The Chopping Block  

   

New Year's Eve

 

Ring in the New Year

Kick off your New Year's Eve with a fun cooking class. We'll wrap things up by 10pm so you can move on to the next party or watch the ball drop on TV at home. Some classes are already sold out, but spaces remain in:

New Year's Eve Wine Dinner
Lincoln Square

New Year's Eve Wine Dinner
Merchandise Mart

New Year's Eve Gourmet Soiree
Merchandise Mart

Beer

 

Beer Geeks Rejoice

Chicago's beer scene is hopping these days. Join us for two special beer focused events coming up in January.

Chicago Beer Tasting with the Hopleaf's Beer Expert Michael Roper
Tuesday, January 21
7pm
Merchandise Mart

He Said, She Said: Food & Beer Pairing Dinner
Friday, January 24
6pm
Merchandise Mart


 

Win a Pot, Help a Charity

Stop in our stores to enter to win a Le Creuset Doufeu, the world's first self-basting cookware.

 

Ice in the lid creates steam and directs moisture into the pot which bastes the food resulting in rich, flavorful juices and very tender meat.    

 

Le Creuset will donate $1 per entry through December 17th up to $25,000 to Share our Strength, a non-profit organization which works to end child hunger.

 

 

Missing our Texts?

If you were a member of our Mobile Club, you may not be now.

Changes to federal regulations recently required members to opt-in again. If you missed that opportunity and want to continue to receive our text messages, text CHOP to 30364.

You'll never get more than two texts in a month. Plus, our Mobile Club is the ONLY place to get discounts on our cooking classes!
Join Our Mailing List
Get Geeky in our New Cooking Lab                      
 
Science is cool. Whether you prefer to learn from Bill Nye the Science Guy or Alton Brown, understanding basic science and cooking techniques will improve your food. We've developed a new series designed for both avid cooks and complete novices. Cooking Lab is a four-part series taught by Owner/Chef Shelley Young

Shelley Flips This series focuses on distinguishing parallels in flavor profiles and cooking techniques. You'll learn about flavor combination, plating and meal composition while working with a wide array of ingredients. See the day by day breakdown and sign up for this guided improvisational cooking experience.

But that's not all we've got coming up for food nerds.

Flavor Dynamics teaches you how to make sense of your sense of taste. Learn how to tweak the five basic flavors - Salty, Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Umami - and how to use herbs, spices, oils, vinegars and aromatic ingredients to create new and interesting combinations.

Our new Homemade Meals in a Hurry class focuses on mastering three three simple, freezable, do-ahead sauces. Just add a few ingredients and you have a healthy, homemade dinner ready in a flash. You'll go home with 20+ quick-fix meal ideas!

All of our technique-focused 101 classes (Seafood, Meat, Chicken and Pasta Workshop) feature new winter menus come January. The best way to become an expert at cooking? Enlist in a Boot Camp to delve deeper into a subject that interests you, from braising to baking. Get serious about your cooking in 2014!

Check out all of our just-released January cooking classes as well as lots of fun still to come in December.

The highlighted classes without links are offered on multiple days at both of our locations, so please search our class calendar for the best fit for your schedule.  

 

 

The Chopping Block
 
Healthy New Year
 
January is the time we all resolve to eat better and exercise more. How long will your willpower last this year?

Get some help sticking to your guns with our Healthy Resolutions class featuring dishes that are low in calories but don't skimp on flavor. You'll learn how to make Curry-Spiced Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs with Herb Yogurt Dipping Sauce and Saffron-Infused Couscous Salad and more.

While we are still in the middle of holiday (AKA sugar) season, it is possible to be generous without subjecting your holiday gift recipients to added pounds. Our Owner/Chef Shelley Young gives ideas for healthy gift giving, like a bottle of olive oil in place of the traditional plate of cookies, in this article in Today's Chicago Woman.  
The Chopping Block

Holiday Cooking with Kids

Do you have a budding young chef on your hands? If they try to recreate Cake Boss designs, prefer Giada over Dora and aspire to be on Masterchef Junior (there's a casting call coming up in Chicago on January 18th!), get them cooking with our classes designed for kids and teens.

Our Holiday Kids Camp in December is already sold out, but space remains in the Teen Camp on January 2 -4, 2014.

If holiday break doesn't work for your family, we offer classes every weekend at Lincoln Square. View our Winter/Spring calendar here. You can sign up for classes now through May!

Pinterest See how much fun your kids and teens will have in our Pinterest board with lots of pics courtesy of Susan Ryan Photography.

Photo Credit Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune

If you like to bake cookies with your kids, try these two holiday cookie recipes (including a gluten-free goodie) featured in Chicago Tribune's Just Kidding magazine.

Chef Sara Salzinski and Chef Melissa Novak share why these recipes are kid-friendly and fun.

Plus, get some creative packaging assistance and stock up for your next cookie swap!

 


The Chopping Blog Find Us on Facebook Twitter YouTube Pinterest Google+ Yelp Four Square The Chopping Block Mobile Club