Simple Gourmet Team Building Event

We had a business team meeting here in CA this month. Since I went to a cooking class recently and heard about team building event in a cooking class environment, I thought it would be interesting to see how my teammates would measure up each other. This could be a competition or a collaborative event. After a bit thinking, I think a collaborative event might be a bit better with some professional facilitation. Otherwise, if we were to do an Iron Chef type of competition, I really wouldn’t know what our dinner might look like. And the boss agreed, I got the coordinator role, sure, you suggested, so you do it.

It was kind of funny to see how some of my teammates were actually a bit anxious before the event. See, a few of them were kind of like my hubby when it comes to cooking. They know what a can opener is and what a microwave supposes to do. And that is the extent of their knowledge.

But at the end, everyone was surprised how well it turned out and how everyone were divided into teams and made wonderful meals for each other, of course, under a lot of supervision from the Simple Gourmet staffs.

We had them catered the alcohol and beverage, so I really didn’t have to do much, just got the boss to sign the bill, picked out the menu, and took plenty of pictures during the event. It was unexpectedly fun for the entire team.

Appetizers to snack on while cooking:

• Fresh Mozzarella and Sundried Tomato Pesto on Endive Leaves
• Antipasto Platter of marinated Peppers, Cured Meat, Artisanal Cheese & Warm Baguette

What we actually cooked:

• Arugula and Grapefruit Salad with honey-Balsamic Soaked Figs
• Linguini with Sautéed Rainbow chard, Garlicky Breadcrumbs and Crumbled FetaSalmon Picatta with Caramelized Fennel
• Black Pepper Grilled Flank Steak with Brandied Mushrooms
• Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Whipped Cream