens ages 12 to 16 experiment hands on with simple yet sophisticated menus that they'll enjoy recreating at home.

Learn more.


Kids in the Square  
Kids are taking over Lincoln Square this weekend! Bring the whole family out to enjoy story time, teddy bear picnics, face painting, family yoga, photo booth pictures, button-making and many more events at Kids in the Square.

O
ur chefs will be teaching children how to make
guacamole and tortilla chips. It's a great hands-on activity, and they will be able to take samples with them!

Saturday, May 11
9am-2pm
Giddings Plaza, Lincoln Square

Learn more
 

Coq au Vin  

You Too Can Make This

We love it when we hear from our students that they actually are cooking what they learned in class.

Boot Camp grad Lesley recently made this Coq au Vin, and it was a big hit!

She says Boot Camp gave her confidence in the kitchen, and she had fun. "I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My experience was most positive, and I look forward to cooking with The Chopping Block chefs again. You are all the best!"


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After April Snow, Gardens Finally Grow       
 

Lincoln Square Garden
Lincoln Square Community Garden
Now that April is behind us, let's hope the crazy weather we've had this spring is too. At our plot in the Lincoln Square Community Garden, we've finally got fennel, sweet peas, breakfast radishes, candy cane beets, golden beets, lemonade blueberries and Swiss chard in the ground.

We are bringing the farm to you in our new Farm to Table class. Hazzard Free Farm, located in Pecatonica, Illinois, will provide all of the produce for this class such as asparagus for Asparagus Bisque with Crispy Bacon-Potato Garnish. This cooking class is in tune with the season!

Green City Market Chef Demo
Shelley at Green City Market
Photo Credit: Chicago Food Scene
Shelley helped kick off the outdoor farmers' market season last Saturday with a demonstration at Green City Market. She made a croustade with Prairie Fruits Farms Goat Cheese, sauteed radishes, Three Sisters' pecans, kale flowers and micro mustard greens from Growing Power. This sharp appetizer does what it's supposed to: make you hungry! 

 

Experience the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market with our professional chef as your guide in our Farmers' Market Tour and Cooking Class in June. We'll purchase the best seasonal produce and bring our über-fresh ingredients back to our kitchen for an improvisational cooking class.

Check out all of our just-released June cooking classes.

 

 

The Chopping Block
 
Brewed by Monks, Adored by Beer Fans
 
Trappist beers are often regarded as the best-tasting beers of the world. They are brewed by monks in only seven places within Belgium and the Netherlands. Hopleaf's Beer Expert, Michael Roper, will take you on an educational, historic and delicious tour of Trappist beers in next month's beer tasting class.

Trappist Beer
A Trappist Monk Tests Beer
Photo Credit: The Guardian
Trappist Beer Tasting
Monday, June 24 7pm at the Mart

If a cocktail is more your style, let our chefs show off their shaker skills in Summer Cocktails & Appetizers. You'll taste perfect pairings like Watermelon Mint Mojito with Chimichurri Flank Steak Crostini.

We pay tribute to the classic morning beverage with a menu full of dishes that will wake up your taste buds like Arugula and Strawberry Salad with Brioche Croutons and Lemon Vinaigrette in Bloody Mary Brunch.

It's a great time to stock up on summer wines during our 10% off Wine & Accessories Salein May. Usher in warmer weather with crisp sippers like Allen Scott Sauvignon Blanc and save.

The Chopping Block

You Don't Need the Wheat in Sweets
 
Our new Chef Spotlight classes highlight our chefs' talents, passions and personal favorite recipes. 

Elana
Chef Melissa's Niece Elana
This month, we're featuring  delicious Gluten-Free Desserts
from Chef Melissa Novak. In her ten years of experience creating and testing her own gluten-free baking recipes, she has developed some amazing, foolproof goodies such as Strawberry-Lavender Shortcake with Vanilla Cream, which will be featured in this class.

Melissa often has her niece, Elana, taste test her creations and as you can see, this batch of cookie dough passed the test. Read more about Melissa and Elana's baking experiments in her latest blog.

This class is offered multiple times at both of our locations, so please search our class calendar for the best fit for your schedule.
The Chopping Block

Your Handy Boot Camp Reference Guide
 
Summer camp isn't just for the kids. From vegetables to sweets to a five-day intensive immersion course, there's camps for every adult cook, no matter your skill level.

Upcoming Boot Camps:
 
 Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at the Mart

Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 at the Mart

Sunday, May 26 at the Mart

Culinary Boot Camp 1
Monday, June 17 thru Friday, June 21 at the Mart

Grilling Boot Camp
Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 at Lincoln Square

Our Donut & Cupcake Boot Camps are offered at multiple times at both of our locations, so peruse our calendars for the class that best fits your schedule.
The Chopping Block

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