Chopping Block Hits The Mart

By Erin in Food on Sep 2, 2005 11:33AM

If it isn't the taxes or the Trixies, the insanity that is finding a parking spot in Lincoln Park eventually drives everyone away from this formerly cozy little enclave.

Chicagoist hears that such was the case for The Chopping Block, the lovely neighborhood cooking school responsible for teaching hundreds of Chicagoans the proper way to use a chef's knife and how to pick a good wine on the cheap. Yesterday it officially opened its doors for classes at its new home at The Merchandise Mart Plaza.

Our friends at The Trib report that the new location features

"... Two hands-on kitchens and a sweeping demonstration kitchen await, ready for action. The space can accommodate 200 people for private events and 100 for sit-down dinners."

We know that there are dozens of places in the city from where to learn these cooking basics, but we've always been suckers for the eight-year-old, quaint Chopping Block. Chicagoist doesn't want to hear any guff about it, people. We love any operation that makes cooking and food accessible to people, as opposed to tarting and snobbing the shit out of it, defeating the purpose of food and eating in the first place.

If you're not really sure you want to plunk down the cash for a series of classes, jump on the demonstration classes: from now until the end of the year they only cost $35.