November Classes:
November Classes:
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Mark Your Calendar
It's our 12th annual celebration of YOU! Join us at both locations on Friday, November 13 from 11am-6pm for Customer Appreciation Day. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres, tastings of our favorite specialty foods, samples of our Thanksgiving-friendly wines, and 20% off all retail merchandise!
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Kitchen Confidential:
Our Australian native, Chef Jon-Antony Sinclair, likes to make his prep easier with the Fresh Chop by Swissmar ($20, available at The Chopping Block). It's a quick way to chop nuts, onions, shallot, garlic and even some herbs. The chopper ensures the topping on his Macadamia Nut Crusted Barramundi Filet is a breeze to make! Click here for the recipe.
Barramundi has been named a “lean and green superfood" and is quickly gaining popularity in America. You can find more recipes here.
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Stuff We're Into
Send Shelley to Peru!
Many of you have answered our call to help send Shelley on a trip of a lifetime. She has the chance to work alongside Peruvian cooks and serve as the official Guest Chef on a four-day Inca Trail trek hosted by Firestone Vineyard. However, more chefs have entered the running and the race is getting close! Click here to view Shelley's video. The chef with the most views wins!
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Fall In with Boot Camp
The holidays are fast approaching. If you need to step up your skills in the kitchen in a hurry, consider Culinary Boot Camp or Baking Boot Camp. Click here for more information on our November sessions.
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Dear Friends of The Chopping Block,
My favorite time of year is upon us! Thanksgiving is such a special time because it brings together family and friends to give thanks for life's blessings over a delicious meal. Whether you are a veteran at cooking the holiday dinner or this is the first time you are tackling a turkey, we have a class for you!
 Our Thanksgiving Crash Course will teach you timing, tricks and classic recipes, complete with shopping lists, to ensure your success in front of the in-laws. If you prefer to jump in head first, try our Thanksgiving Workshop where you create the feast yourself in real time.
Don't miss our other festive classes: Harvest Pies, Things to Bring: Bright Ideas for Holiday Gatherings and of course, Vegetarians Eat Thanksgiving Too.
If you are ready to wield the carving knife yourself this year, you don't want to miss our annual FREE class on How to Carve a Turkey.
You'll notice some of the above Thanksgiving classes are less than what we have charged in years past. We've heard your call for lower-priced classes in these unstable economic times and we're acting on it! Check out our November calendar, complete with new, lowered class prices. You'll find some of our most popular seasonal hands on classes like Holiday Hootenanny and Irresistable Hors d'Oeuvres available now for just $65/person. Other favorites are even less. We're hoping this helps get you cooking more often for less!
Happy Cooking!
Shelley Young, Founder
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Let Us Bake Your Holiday Pies
 Don't let holiday stress get you down. Let us handle dessert! Freshly made with Granny Smith Apples, our deep dish Apple Pie is baked to perfection and served in a 10" cast iron skillet. Prefer pumpkin? We add our Chopping Block love to this holiday classic and serve it in a 9" disposable aluminum pan. Click here to order your pies at Lincoln Square or the Merchandise Mart.
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Sommelier Series
 The wine will continue to flow while our resident Wine Goddess, Diana Hamann, takes her maternity leave. We're excited to welcome some of Chicago's top wine experts to teach our Sommelier Series November thru February. Each class is tailor-made to the expert's specialty and will feature great wine, education and conversation. Click here to view and sign up for our Sommelier Series.
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Get to Know Your Chefs
 Our chefs are what set us apart from the rest! With their years of experience at top restaurants in Chicago and around the world, they work hard to bring you an insider's guide to restaurant kitchens. Now, we're getting up close and personal with the chefs at The Chopping Block. Find out what ingredients they can't live without, their favorite band and their top pick for dinner guest. Click here to view new pictures and profiles of all of our chefs!
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Beer and BBQ
 The perfect pairing doesn't always have to be food and wine. Join us for a special class with  The Hungry Brewer, Greg Hall of Goose Island Brewery, as he shows you how to select the perfect beers for your holiday parties. Click here to sign up.
Barbecue guru Craig “Memphis" Bell returns to The Chopping Block to talk turkey. In the Great Turkey Adventure, he'll smoke a whole turkey on the grill, brine and grill turkey breasts and deep-fry a whole turkey. Click here to sign up. |
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Holiday Parties
 Don't leave your co-workers out in the cold this holiday season just because you have less money for celebration! Consider a lunch-time or afternoon event to keep costs down and spirits high. We can customize any event to fit your goals and budget. Click here to request information about our private events.
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In Season:
 Sadly, we will say goodbye to the outdoor farmer's markets this weekend. But from November thru April, Green City Market will set up shop in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago).
 While shopping at the market earlier this year, Top Chef's Carla Hall shared a tip with Shelley to get a different look and taste from green beans: cut into coins and sauté. You can even dice sweet potatoes and mix with the green beans. The dish looks like peas & carrots, but actually tastes good!
Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon, Dried Cranberries & Walnuts
Sweet Potato Risotto with Sage |
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