The Chopping Block

We hosted an event for 20 people at The Chopping Block and had the best time! The chefs and staff were incredibly helpful and made it easy for everyone to learn new cooking skills, while still having fun and socializing. The space is great! We were upstairs and it felt like a real home kitchen. I cannot recommend them enough for events.

Culinary bootcamp was an amazing experience. The Chef instructors were very knowledgeable. They took the time to explain everything to make sure the class was successful. I was amazed how far students traveled for this educational opportunity. Everyone in the class was so nice and had so many different life experiences. I also took a night class while I was in Chicago. The gnocchi class was very informative and a great learning opportunity. Thanks for a wonderful week!

Everything was great! Chef Kelly and the other two chefs were great! They were all helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. I liked all of the four pastries we made in class. One note: in a previous class lunch was served and that would have been the icing on the cake!

This was a bucket list experience. All the chefs were amazing to work with, super helpful and knowledge. There is nothing like this out there with this quality. Couldn't recommend this more. From North Carolina, but will be back for future classes! Thanks Chefs!

Thank you Chef Dan and The Chopping Block for the tips and guidance in the Knife Skills class that I attended today. I learned alot of great skills that I can’t wait to share with my family and friends. Learning how to grip the knife properly for control and what the different knives were was very informative. The tips to clean, store, and sharpen the knives for them to last longer was also helpful. I can’t wait to use my new skills in the kitchen.

The Chopping Block was GREAT! Chef John was kind, considerate of different ability levels and full of wonderful tips. The same goes for Chef Trevor and Chef Mickey. We had a wonderful, fun and delicious time! We will be booking another session soon!

So throughly enjoyed the class with guest chef Dustin Harder. The class was so fun - he has a great energy and of course the food was delicious. He had so many helpful tips for making allergen-free food. The Chopping Block staff kept everything running smoothly with their prep, cleanup and expert advice. I left with a full tummy and a renewed zest for cooking. Thank you!

The chef boot camp at The Chopping Block was outstanding. It offered a great balance of professional skill building and technique, with tips to make home cooking of the same recipes accessible. Every day of the program is structured incredibly well. Our skills and confidence grew as the week progressed, creating opportunities for us to continually practice and refine the skills learned. My class offered a rotation of very talented instructors - I enjoyed the opportunity to learn from each of them as it really created a robust teaching environment with varying culinary perspectives. I traveled from out of town to take this course, staying in the same neighborhood. The area is lovely and I felt comfortable walking to and from class every day. Although there seemed to be a bunch of nice restaurants in the neighborhood, I did not get a chance to try them because I was so full at the end of every day. We ate everything we cooked, and everything we cooked was incredible! Within the first week following class, I made three of the dishes again! I decided to take this class because I love to cook but have never had formal training. This class exposed me to things I have read about and watched on TV - I now feel confident enough to try those things at home and continue to build on the skills that I learned. It was hard work, challenging in the best way, exhausting and so much fun! I would strongly recommend the course to anyone that is considering it - personally, I cannot wait to sign up for boot camp 2!

Knife class. Thoroughly enjoyed the class. I learned knife basics including knife use, cleaning, as well as chopping block use. Note that all the ingredients used to practice on are vegetables. I hope there's a follow up class on using knives on meats, nuts, etc.

Unreasonable rescheduling policy. I booked a class 1 month out then called them 2 days later to reschedule it to the next session. They refused to reschedule and instead canceled the reservation, keeping the $40 deposit. Now I have to decide if I want to re-book the class and give them more money. I would expect some leeway on the cancellation policy, given that all I wanted to do was switch to a different session and the class was still a month out so they'll have no problem filling it. The person on the phone was polite, but totally unaccommodating. Responding to the Chopping Block's response to my review: I was trying to reschedule, not cancel. You should allow a little flexibility in your policy. If someone wants to reschedule and the class is still 1 month out it costs you nothing to let them reschedule. I already booked a class with a different company, so you won't be seeing me again. There are lots of great cooking schools out there, so you should consider the value of good costumer service in a competitive market.

I had an incredible time at Knife Skills! If they ever offer a Knife Skills 2, sign me up. Everything was really well explained and it was nice to try some expensive knives that I wouldn't have had access to otherwise. Thank you, chefs!

My husband and I just wrapped up our second class at the chopping block and it was such a fun date night! The class was "hands on Christmas in the carribean" and the instructor was such high energy! Everything turned out fabulous -- I LOVED the jerk chicken. My only comment is that they do a lot of the cooking for you so it seems a bit more like a demo than a class. For me that's great because cooking intimidates me but others may want to do more of the work! We also got some cutting boards and a spatula for 10% off as part of the class. They also offer beer and wine for purchase by the bottle to go with the class. My husband loves to cook so I expect to come back some time for a special occasion since the classes are on the pricier side .

Chopping Block is the retail cooking store and shop in Lincoln Square. They've done a major remodel in the last few months and recently re-opened. They've really upscaled their place, and made the culinary instruction the focal point here, by adding three or four large butcher block workstations. Conversely, they seem to have pared back the the retail offerings considerably. They've added a large wine area at the front of the place near the windows as well. They recently closed their Merchandise Mart location, where I think many of the wine classes were held (at least that's where I attended one, and the wine area looked like this) so perhaps that's why they expanded the wine section. I have never taken a class here; I took my cooking classes at Flavour before it closed. But I may take a demo class here sometime if they offer them (I'm not a fan of the hands-on classes). In years past they've had a big holiday open house event around Thanksgiving where they demonstrate various techniques, have a few cooking demonstrations, sales, tastes, and so on. That was neat and informative so I'm hoping they have it again at some point.

This was the best experience! A very fun and creative way to change up a typical dinner out. As someone who loves to cook, I learned new tips and tricks involving knife skills while enjoying the food and instruction throughout the night. Our teacher JP was great about both giving direction but also letting us students experiment and enjoy the process. Our winter in toscana is a menu we'll be recreating!

Absolutely well worth the price and time spent, the Chopping Block offers so many different classes that take you through an immersive, hands on experience for whatever it is that peaks your interest. This particular class gave a 30 minute lesson at the beginning of the 2 hour class on the art and science of sushi , doing a deep dive into the importance of the rice. It's truly ALL ABOUT THE RICE! Get creative and be prepared to enjoy your creations at the end of the class, giving you an evening adventure that you can soon take home and prepare in the comfort of your own space and kitchen. The chefs are professional, knowledgeable, and very helpful during your experience. Visit their website for more class information!

Had a lovely experience with my mom during the hands-on pasta class! We made spinach manicotti and spaghetti carbonara. Delicious!!! I feel we really gained the skills to try this at home. The class was only 8 people so we were paired off in 2 groups of 4 which was nice because we had constant view from the chefs to help us along the way. While some parts we had to split the work with our table, I feel we all got to try our hand at something. The head chef, David, was super knowledgeable and friendly. The other woman helping was also so great (I am so sorry I forgot her name). They were patient, friendly, and made this class fun and lively. I would definitely come back for another class.

My husband and I took a knife skills class here. The instructor was excellent given that he was friendly, knowledgeable, and had a good sense of humor. We appreciated that 2 floating staff also helped with giving feedback and assistance at the tables. As part of the class, you get a handout with the skills covered in the class. One issue came up for us the whole class. We are average height (not short) and we could never see the chef clearly during demos because the people standing in front of us blocked our view. We had to continuously move to the sides of the table or the middle of the room to see. The staff never offered any solutions. I think there should be consideration given to this because your experience is much less positive if you are seated in the back row.

Highly recommend the Chopping Block for any food and drink related courses! The chefs are amazing, knowledgeable, and kind. I completed a five week culinary bootcamp and had the best time learning the fundamentals of cooking. It truly changed the way I cook and look at putting meals together. The bootcamp truly has given me a greater confidence in the kitchen!

Great experience! My husband and I took a surf and turf class; great menu and instruction. Food was delicious. The instructor was fantastic, so were the other two chefs who assisted. The main instructor was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Everything was explained clearly, and they answered questions and assisted along the way. I'm very much a beginner, my husband is much more advanced, and it was very enjoyable for both of us. Great date night option. They do pair you with two others, so be prepared to make friends or consider going in a group of four. Highly recommend!

Great experience!! Had a great time with family preparing the Late Summer Harvest menu. Our chef was Dino and he was really upbeat, personable and knowledgeable about the menu. Loved that he provided ideas on how we could ramp up the flavors even more. Very attentive and making sure we were preparing the foods correctly. Sous chefs were quick to help out with tasks and on the ready with keeping the area cleaned and stocked with ingredients for the next items on the menu.

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the in-person "Date Night: Spring Feast" demo and "sampling" (read: full portions) of arugula salad, herb-crusted halibut with sauteed mushrooms and leeks, risotto, and lemon souffle to finish. Executive Chef Lisa Counts did an outstanding job demo-ing the meal preparations, teaching us tips and tricks along the way, answering the group's questions, and providing a lot of entertainment throughout! The perfect date night/activity. The food portions were generous and everything was so delicious and tasted gourmet. It was a great meal, great group, great service and teacher, and great night! Chef Lisa also recommended a vanilla bean syrup that I ended up purchasing and have been putting in my coffee every morning. So good! Highly recommend the Chopping Block for either a cooking demo, class, or to purchase products. I took a sushi-making and Indian cooking class at the Merchandise Mart locations about a decade ago, and those were awesome as well.

My wife and I had a wonderful time taking a knife skills class here. Chef Trevor was an excellent instructor. All the assistants helping out were great too. The class started with an informative lecture before getting to the hands-on stuff. We learned a lot and walked away with an invaluable skillset we will continue to use forever! I can't recommend a knife skills class enough! They also have a store inside to purchase loads of useful kitchen gear. We bought a couple of cutting boards that have been wonderful so far.

I've taken cooking classes here (Moroccan and Spanish), as well as attended several of their events (Thanksgiving baking event, hosting party, and customer appreciation day's). The team at this location are wonderful to be around. I love their famous Apple pies baked in a cast iron-pan for the holidays! Each year I pick some up for a dessert option on our Thanksgiving menu, as well as some for friends/family. I look forward to these pies every year, and love sharing them with friends/family who are equally impressed. The only thing that is different this year is the omitted option to simply buy the apple pie; the fixed cost includes the cast-iron pan. Just a heads up... Apple Pie in cast iron: 5++ Pumpkin Pie in a disposable baking sheet: 5+ Love the Chopping Block, and this particular location!

We enjoyed a macaron class and had so much fun! Each chef took the time to help us learn technique, what we were looking for in mixing, etc. Answered our questions with care and genuinely felt like we learned a lot! Can't wait to try making macrons on my own

Cool school upstairs. Nice shop downstairs. That aside, this apple pie they sold for the Thanksgiving holiday was terrible. Where are the apples? It's just mush and too much lemon (probably what turned the apples to mush). I could also taste the flour on the crust. I expected better. Not the best, just better. Thank you for the skillet though.

I took a summer grilling class and didn't feel it was worth the money at all. I was in town for a few days and figured since I was by myself, I'd give the class a try. The menu looked great, and I usually like the social aspect of these sorts of classes. I had to work at that social part here, and that sucked a lot of the fun out of it for me. In addition, it was advertised as a "hands on" class, which I think was really an oversell. Starting with problem #1 - The social problem. Since my husband died, I do all kinds of things by myself. I rarely feel out of place and don't usually have trouble joining in. I did here. As a single, I was assigned a station at the very end, sort of behind the instructor with the hot sun in my eyes (for the first 25 minutes or so) and a very limited view of the grill area. I got a lot of heat off the grills and felt that this station really shouldn't be used at all - this kitchen comfortably fits 8, not 10. Back to the social issue, though, I initially thought that the class included four couples and me; and I wondered about the logic associated with placing the one single in arguably the worst station at the edge of all the couples. Turns out one of the couples was in fact two singles, but still, they paired off fairly quickly due to their placement around the ingredients and I was left off to the side like an afterthought. The class started with instructions to wash hands and a minute to purchase wine (a limited selection and by the bottle only), and then they jumped right in. None of the students were encouraged to socialize or introduce themselves. We did manage to develop a little conversation about halfway though and continued over the meal, but the whole process felt awkward. When it came time to dine, they had the tables set up for parties of 4, 3, and 2; which again felt awkward. The table for 2 would have been sort of excluded, so we ended up with 4 and 5. The staff were all friendly and welcoming otherwise, but I think they missed the mark on developing the social aspect of the class. As far as the class format, hands on was a stretch. The cooking portion was approximately two hours. The entire first hour was demo. We all got a little antsy standing in the heat and a few of us pulled over chairs since we weren't really doing anything. The chef explained things well, but he did everything himself. There were also steps that were done pre-class (scallop marinating, blanching corn, etc.). At 1 hour and 15 minutes in, I cut a sweet potato into 6 wedges and slid the husk off one ear of corn. There were a few more tasks handed out, but due to being off to the side as a single, I couldn't reach any of them before they were claimed. I sat bored for a while until chef asked if I wanted to grill. I grilled some corn and sweet potatoes wedges and sat down again. That was the extent of my cooking. As someone who learns by doing and feeling, this was disappointing. At 8, the meal was ready. After re-figuring the seating and making our plates, we sat down to eat. The meal was ok - good, but not great. There was plenty of it and a few people took home leftovers. We started to relax and enjoy the dinner, but it felt rushed. By 8:30 (a few minutes after being served the dessert), they were activity hinting that we should wrap it up and head on out. By 8:40, we were out of there. This class cost $170 with the wine (which I only drank half of); and I really feel like that was way too much for what was mostly a demo class for me.

I think the Chopping Block Retail Store is amazing... They have: Great ideas for the chef in your life...wife, husband...girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, sister, brother, kids, best friends, wanna be boyfriends/girlfriends...and they PACKAGE THEM RGHT! My Mami got me a ticket to come here for a cooking experience...but the STORE WAS ITSELF A MASTERPIECE...I WANTED EVERYTHING! *Upon Entering they had DONUT SOCKS...for the DONUT person in your life-in a donut shape..Pizza and Sushi Socks the SAME WAY... *Great Christmas Cookie Cutter Sets Packaged in a Box ready-for delivery only a bow needed! * High End Cookware-....see the pictures... *Birthday Candles with Matches in a Glass Jar I was blown away- you have to see it for yourself. FYI-I want to go back and buy the Candied Jalapeno Sauce-...see many Chefs use it in Chicago...reasonably priced...and seems "authentic!" While they do have cooking classes at a big, BAD COOKING COUNTER of a WOOD CHOPPING BLOCK that EVERYONE WHO TAKES THE COURSE CAN "CHOP ON" ...the STORE IS AN ENTITY IN ITSELF... THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TALKING ABOUT IT-RIGHT NOW-RETAIL IS WHERE I AM COMING TO GET GIFTS! FYI-JUST A 3 MINUTE WALK FROM THE WESTERN BROWN LINE STATION!

Took a basic knife skills class. The environment was intimate for learning without distractions, the chefs running the class were personable and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed my class

First time at this location I got wind of a customer free Appreciation event with Thanksgiving theme cooking My daughter and I enjoyed two types of Turkey stuffing wonderful scalloped potatoes and mushrooms hot chocolate and myself a winter alcoholic ale So much food , Christmas decor it really and learn how to smoke a Turkey

I'm no rookie to The Chopping Block and their fabulous classes, but I do always head to the Merchandise Mart location, so I was excited to finally give the Lincoln Square shop a try! I'm a baker by nature. I do cook, but I don't understand flavors, so when the Flavor Dynamics class popped up I was intrigued. This class is set to be more lecture style and less hands on, which was fine with me. I learned a lot, and tasted many bites along the way. I felt like I walked away with a ton of knowledge that I'll actually use, so I was pleased. Our class ended up running an hour late, which wasn't a huge deal, but I did have plans afterward that it started to eat into. Overall, I feel like The Chopping Block classes are always worth it. For the amount of food and knowledge you leave with, there's really no beating the price.

By far the best cooking classes/school I have ever attended. This is the 5th class our family has attended over the past few years and none of the classes disappoint! Everything taught in this class is easily digest-able for 1st time cooks or home cooks with a lot of experience. The best part of these classes are that the ingredients are easily and affordable to find and they teach you how to cook on normal home style equipment not restaurant grade stuff. Haven't tried a virtual class, but might try it for a date night in the near future. The grilling boot camp shown in the pictures is the most recent class we have taken, but knife skills is also another great class to take. Grilling boot camp: all day course where you learn how to smoke/grill every meat style possible (steak, chicken, trout, pork, pizza, veggies, etc.) Tip: try checking in at the chopping block on yelp when you are at a cooking class and download the parking app so you don't have to leave class to fill the meter

First, let me say I love this place and have been here several times for a variety of food demonstrations. Tonight we attended the apple feast demo on the patio. It was pretty pricey at about $115 per person but we received larger taste portions than in a $70 demo. The food was amazing as usual and we learned some tips to take home with us. Sitting out on the patio was pretty cold and unfortunately they didn't have the heaters going. It was also somewhat noisy backing up to the alley. One area for improvement was in how long we waited to be served any food. The class started at 6:30 and we received our first plate at 8:30. Shortly thereafter everything came at out at once, so we had to quickly eat everything so the ice cream wouldn't completely melt on the delicious dessert (fortunately for that - it was cold out ). One other point of feedback were drink choices. Not alot. We never got to see a drink menu and our server told us that our only options were a bottle of red wine, white wine, or chocolate stout. No idea on prices either. For an event of this nature, I would have expected better drink pairings and options. That was a disappointment.

My partner and I did a knife skills class last month at the Lincoln Square location. We really enjoyed it! I felt like I learned a TON from the lecture at the beginning of the class, and am eager to apply that knowledge in my future kitchen purchases. Aside from some strange classmates, the entire class itself was great. The staff was friendly, accomodating, and professional, and their hands on corrections to my actual knife skills when we got to the applied part was all very helpful. We got to test out a number of different types of knives to see which brand/style works best for our own hands, which I really appreciated. Though I still don't feel that I'm a pro, I am working on changing my habits for the better based on what I learned. **and a note since I came to this class directly from work and wanted to know for myself: a light snack is provided when you arrive! (ours was bruschetta)

The Sauce Workshop was as fun & informative as all the classes I've taken at The Chopping Block. For 12 guests, there were 3 Chefs/ Assistants, so I had plenty of guidance. A delicious lunch & an afternoon nosh were served; I'm glad I remembered my carry-out containers! Lots of fun!

Not impressed with The Chopping Block's customer service/management. Unsavory experience trying to rebook a class - left a really bad taste in my mouth...pun intended.

I loved it and I would totally do it again. I came here for my friend's birthday celebration for a cooking class and the theme was taste of Thailand. Here's what I loved: 1.I loved that they offered coffee and tea to all the participants which was so nice! They even offered to make me a french press which was fancy. 2.I loved being able to look around their store at all of the cooking goodies, and it was so nice they offered participants a 10 percent discount on all the goods 3.Our chef instructor was the best. He was very high energy, fun, interactive and gave me some good knowledge when it comes to cooking. The other instructors were great as well! They came around to assist us and just were so pleasant. 4.It ain't cheap so you for sure want to make sure you get your money's worth. You for sure get what you pay! Depending on the class, you will be cooking expensive meat, multiple courses (we made a soup, salad, appetizer, and main dish), using pricey herbs, seasonings and sauces, and you will also cook with top of the line cooking gadgets and utensils (Le Creuset, All Clad). On top of it, the portion size of the food is huge! You will have plenty to eat and share with your team, and you will even have plenty of leftovers to take with you! Trust me, you will leave STUFFED. 5.You can buy a bottle of bubbly or wine to drink with your friends while you are cooking (price range 20-25). It's cheaper to just a buy a bottle. Don't bring anything in to drink because they have a hefty corkage fee (20.00) and it is NOT worth it. 6. I love the wine tasting they had at the end of class. You can try some pretty interesting wines for free and purchase what you like at the end. 7. It's clean! Like super clean! The bathrooms, sinks, cooking stations. They even encourage people to wash their hands like every 5 minutes which I'm on board with especially with flu spreading like nobody's business. Gotta keep it clean. Lastly, I would for sure come back and do another class again! Definetly check it out.

As some of y'all know I think Im a chef... I am continuously trying to update my recipe repertoire and decided to treat myself for my bday to a Meatless Monday cooking class for more recipes to add to my arsenal. I loved this class and the instructors were awesome. On the Menu: Cauliflower Buffalo "wangs" Moroccan Red Lentil Soup, Butternut Squash and Macaroni Gratin and Amaranth and Spinach Fritters. The Setup: You are assigned stations and depending on if you go with a group or not you may have to be open to talking to strangers :) of course you are working in a top of the line kitchen with knives and equipment that only one could dream of having at home. I liked that you were able to do everything yourself and still have the guidance of the chef and assistants just in case you need help. The chef shows you a lot of cool tricks for chopping, cooking and a few shortcuts that all chefs need to know. Once you are done with the menu everyone sits down and eats what they just cooked. You can also buy wine for an additionally cost. My favs: Cauliflower Buffalo Wangs- Ive already made them at home. I will attempt some of the other recipes but i know I will def have to doctor up the fritters they were my least favorite on the menu. I want to put my own spin on them and Im sure they will be amazing. The best thing is that all these dishes can be revised as vegan and one of the assistants guided me through that process. The team from Chopping Block I worked with was great. They were friendly, helpful and seemed as though they were having a great time as well. I also loved that you can purchase anything you worked with downstairs after the class for a small discount. Even though the location is kinda far for me and the prices are a bit steep I cant wait to get in the kitchen again.

Fabulous experience. I took a 3 hour hands on class, and had a good time. The Chopping Block is set-up as a cooking school for people to learn more about cooking techniques, particular meals & dishes, and to have fun. Thanks class that I took was on making tarts and treats. We learned how to make the dough for the crust, pound and roll the dough and place into muffin tray. We learned several techniques for whipping ingredients that would fill each pie crust. Definitely a good experience and I recommend trying it for yourself, as a couple, or even a group.

My husband and I did the "trip to Italy" cooking class with my parents and it was so much fun! JC took the lead teaching the class and he was excellent and funny. He didn't overwhelm you with information but answered all questions thoroughly when asked. The kitchen set up was spacious and well organized. You can order bottle of wine while cooking and eating. They have extremely resin ale prices on bottles. Once you finish cooking, you sit down to eat with your group. It was delicious! I learned a lot in a short amount of time about knife skills, how to cook specific ingredients, how to chop and julienne onions correctly. I would definitely come back again next time I'm in the area. Worth the money for the quality of food and a good time.

My girlfriend and I took the Tuesday Night Cajun class and we had an absolute blast. We have never taken a cooking class and thought this we be fun. We were not disappointed and really enjoyed our time. Our chefs, Ben and Jason, were great and really taught a good class. They let us do our thing, but made sure we didn't screw it up lol. We cooked friend oysters, muffuletta salad, etouffee salad and bread pudding. Everything tasted great and there were plenty off left overs. There is a nice drink menu or you can bring your own for a small corkage fee. Treat yourself here and book a class

Cooking, drinks, shopping, fun, food and a great team building experience! Come here every year for a team building experience with my coworkers! We always end up having a blast! Food we cook is great and you always have several options. I'm a pretty advanced on my cooking skills so I don't learn much, but I'm pretty sure others do! Who doesn't enjoy good wine, friends and cooking? Don't forget to check out the shop afterwards! Always end up with cool cooking items!

What a special treat this was as a gift from my family for Mother's Day! We did a rendezvous under the stars.. more like under the rain drops but it was still a blast! Great instructor Mario and entire staff were terrific! Learned a lot! Fillet mignon Scallops wrapped in bacon Succotash Flat bread Banana on grill and ice cream YUM! YUM! Price is Excellent value with quality and quantity of food! Do it!!

The Chopping Block is a lot like Sur La Table. At first glance, the storefront has kitchenware products. Follow your nose a little more in depth, and you will find cooking classes here. This review is rated from browsing only. There are two locations in Chicago: River North and Lincoln Square. We happened to be at the in the area for the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest, so we popped in for a bit. Store was organized and clean. We were greeted and helped by an employee right away. This level of accommodation is the main reason for my high rating for this store. I was interested in the cooking classes for this month. They even printed out an October schedule for me. Prices seem to be around $65, $85, and $100 per person. This place is perfect for those who want to learn more or brush up on your culinary skills. The Chopping Block is a friendly place to learn and browse.

Really, The only time I come here is during the Apple Festival on Lincoln Ave in Lincoln Square early October. The Chopping Block is known for their kitchenware and cooking classes. HOWEVER, during the Apple Fest they serve up a million apple pies... just imagine your grandma went overdrive in the kitchen.. The apple pies are that heavenly. They aren't overly spiced with cinnamon or anything. Chopping Block really focused on the filling, as in, welcome in those apple slices into your mouth!!!! The homemade whipped cream is low in sugar and adds a good filling. My favorite part is the crust.. the crust has this light burnt color but the pie doesn't have that burnt taste at all! The crust had good substance that isn't too hard. It is a very mealy crust that is tender inside. On the side, the only time you can get a slice of the pie is during the Apple Fest...because they only cook the pies for the Fest and Thanksgiving season. They do also sell the whole pie, but since it is cooked in the cast iron, it costs over $50 for the pie since you get to keep cast iron. Secondly, I have only seen the pulled pork sandwiches from Chopping Block also from the Apple Fest! These things were tender with a perfect amount of sauce. Now the bbq, I think it was also house made because I couldn't recognize the flavor! But the flavor, it was a good flavor! The unique part of the pulled pork was the pink coleslaw. It wasn't heavy on the vinegar and added a verrrrry good crunch to the sandwich. It is fair to say, when I go to the Apple Fest, I always stuff up at The Chopping Block! 9/10

First timer at the Chopping Block, but Lisa and Sue made us feel like regulars. Great date spot--probably an even better double-date spot as we were in a group of four with another randomly-assigned couple--luckily they were super nice. The one warning I'd give is to eat something beforehand because the 6pm-9pm class is about 2.5 hrs of cooking with the eating portion starting around 830pm. Lisa is extremely energetic and helpful while Sue was bouncing around answering questions, too. Parking was pretty straight-forward (probably a total of $8 for the 3 hours). The store will likely be locked if you arrive early, so try to arrive closer to the start time. The cooking portion was definitely worth the money considering you get a full meal plus leftovers out of the 3 hours. The tips were very helpful and we took plenty of notes. We'll be back, so thank you to Lisa and Sue!

My hubby and I have been here twice for date night (Cuban and France cuisine) and both have been terrific experiences. We've had our classes both downstairs in the retail area, as well as upstairs in the larger kitchen. Each time, the chefs are super hospitable, knowledgeable, and helpful. I will say that the larger the group, the less time/explanation there is for more hands-on tips, techniques, assistance, and guidance. Obviously when you're purchasing your ticket, you have no idea whether the group is going to be small enough where they place you downstairs in the small kitchen, or upstairs in the large kitchen, so it's just part of the gamble. You do have to purchase your ticket well in advance, as classes fill up and sell out. After class, you are offered exclusive discounts on the retail items for attending classes (think 10-15% off), which is kinda nice. You are allowed to bring your own drinks, and they charge a $15 corking fee. Honestly, if you're picky about your own wine, then I suggest bringing your own and paying the corkage fee. If you're not so much a wine snob, they do have a lot of different, nice quality wine bottles to choose from. Of course, none are cheap, so just be aware. I've also done a corporate event here with my company (six of us total), where you get to choose your own menu. All good experiences. Highly recommend.

Only speaking to the retail side of this location. Stopped in for cake pans this morning and asked about emulsions. You'd think staff would have an idea of what this is or help assist where to find. The staff though seemed to not care that much and not really helpful. Left feeling annoyed again. I'd hope you put passionate people in your stores, especially for people like me who value the Le Creusets and Rosles of the world.

I came here with 3 of my friends for the steak/chicken empanadas/flan cooking class. We had a great time, the chef was very informative and helpful, we learned alot! Everything turned out delicious. Parking was easy to find in the front. One star less because drinks were not included, as in coke/sprite etc., this was not even offered to us. We don't drink alcohol so wine was not an option, so we had water with our meal.

I popped in here recently while in the neighborhood and they were having a free wine tasting which was really nice. They have a nice assortment of high end kitchen goods as well as the class options.

The cancellation policy is absurdly strict. My husband and I had plans to go to the pasta workshop together and were so excited about it. Our son got unexpectedly VERY ill on Wednesday night and the Chopping Block wouldn't even give a partial credit for a future class when I called to tell them we couldn't come. Nope, no flexibility, no compassion -- we are just out the money forever. The irony is that my husband and I love to cook and this could have been a new, fun experience for us to do on many date nights in the future, but we will NEVER give them business again. I don't know what benefit they reap by such a stringent policy, but I'm incredibly disappointed in my entire customer experience.

This place is really nice. Great finds for your kitchen and your Epicurean taste buds. They offer all kinds of cooking classes (both demonstration and hands-on) I've been wanting to take a class and I think I will gift it to myself for my upcoming birthday since I can't seem to find anyone to take it with me, I'll just have to go on my own which shouldn't be a problem since everyone that either works here or shops here is super friendly. How can you not be friendly with yummy aromas and flavors all around you. I got a jar of jelly with a jalapeno kick that would be perfect on a bagel with cream cheese. I also found yummy cookies and rum balls. There are tons of gadgets for your kitchen really cute aprons and lots of knick-knacky stuff. You will definitely not find Target prices. So my being on a budget, I have to be mindful of what I can and cannot afford but I love walking into The Chopping Block. A few weeks ago I came in after the breast cancer walk and they were having a customer appreciation event. This means there were lots of foods to sample (both from the items that they sell and from the demo classes), wine and great discounts that I had to take advantage of. So if you are ever in the Square, then just drop in, you never know what you will find. Enjoy!

Dearest [The] Chopping Block, You have all the right ideas but you seem to lacking something. Don't get me wrong, your chefs are knowledgable and very friendly. Something about you just doesn't spark the chemistry I thought we might have had. You offered a sushi class that my girlfriend and I were so excited to attend. But I feel like you didn't live up to the hype...and here's why: The miso soup that was given to start the class was sub-par. The rice, arguably the MOST IMPORTANT part of sushi, was not very good. The choice of ingredients to fill our rolls was limited to fewer than how many fingers I have. *Sigh* I really wanted to love you, but it just didn't work out. I will say, however, that your chef explained everything very nicely and answered all the questions that fellow choppers had to ask. She demonstrated technique, then allowed us to give it a whirl. She offered advice and tips when we struggled. She even praised us for a job well done. Also, there was plenty of food to make and eat. We wound up taking some home. I'm intrigued by a couple other classes that you offer, but I don't know if I can justify paying that much money. Maybe, just maybe, I will try to reignite the fire, my dear Chopping Block. Until next time [maybe], Gary C. **Helpful tips** -If you sign up for a night class, parking meters end at 9PM, so you don't have to worry about running out in the middle of cooking/eating. -If you know somebody who works there, ask them if you can be on their "guest list." If a class isn't filled approximately two days before, you may be able to get squeezed in for a discounted price/free.

After I posted my original poor review about the online cooking class I took through The Chopping Block I was immediately contacted by management and offered a second class on them. I did not want to give up w/out trying again and took them up on their offer. I signed up for the gumbo online class. Gumbo is a dish I have tried several times, but never quite mastered. I have now mastered it with the help of The Chopping Block. The class seemed better organized, and did not go at the frenetic pace the first class I took did, although it still moved pretty fairly quickly, so be prepared. The only reason I am giving it four stars instead of five is that I felt I needed to prepare ahead a little more than they let on, so as to not fall behind in the class. So if you plan on taking one of their online courses in the future I suggest you chop a little more a head of time than they suggest, definitely get every ingredient out that you are going to use and have every utensil ready. Much like the first class, I ended up with a mountain of dishes, but an excellent bowl of gumbo made up for it.

Great little shop for kitchen needs. I've not yet taken one of their classes, but the selection looks good. Their products are all great quality.

I have a couple of shopping weaknesses - hair products and kitchen stuff. While I've reigned in my hair product habit, The Chopping Block is like kryptonite. For my birthday my partner-in-crime got us two spots at this location's sushi making class. I've been to one other Chopping Block cooking class, a hands-on Yelp event at the Merchandise Mart, so I knew the caliber of the class was high; unlike another sushi class I took through I Wish. This location, while smaller, has two cooking spaces; a small first floor space, right in the mix of all of wares, and a larger group space on the second floor. Our class was on the first floor. We were some of the first people to arrive, so we had an opportunity to choose our seats, browse the store and order a beer.* The class was small, maybe 12 people tops, we started out with miso soup as everyone trickled in. The first part of the class was mostly lecture; we learned about making sushi rice, ingredients, and buying quality fish. Our instructor Trevor and his co-pilot (I forget his name) were cool, they knew how to be informative, engaging and fun. The second part of the class was all hands on; Trevor demonstrated how to make a regular roll, inside out roll, and nigiri. After we watched him, it was out turn to use up all of the fish (tuna, salmon, shrimp, eel) and fillings they put out. There was a lot of laughing and joking in the class; even non-cookers would feel comfortable and have a good time. After we made our sushi, we got a lesson in cutting rolls, which was by far the hardest part to do decently. Once done, we spent the rest of the time enjoying our hard work. I made 5 maki rolls and three pieces of nigiri; most of us ended up with to go boxes. If you're a savvy cook or a novice, I highly recommend classes at The Chopping Block. Class attendees get a discount on store products, so you can drop some cash on all of the stuff you'll drool over when you walk in the door. * You can order off their wine and beer menu or BYOB subject to a corkage fee

I really enjoyed my experience at the Chopping Block. I came here with my boyfriend and another couple and we had a great time. We did the grilling class and made flank steak lettuce wraps, grilled shrimp and learned how to grill chicken on the egg BBQ. Chef Hans and his assistant were great. The assistant was great ! I actually learned a few cooking tips from the assistant :) we will definitely be back !

I booked the Couple's Cooking: The Big Easy class with my boyfriend for his birthday - we made crab cakes with remoulade, chicken & andouille sausage gumbo, and bananas foster bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream. Keep in mind that you eat at the END of class (our class was 7-9:30pm) but they give you a little snack you can munch on throughout the class so you're not too hungry. The cooking part is SO FUN - you are paired up with another couple and as a team of 4, you cook the meal. Depending on who the other couple is, it can be a hit or miss but we had so much fun with our couple. Lisa taught the class and she is phenomenal - so funny and informative. They also have a couple of assistants walking around to help you out, give you tips on cooking techniques, and answer your questions. My boyfriend and I aren't very well-versed in the kitchen, so having those assistants around was so helpful! Only complaint about the cooking part is that you don't necessarily make everything out of scratch, ingredients have been measured out for you already, and the crab meat for the crab cakes was already prepared for us. It would've been cool to do all that ourselves, but I understand that it would take way too long when the class is already 2.5 hours long. The eating part is the best - you sit at a long family-style dinner table and eat the food you prepared (split with the other couple you are paired up with of course). There is plenty of food for everyone and a good amount of leftovers to take home. SO SO DELICIOUS. I will be using these recipes for future dinner parties.

I can't say enough good things about our Venetian Nights class with Chef Roger and Mike! The food was incredible and our class was smaller so it made our time with the class feel more intimate. The chefs were so helpful and answered all of our questions - they even gave us pointers about how to alter the recipe at home if we don't have exact ingredients. Our class did go over time, but that was because our group was a little slower as we were learning and they made sure that we all had a chance to cook every part of the meal. And to top it off, the chef bought a beer for my boyfriend as a happy birthday gift since we were celebrating. Top notch class and will definitely be back!