Cooking school · River North, Chicago
Bettie's Chicago
Baker Bettie's 1950s diner-styled River North studio for bread, pastry and baking science
5.0on Google, 277 reviewsBaking & pastry · French
- Private & groups
- Team events
- Kids & teens
- Gift cards
Cooking school · Lincoln Square, Chicago
The Chopping Block
Lincoln Square recreational cooking school, open since 1997, with five-day boot camps
4.9932 Google reviewsRanked #1 of 31 cooking schools in Chicago
Birthdays & groups
Birthdays and private parties
Kids & families
Classes and camps for young cooks
Beginners
No experience needed
Serious cooks
Multi-week courses and boot camps
About The Chopping Block
The Chopping Block teaches home cooks at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Square. Founder Shelley Young opened it in 1997. Chef Lisa Counts now owns it, and a team of chef instructors teaches the classes.
The focus is technique, not just a menu. Classes come as hands-on, where you cook in groups of 3 to 5 and sit down to the full meal, or as demonstrations, where you watch the chef and taste each dish. Level 1 classes cover foundations, and Level 2 classes go deeper. Wine and cocktail classes run too.
The school is known for its boot camps. Single-day camps cover sauces, pies and tarts, cupcakes, chocolate and Mexican cooking. The five-day Culinary Boot Camp 1 runs 9 AM to 5 PM and covers knife skills, whole-fish and chicken butchery, stocks and mother sauces. Culinary Boot Camp 2 is for graduates and experienced cooks.
Known for
- Culinary Boot Camp 1
- Sauce Boot Camp
- Pie & Tart Boot Camp
- Cupcake Boot Camp
Good to know
- Class sizes run from 8 to 20 people
- A 15% administrative fee is added to every class
- Three-day cancellation policy; two weeks for Culinary Boot Camps 1 and 2
- Wear comfortable, non-skid shoes; aprons are provided
- Free and metered street parking nearby, plus discounted garage parking through SpotHero
Written from The Chopping Block’s own site and class listings, October 2026. How we write these
Inside The Chopping Block
Left and right arrow keys move between 10 slides.Slide 1 of 10
Photos from thechoppingblock.com
Classes
Read from their own listings and checked weekly. Prices are per person.
Pie & Tart Boot Camp
$250 per person · 5 hours · Hands-on
Next: Sat 14 Nov, 10am
Thanksgiving Boot Camp
$300 per person · 6 hours · Hands-on
Next: Sat 21 Nov, 10am
Secrets of Mexico Boot Camp
$300 per person · 6 hours · Hands-on
Next: Sun 29 Nov, 10am
Sauce Boot Camp
$275 per person · 5 hours · Hands-on
Next: Fri 4 Dec, 10am · 2 dates
Chocolate Boot Camp
$295 per person · 6 hours · Hands-on
Next: Sat 19 Dec, 10am
Culinary Boot Camp 1
$2,200 per person · Hands-on
Next: Sat 2 Jan, 9am · 4 dates
Also ran recently
Culinary Boot Camp 2 · Cupcake Boot Camp
What people say
Guest reviews on Cooking Class Finder
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The Chopping Block: common questions
Do I need cooking experience?
No. Level 1 Foundations classes are built for beginners, and Level 2 Skill Boosters suit more experienced cooks. Each class description says which fits.
What is the difference between hands-on and demonstration classes?
In a hands-on class you make the meal from start to finish in a group of 3 to 5 and eat it at the end. In a demonstration the chef cooks while you watch, take notes and taste generous portions.
What is the cancellation policy?
Most classes can be cancelled up to three days ahead for a refund minus the 15% administrative fee. Culinary Boot Camps 1 and 2 need two weeks. You cancel by emailing the school.
Can I book a private event?
Yes. The school runs private cooking events for teams, friends and families, and it also sells gift cards.
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