The Scene
Resembling someone's charming, patio-fronted house on Webster Avenue, the two-story Chopping Block feels homey and warm on the inside. It makes for a perfectly laid-back setting to host cooking classes where attendees bond and banter. Up-close bar-stool seating allows for easy, impromptu question-and-answer with instructors who have a sense of humor and take a casual, nonthreatening approach.
The Goods
Classes are the biggest seller in this shop. Typically two hours, they include menu ideas (for example: tapenade croutons, pasta with seafood, and chocolate mousse), strategy (how to time a meal, flavor dynamics) and techniques (knife skills). Six-week building blocks classes offer intense, nonprofessional training sessions for novices who want a crash course or professionals who want to hone skills. Whether you go for a class or just wander in, you'll find the enticing selection of retail items--utensils, spices, cookbooks, gourmet ingredients--inspiring and fun.