The beloved Chicago culinary school has discovered Ocean Root's artisan sea salts, and their first recipe collaboration transforms a humble cob into an irresistible Lone Star delicacy.
CHICAGO, IL — The Chopping Block, one of Chicago's most celebrated culinary schools and cooking destinations, is thrilled to announce a discovery that has already set its test kitchens buzzing: Ocean Root, a premium line of hand-harvested sea salts and artisan seasonings that has quietly been redefining flavor profiles for chefs who know where to look.
Founded on the belief that great cooking begins with great ingredients, The Chopping Block has long championed small-batch producers and flavor-forward pantry staples. When its culinary team encountered Ocean Root's signature offering — the Texas Smokey Chipotle Fleur de Sel — the reaction was immediate and unanimous: this salt doesn't just season food. It tells a story.
"We knew right away this was something special. One pinch, and suddenly a simple ear of corn becomes a conversation about smoke, coast, and fire all at once."
"Fleur de Sel has always been the finishing salt of the professional kitchen," said a senior instructor at The Chopping Block. "Ocean Root took that classic and wove in the deep, earthy warmth of chipotle — and the result is unlike anything we've worked with. We knew right away this was something special."
To introduce Ocean Root to their students and the broader Chicago food community, the school's culinary team turned to one of summer's most democratic foods: corn on the cob. Inspired by the iconic Mexican street food tradition of elotes — grilled corn slathered in mayo, doused in lime, and blanketed in cotija cheese — the team elevated the dish to what they are calling a Texas delicatessen moment: charred, salty, smoky, tangy, and deeply satisfying in every single bite.
The recipe is simple enough for a backyard cookout yet sophisticated enough for a dinner party centerpiece. The Texas Smokey Chipotle Fleur de Sel seasons the corn as it hits the grill, forming a lightly caramelized crust that carries both brine and smoke before the lime mayo, cotija, and chili powder finish the job. The result is a corn cob that has, in the words of one Chopping Block student, "no business tasting this good."
Ocean Root products are now featured across several Chopping Block cooking classes and will be available for purchase through the school's retail section. The school encourages home cooks at every level to seek out Ocean Root's lineup and experience firsthand what a single thoughtfully crafted salt can do for an everyday dish.
The full Elotes recipe is included below — try it at your next cookout, and don't be shy with the salt.
Elotes (Mexican Street Corn) Ocean Root
With mayo, lime, chili, and cotija — as featured at The Chopping Block, Chicago
Yield 4 servings
Active time 25 minutes
Total time 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn, shucked
- 1–2 tablespoons neutral oil
- Ocean Root Texas Smokey Chipotle Fleur de Sel, to taste
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (plus more to taste)
- 1 cup cotija cheese, finely crumbled
- 1 tablespoon chili powder blend, ancho chili powder, or Tajín
Method
- Heat an indoor grill pan or a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
- Lightly brush the ears of corn with oil and season generously with Ocean Root Texas Smokey Chipotle Fleur de Sel. Grill on all sides until lightly charred and just tender.
- While the corn grills, stir together the mayonnaise and lime juice; adjust lime to taste.
- Transfer the grilled corn to a plate or platter and spread evenly with the mayo-lime mixture.
- Place the crumbled cotija in a shallow dish and roll each ear in the cheese until well coated.
- Sprinkle with chili powder, ancho chili powder, or Tajín and serve immediately.
About The Chopping Block · Chicago's premier recreational cooking school, The Chopping Block offers hands-on cooking classes, knife skills workshops, and a curated retail market in its Lincoln Square and Merchandise Mart locations. · thechoppingblock.com
About Ocean Root · Ocean Root hand-harvests and blends artisan sea salts and finishing seasonings for cooks who believe the right salt changes everything.