Chicagoist: Chopping Block Hits The Mart

Susanne

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:01:26 -0600

I took a class at the Merchandise Mart location just out of curiosity, and I have to say I'm disappointed. The instructor didn't know how to answer some of the students' questions, so she turned to the assistant for help. How embarrassing... Plus, there wasn't enough food for everybody (the class was overcrowded - 20 people!). This school is a joke - too much hype for very little substance.

Pamila

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:02:37 -0600

Prescott is reopening in NAPA!

Leslie

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 18:11:50 -0600

I received a gift certificate in the amount of $75 for the Jill Prescott Culinary School on 2/1/05. I have not been able to get ahold of anyone there for many months (makes sense since I see they are closed). Does anyone have any idea how I get reimbursed for this $75 or find something else in Chicago to use it towards? Thanks!

MK

Mon, 10 Oct 2005 12:24:56 -0600

I work at the mart. The story is that Wood-Mode cabinets has a significant amount of money and cabinets in the neighborhood Chopping Blocks. They also provided cabinets for the Prescott school, sadly for Jill Prescott. When the Prescott school needed additional working cash, the Wood-Mode company, was forcing Jill Prescott to merge with their school, the Chopping Block, which was not doing well. Prescott would not compromise her authentic cooking school to merge with The Chopping Block, so she closed her school. The school was designed by Prescott and people invested in Prescott. Due to slippery deals we have lost the best thing that had happened for us home cooks in Chicago. When cooking is taught by people that had little training or no experiences or worse yet training in bad schools and experiences with third rate restaurants, food stays at the local level of hot dogs. The Chicago Tribune should have checked further. Rather than making it sound like Shelly Young created the location at the mart they should report on how it was manipulated away from a woman who had an amazing career and business. Seems to me that Shelley Young is a legend in her own mind. Wood-Mode is helping her with marketing. I guess you can say anything if you want to market a product, whether it is true or not.

Pamila Smithe

Thu, 06 Oct 2005 01:49:54 -0600

Here we are again in Chicago with no real cooking school for people that want to be trained by an ultimate professional. Jill is not a chef looking for fame and fortune. She is the real deal! Who wants to be trained to cook by someone that can't cook themselves? Where is she and where can I go to take her classes?

Jim Stenakas

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 16:16:20 -0600

Does anyone know where Jill Prescott went? How in the world did Shelley Long get this location? She is not even trained as a professional chef? I have tried to get a list of courses from this cooking school as I used to take courses from the late owner Jill Prescott. The courses that Jill offered are night and day compared to what is being offered here. I believe that the space was designed and put together with Jill's know how. This school is 8 years old, I believe Jills was over 20 if I am right? She had an immense pull on bringing great culinary people in to lecture about food!

Jim Stenakas

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 16:15:43 -0600

little me

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 11:42:12 -0600

it will be interesting to see how the Mart location fares. It was originally the home of the Jill Prescot Culinary School, which went under. The Mart isn't very retail friendly, and parking in the area can be costly.