Score in February from Touchdowns to Love
February's calendar is full of celebrations that call for fun food.

Get your game on for Super Bowl Sunday on February 1st. Our special class with the authors of the first cookbook organized by kitchen tools, Kitchen Decoded, features a winning feast for football including three delicious dips as well as Turkey Chili and Buttercake Bakery's Famous Banana Cake with Buttercream Frosting.

Valentine's Day Next up on the calendar is the holiday of love on February 14th. Celebrate Valentine's Day with your sweetie as you make an elegant meal together including  Sautéed Scallops with Golden Beets, Oranges, Pine Nuts and Harissa in our Hands-On Valentine's Feast.

Our demonstration Romantic Valentine's Dinner includes a lavish meal featuring Horseradish and Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs with Saffron-Infused Polenta and Gremolata with a side of cooking instruction.

Our Date Night: Your Place or Mine? gives you an another opportunity to gaze lovingly at each other as you whip up dishes like Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Dried Fruit & Port Wine Reduction with Crispy Smashed Potatoes.

Couples Cooking: Under the Tuscan Moon heats things up with classic Italian dishes such as Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Polenta.

Finish up the holiday weekend with ideas for Breakfast in Bed like our Eggs Florentine Frittata with Hollandaise Sauce.

Fat Tuesday rolls in a little early this year on February 17th. Our Mardi Gras Party will transport you to New Orleans with a Cajun-inspired menu featuring dishes like Red Beans and Rice and Bananas Foster Bread Pudding.


Chinese New Year arrives on February 19th. Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with a menu featuring Shrimp and Ginger Wonton Soup with Watercress and Beef Chow Fun with Black Bean Sauce.


Please note some of the above classes are offered more than once at both of our locations. Please peruse our just-released February class calendars for the best fit for your schedule. 
 
Do You Love Wine but are Intimidated By It? 
If one of your new year's resolutions is to become more comfortable with wine, start with What's in a Sip? This class breaks down the components of wine in language you can easily understand. Learn how to discover what you like in wine and talk about it with other wine lovers knowledgeably.

Wine Sniff Thursday, February 12

7pm-8:30pm
Lincoln Square

Register now.

Our Sommelier Viktorija Todorvska works hard to demystify wine in her Building Blocks of Wine classes at The Chopping Block. In her first blog, she breaks down some common wine myths. 
Cheers to Chicago Beer
Michael Roper
Michael Roper, owner of Hopleaf, returns to The Chopping Block to take you on a tour of Chicago's contemporary beer scene. Enjoy a Chicago beer history lesson followed by samples from several noteworthy breweries such as Goose Island, Half Acre, Two Brothers, Metropolitan, Revolution, 5 Rabbit, Finch's and Solemn Oath. Beer beginners and connoisseurs alike will raise a glass to this class!

Wednesday, February 25
7pm-9pm
Merchandise Mart

Tips for Plating a Prettier Meal
Do you sometimes have trouble making your food look as good as it tastes? Our Owner/Chef Shelley Young recently provided some tips to PureWow to give their readers' plates enhanced visual effects. From everything to height to garnishes to sauces, these tips will help you plate just like the pros.  
We're Cooking Up Something New
Our Merchandise Mart location is currently undergoing some major changes. This location will be closed through January 11, 2015 as we renovate our storefront and Currant Kitchen. This renovation is just the beginning of a two-year rebranding process for our business that will include a new logo, website and remodeled facilities. It's all work we are doing to better define "The Chopping Block Experience."

 

Currant Kitchen: After?
Currant Kitchen: Before 

 

Gift Card Did you get a gift card for the holidays? Now's the time to spend it! Our annual Cookware Sale is here. Save 20% off all Le Creuset, All-Clad and Lodge Cast Iron in January.  
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