The Chopping Block

We celebrated Valentine’s Day here last weekend with one of the cooking classes (hands-​on Valentine’s Day course). Overall, we had a really great time! It was my first time in a cooking class (my wife’s second time, I believe), and for someone with a very basic understanding of how to cook /​bake, this class was great.
The class ran from 6−9pm, but ended a little bit late (no big deal). We prepared a five-​course meal, the cost of which was something about $ 125 per person.
The chef we had (Chef Hans) was wonderful. He had a nice demeanor, was a very informative instructor and was able to help out the students in the class without being overbearing. There were 14 of us, and we were in two groups of four and one group of six (the group of six was supposed to have been a group of four but they allowed an extra two I guess). The other couple we got paired with was super nice, and we enjoyed their company for the evening.
The menu we prepared was really good. We five courses were: (1) frise salad, (2) crab cakes with remoulade, (3) sweet potatoes and parsnips, (4) pork with bernaise sauce, and (5) flourless chocolate cake. The courses took time to prepare, of course, but nothing was especially difficult. I would estimate that everything took about two hours to prepare /​cook /​bake, and then the last hour we enjoyed the fruits of our labor. I would also estimate that we did 70−80% of the preparation work, with the remainder being done by Chef Hans or his assistant either before our arrival or during our time there. The venue also emails you a pdf of the recipes the next day, so you don’t have to take home the hard copy they provide you (which inevitably has food all over it by the time the class ends).
Once we finished with the food, we sat down and enjoyed it. All of it was delicious! Clearly, the chefs did a great job… but seriously, everything was great. The salad was light and balanced, the crab cakes weren’t too «seafood-​y», potatoes /​parsnips were sufficiently moist, the pork was tender and the cake was delicious! Was a great menu.
Also of note, they have a great selection of wines there, and they’re pretty reasonably priced (i.e. $ 20 per bottle). We were a little bit worried about this in advance, so we brought our own bottle (and they charge a $ 10 corkage fee per bottle), but in hindsight we probably should have just bought the wine there.
Overall, would highly recommend this place. We had a great time making food with Chef Hans and our classmates and look forward to trying these recipes again for a dinner party in a few weeks!

I’m not sure I could add any further color than what both Jacqueline B and Angela S shared regarding our Dinner Party Classics dinner, but I’ll give me top five tidbits about The (fabulous) Chopping Block.
1) The kitchen is modern and well-​appointed without being intimidating. If you’re a novice or a seasoned cook, you’ll find the counters, knives, pans, ovens etc. are accessible and efficient. You’ll learn real-​world, immediately useful knowledge to put to use in your own kitchen! They even email you the recipes after the class is complete.
2) The instruction is great. At times Chef Joe was a bit long winded, but he always came back to a technique or a bit of real-​world information that could be applied to the task at hand. From the proper ways to hold a knife, to working with bread dough, I learned quite a bit from one 3 hour class!
3) The food, both in taste and in quantity, was spectacular. $ 80/​class may seem a bit steep but you’re getting a high quality meal, pointed instruction, and, likely, delicious leftovers!
4) If you ever get a chance to make or eat the buttered rolls, they are SPECTACULAR. They are quite a bit of work, but they are amazing.
5) The facility front area (retail) is adorable and offers so many gifts and gadgets for the cook in your life!
If you’re looking to sharpen your cooking skills or plan an activity for a work group or a group of friends, definitely schedule a tasty experience at The Chopping Block!

First time attending for my wife’s 45^th bday. Let me begin by saying Chef Ron and Chef Kristy were amazing. The comfort level, experience, atmosphere and GREAT food Made this the best surprise bday event for my wife. I will return to take more and more classes. It’s An awesome break from the norm. Clean, instructional, and fun, this is a must for any occasion. Kudos to Chef’s Ron and Kiristy!!!

A week later and I am still thinking about the fun I had at the Chopping Block and more importantly the food… oh, the food! Perfecto…
I was lucky enough to spend an evening here cooking, wining, and dining with my Unilocal co-​workers. The class we took was called «Dinner Party Classics» and let me tell you, that food definitely became a party in my mouth. Delicious.
Chef Joey and his team were an absolute delight. The instruction was straight forward, fun, and high energy. I loved that the team kept things moving along, but also stopped after each step to answer questions and provide helpful tips.
Our menu for the evening was very appetizing:
— Roast Prime Rib au Jus
— Horseradish sauce
— Potatoes Anna
— Buttery dinner rolls
— Apple and pear crisp
Between the written instructions, guidance from Chef Joey, and assistance from the rest of the team, we were able to whip up an amazing (and filling) meal just like a pro! I can honestly say I would make these items at home. It was all fairly easy to do. Plus, I learned how to properly sear meat, chop veggies, knead dough, and more.
The roast prime rib came out juicy and perfect, and the au jus and horseradish sauce was the perfect touch. Potatoes were yummy, although ours did not turn out as visually appealing as some of the others. The apple and pear crisp dessert was surprisingly simple and such a sweet ending the the meal.
Last but not least, those buttery dinner rolls. OH. EM. GEE. I pretty much dream of these buttery little nuggets from heaven on the reg now (damn you Chopping Block!). I can’t even explain how delicious these are. They are made with butter, love, butter, and more butter so yeah, I guess that sums it up. It was quite the process to make these since we started from scratch. My team sure got a workout with all the kneading of the dough!
Overall, it was a fun night with food. The Chopping Block also offers a great wine list, so our group indulged in a bottle. If you get the opportunity, I definitely say take a cooking class here! They offer different themes, private parties, and a roster of talented instructors. Classes differ, but on average they seem to run about $ 80 a person per class. It’s a 3 hour class though and you of course get food out of it! We cooked enough for everyone in our group to enjoy a full meal with dessert, and take leftovers. Totally worth it.
Bonus: The Chopping Block offers adorable cookware and other kitchen items in their shop. Great gift ideas for the host/​hostess in your life!
Pro tip: You get a free glass of house wine when you check-​in on Unilocal!:)

Stop me! Please stop me now. I can’t quit eating the buttery dinner rolls I brought home after last night’s cooking class. I swear my belly is going to burst. First I ate one right when I got home. Then I ate one for breakfast… one for a breakfast snack… then I just kept going all day long. So bad, yet so good.
Cooking with Chef Joey and his team at The Chopping Block was an absolutely perfect experience. From the time I took a space at my cooking station to the time I left with leftovers in hand, everyone made me feel at ease, and they were so encouraging that I was almost convinced I could actually cook :-)
We had a mini holiday work outing here and got our chopping, cooking, and baking skills on with the Dinner Party Classics class. Our menu consisted of:
* Roast Prime Rib au Jus
* Horseradish sauce
* Potatoes Anna
* Buttery dinner rolls
* Apple and pear crisp
Everything made from scratch. Everything perfectly organized in perfect little bowls with the perfect set up to keep the process going. This place runs a tight ship, and the good thing is no one was left at shore. Everyone kept us on track, still giving us enough wiggle room to try our new skills, but also helped us move along.
The process was smooth as butter. And, speaking of butter, that was the word of the night. I swear there was butter in absolutely everything we made, and lots of it. Yep! Oh yippy yes!
We all worked as a team helping to make each dish. Some of us chopped while another one seared. One worked the dough while another watched the stove. I was so proud of us! And, Chef Joey took turns at each station demonstrating a new skill set. He made it all seem so easy.
During our class we sipped on a bottle of wine, and in the end got to enjoy our masterpiece menu. There were plenty of leftovers to take home, which I mostly tried not to share with my family. Nope, just a nibble until my kids convinced me to share my slice of prime rib. Sigh.
Excellent team experience. Bön appetito!

I had a ton of fun at a team building event at The Chopping Block. They make it a great experience and take care of everything for you! We were a group of eight, and had two chefs that worked with us to create our dinner. When we arrived, there were delicious appetizers waiting and a selection of beer, wine and soft drinks. After a bit of mingling, the lead chef walked us through a knife skills demonstration which was super helpful. I cook a ton but I picked up some tips which I’m already using at home. Then we broke into two teams, one to create the salad and dessert, and the other to create the main dishes and side. My main task was to create handmade pasta dough which we used to make ravioli. It was so fun and I learned something I’d never done before. It was nice because certain people in the group preferred to cook different items and everyone got to do something different that they were interested in. After it was all prepared, we enjoyed our meal. It was so good! It was also nice that we had our own personal bartender who took care of making sure our drinks were filled. The event was a blast and I can’t wait to go back for another cooking class sometime!

I just competed the Culinary Bootcamp I and it was wonderful! I would give it 4.5 stars but that is not an option. I was not really sure what to expect but it was a great way to improve my cooking skills and learn some things I am sure I will use for a lifetime. The class is good for beginners or people who have been cooking for awhile. I have taken many cooking classes before so I was worried that it might be a little slow. It was not and they did a great job of keeping all levels involved, interested and cooking. The class seems a bit expensive at first, but you receive instruction for 5 days and you take home all the food you cook during the day. I did not have to buy/​make anything for dinner for the whole week. I cannot say enough about the Chefs that taught my class (Lisa, Mario, Ron and Patricia). They rock and so will your cooking skills if you check this place out.

What a fun experience! Chef’s are great and very interactive. We did the tapas class, learned a lot and left stuffed. Would love to come back and do it again.

We love shopping at this beautiful store when visiting Chicago. They have fun quality cooking tools and gadgets, and we always find things to buy for our kitchen.

Came here in March with my girlfriend for the Hawaiian Luau couples cooking course. One of the best experiences I’ve ever had in a kitchen! The class was interactive, so we’re prepping all the raw ingredients, and our chef ensured that everybody was participating (6 to each workstation) and that our food was also being prepared correctly. The menu consisted of:
Mango and Shrimp Spring Rolls
Macadamia Nut-​Crusted Mahi Mahi with Volcano-​Spiced Pineapple Relish
Coconut Rice
Passion Fruit Chiffon Pie
Everything came out delicious! We loved the experience and can’t wait to go back.
Best,
Charlie

What neat concept. I know it isn’t a new one by any means and this place has multiple locations but I still think it is a great idea for groups. My company had an event here while we were all in one city and rented one of the kitchen rooms out. We chose Italian night so the food was tailored around that. A chef and 2 of his assistants were there to help us along the way and create a fun environment where we learned, and collaborated with each other. We created Bruchetta, Pasta Alfredo, Shrimp and Prosciutto Skewers, a Salad and Tiramisu. Most of this was from scratch, but not quite. For example some of the things that required a few hours of rest were already pre-​made for us. They also gave us some basic knife handle instructions while we chopped our ingredients.
While looking around the room, it appeared that everyone was having a lot of fun in their respective stations. In the end, we got to eat our food and it was very tasty.
They then give you a small sales speech (hey, they gotta make money) about their store and offered us a 20% discount since we were part of the event. They also tell you about their 1 week boot camps, their couple nights and their group packages.
I do recommend this place as a fun date night activity, but I think it really shines when you have a group of 8 – 16.
The only thing I can see that they could improve on is perhaps figuring out a way to have everything done from scratch like the pasta dough for example and the Tiramisu liquid that we dipped our lady fingers in. Both of those were pre-​made which I wish we could have been a part of the creation for.
All in all fun, and if I had one in my local area, I would return.

Very disappointing first experience with the chopping block. Booked within a week and then could not change. We had gift cards from our wedding. They charged us the full $ 165 even though no one else was on the wait list. Can’t say we will ever go back or recommend.

This was my second class at the Chopping Block in the Merch Mart, I’ll definitely come back soon for a third. The class options always make it pretty difficult to choose one over the other but my girlfriend and I were able to come to terms on a spring cuisine class.
Chef Mario was fantastic, incredibly easy to talk to and a great instructor. I liked how Mario welcomed any and all questions, regardless of how simple they may have been. Very animated and engaging instructor.
The support staff was great, everyone in the front shop were very nice and welcoming.
BYO is an awesome touch, we’ll probably bring two bottles next time. Great opportunity for a date night or double/​group date.
Overall, really enjoyed the class. Food was great and the staff was fantastic. We’ll be back for sure!

I completed the 1 week culinary boot camp 1 back in May and had an absolute blast. Though I don’t have many years of cooking experience, I knew this was a skill I wanted to improve on this summer. The 40 hour intensive was a perfect way to delve into culinary school. Food and cooking had always been important to me– and this experience has truly changed my life.
From knife skills to flavoring to food presentation, I’ve learned an incredible amount of information in such a short time. My class was 6 students, and we had 2 chefs per day instructing us. Everything was hands on– and all of the food we created was ours to eat and share!
I came from Ohio specially for this course, and thought I’d be the only one traveling from far. Turns out I was actually closer to Chicago than those traveling from New York, Texas, and Wisconsin! No matter where you’re coming from, it’s definitely worth your while.
I never thought I’d be able to master a chocolate soufflé until now. I can’t wait to cook for my friends and family. A huge thanks to the chopping block for an unforgettable experience.

I had a terrific experience at The Chopping Block.
A very professional staff and so warm and friendly !
The meal prepared by our group was fun and tasted
Very delicious ! Everyone wants to return for another
Class either together or individually. The drinks were
Good quality and we were served very well.
I am making another trip in the near future.

A large group of women went to a Chicago Neighborhood themed cooking class. What an amazing experience!
Chef Rochelle Rochelle and the rest of the staff are knowledgeable, friendly and funny. They are a well oiled machine and always make you feel welcome.
The food we made was excellent, and there was so much we couldn’t finish it all. Wine and cocktails were flowing the whole time.
You get a discount on the shop items when you take a class, and the items are already well priced. I noticed some things were a little below Williams Sonoma pricing. They have lots of Shun knives, and Le Crueset.
They have varied classes, including a knife skills class which I am interested in. When I come back to town this is something I’d like to make time for, and invite friends to join.

Umm… I LOVE THIS PLACE. I love to cook and I have a food blog, so I’m a little biased. This is absolutely my favorite type of date night activity. Learn about food as you cook it and then eat it!!! Automatic win.
My wife and I went to the Meat 101 class and learned three different techniques for cooking meat. And we got to cook three different kinds of meat — flank steak, pork tenderloin, and lamb leg. Since you are put in groups of four for the cooking, we were paired with this cute older couple from the suburbs. We had a blast cooking with them!
The instructor and assistants were very knowledgeable and enjoyable to work with. It takes a special type of personality to be an exceptional teacher and I thought ours did a great job. I forget her name, though.
We also saw that a check in on Unilocal here gave us a free glass of the house wine! We were the very first two people to ever utilize that according to the assistant. Crazy! We definitely want to come back. I wish I could come back all the time. It’s just a bit expensive for me. It’s understandable though, considering the quality of the ingredients. We weren’t shorted at all on quality and it was completely worth the money.
There are soooo many classes to choose from. If you are a seasoned home cook or someone who hasn’t yet figured out how to cook an egg, you will enjoy this class. And you will definitely learn something new and interesting either way!

TREVOR TREVOR TREVOR. boyfriend and I took an Italian cooking class this past Thursday. It was such an awesome experience, plus delicious food? What else can I ask for!
It’s located in the merch mart so it’s really convenient. It has a store with kitchen goods and such for sale and then they have mock kitchens and tables. Trevor and his assistant were such a pleasure to learn from. They were always smiling! Also, were extremely helpful, knowledgable, and encouraging.
We made shrimp scampi, caprese salad, handmade fettuccine with roasted red peppers and Gorgonzola sauce, and a plum and apricot crostata. Literally one of the best meals I’ve ever «made».
After we all cooked, we sat down with our group to eat our meal and I couldn’t stop eating. Portions were huge! They brought us out doggy bags for what we couldn’t finish.
$ 80/​person for me, is most definitely worth it. My boyfriend and I are talking about doing at least one class a month now.

It was a very fun place to go for a group outing. A bit expensive but well worth the experience. We were here for the bitter and sweet good buy party.
The best place to be dropped off is the corner of … Don’t know the best place to park but street parking is hard to find and the garage parking is expensive. The entry is linked to the main store then the main class room is a big one and the end is the group outing room with seats for 12 people.
Three delicious appetizers welcome us: Beef satay with peanut sauce, pork mini tostadas, and grilled mushroom bruschetta. I liked all of those. The beef stay was my personal favorite with the excellent peanut source. I love the mushroom bruschetta too which has a nice chewy taste with the crunchy mini bread. The pork tostadas were fully loaded which was a bit overwhelming to us.
With some red wine in hand and after a little speech form the check Kim, we were all set for the cooking table. The table I started with grilled potato, summer veggie ratatouille then grilled bass for the main course. First we cut up the small potatoes to half and put on olive oil, sea salt, and fresh themes. Sent those to the oven. Then we cut up all kinds of veggies, Onion, diced, garlic, minted, zucchini, diced, eggplant, diced, bell pepper, sliced. In short, we cut up anything in front of us. We were taught how to dice the onion without tears and how to beautifully slice up the basil leaves. Then we really cooked them separately in my favorite Le Creuset huge pots. Grilling fish fillet was another fun thing to do for me as I could never get the fillet in one whole piece when I flip them. I loved those huge All Clan pans which was big enough for 4 – 5 fillets at one time. My second batch was much better than the first one. Some of them have the perfect golden brown crust. See, the practice does make it better.
Another group did the salad and the delicious pesto sauce for the fish which was an excellent company for the slightly seasoned fish. The dessert making was over before I noticed it. The peach brown sugar tart has freshly cooked peach and perfect crust. And it is not overly sweetened. It was truly amazing with a bit whipped cream and a cup of black coffee.
The whole meal was excellent and we also got enough time to chat and also browsed the merchandises in the store. Really really wanted that $ 300 Le Creuset pot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience with Chef Kim and her two assistances. Definitely will try again when there is another chance.

Decided to try the sushi making class. It was very informative and a very good time. They start out with a mini lecture on what sushi is, how to buy and prepare the sushi, how to make tempura batter, and what the differences are.
You move to your work station where you have rice, veggies, and fish (spicy tuna, crab sticks, salmon, and tempura shrimp) to share between the group of six. There’s plenty to go around so there’s no worry about that. You make one regular roll, one inside out roll, and some nigiri.
Switch some up with your group mates then you’re ready to eat! I wish they offered some spicy mayo or eel sauce to go with it but it was good nonetheless.
We were nervous that it’d be difficult but the instructors walk you through step by step and guide you along the way. They make it very very easy.
$ 85 hours of informative fun. Not bad.
$ 10 corkage fee if you bring your own wine. They also have a full bar.

I’ll admit, when I saw the $ 80 pricetag for a cooking class called «Margaritaville» that did NOT serve margaritas, I was pretty leary… but it could not have been more fun. Totally worth it!
Our «chef» was Mario, and he guided us through the whole process, giving instructions on how to cut, how to cook and, most importantly, how NOT to do every step of the process. It was a fun way for groups to bond, plus eat a delicious meal afterward. We brought wine, but they charge a $ 10 corkage fee per bottle. Instead, we bought a couple of the $ 12 bottles they had on the menu, so it ended up being cheaper that way.
The class was perfectly sized: a group of five, two groups of two and our group of three. It gave everyone a chance to get direction but not too many cooks in the kitchen ;)
The best part was that there is a kitchen assistant who has pre-​measured ingredients, makes them appear at your fingertips at the appropriate time, then wisks away trash/​dishes. Cooking without doing the dishes? Yes please!
I would definitely take another class. What fun!
ps — you get 15% off anything in the store after taking a class, so how can you go wrong?