The popular spot for hands-on and demonstration cooking classes, private parties and the purchase of kitchen tools needed to whip up something delicious just opened a new location.
The Chopping Block Cooking School, founded by out lesbian Shelley Young, is now heating up the Merchandise Mart. The establishment originally opened its doors in 1997. Young did not have big dreams of opening a cooking school at the time—she was working two full-time jobs when she came across a beautiful building. Before she knew it, she had created a cooking school and retail store with a goal to teach people to cook in a homey atmosphere free from intimidation.
'It was important for me to create the warmth of a kitchen,' Young said.
She requires that her instructors have warmth, humility and a sense of humor in addition to cooking degrees.
'We're not here to show you what great cooks we are,' she said of the classes. 'We are showing people how to cook.'
Both schools include a retail store that features professional cookware and tools as well as gourmet and ethnic ingredients. The locations also have a demonstration classroom and hands-on kitchen. The new Merchandise Mart space features a spacious dining area to host private parties, showers and other special events. Customers can hold an informal cocktail and class for up to 200 people, or hold a sit-down formal dinner and class for 100 guests. The new location also offers more intensive and in-depth classes geared toward more serious students, although everyone is welcome.
Young firmly feels that everyone can cook. 'It's just a life-skill people need to have,' she said.
Young, an Iowa native with 17 years experience as a chef, came to Chicago in 1994. She became chef at the now-defunct Café du Midi, and was a private chef for a local couple before creating The Chopping Block. Now, she enjoys reaching out to all the varying needs of your average home cook and creating a fun, and social—yet educational—atmosphere.
Classes are geared toward those with sub-par skills to the more serious home chef. Subjects change monthly, and topics include seasonal cooking, entertaining guests, wine tasting, and ethnic and vegetarian meals. The Chopping Block also offers date and girl's night classes. The Chopping Block also offers an intensive Building Block Series, a six-month series that provides comprehensive nonprofessional culinary training.
Young teaches a 'Cooking with Pride' class, which is a lesson designed for members of the gay and lesbian community. As the only gay instructor, this busy business-owner only has time to squeeze in about one Pride class a month. 'I would love to do more,' she said, adding that another goal of her business is to is to create an online and in-store gift registry that is gay-friendly. 'There are not a lot of businesses out there who cater to gay clientele,' Young said. She wants those registering for marriage or commitment ceremonies to feel comfortable.
For more information, call ( 312 ) 644-6360, ( 773 ) 472-6700, or visit www.thechoppingblock.net .
