Culinary Team Building

Food has a way of bringing people together!

Are you looking for an out-of-the-ordinary and memorable event to:

  • Kick off a New Project or Product
  • Celebrate Team Achievements
  • Integrate New Employees into the Organization or Project Team
  • Build Alliances with Vendors
  • Strengthen Relationships with Clients

For your next team/client gathering, Open Kitchen has the ingredients to create an atmosphere of camaraderie, friendship and fun amongst all participants while improving the communication and cooperation between them.

The essential elements of effective working relationships are transferred into our kitchen as team members are called upon to use creativity, communication skills, collaboration, commitment, goal orientation and leadership. Guided by our professional chefs, team members work together to prepare a gourmet meal in restaurant kitchen setting, and then “break bread” while enjoying their meal together. PRIOR CULINARY EXPERIENCE NOT REQUIRED!

A Typical Culinary Team Building Experience

  • Our Open Kitchen Bistro would be your private culinary space – fully equipped with state-of-the-arts kitchen equipment, staffed with professional and approachable chefs and kitchen assistants, outfitted with audio/visual equipment, and able to service a wide selection of wines and beers.
  • We customize your event in terms of menu and dietary preferences, time constraints, dates, and group size.
  • Our culinary team building events range from a minimum of 12 members to a maximum of 25 and the duration is typically between 3 to 4 hours.
  • Before the Event… We will obtain background information so the event can be designed with your team’s specific goals in mind.
  • Day of the Event…To start off the event, your team will receive their menu and recipe packets and aprons; our service staff will serve a selection of munchies and refreshments.
  • The event begins with an introduction and orientation by one of our chefs on basic techniques used in the preparation of the dishes, as well as a kitchen rules and safety overview.
  • Next, the team will be divided into sub-teams – either by you or our chefs.
  • The Fun Begins! Under the guidance of our chefs, the teams work together for about 1hr 45min to create a feast from fresh and specialty ingredients. Our staffing allows for a high degree of personal attention to promote good cooking techniques and useful kitchen tips. Photos will be taken during the event and will be forwarded to you to memorialize the event!
  • Let’s Eat! After enjoying the fruits of their labor, teams may continue to relax and socialize.

Proposed Menus/Themes

Menu 1: Global Gourmet Tapas

Savory Tapas

(Pick 4 of the following items)

Beet Carpaccio with Arugula Almond and Goat Cheese Salad (V)

Smoked Salmon with Orange Zest and Grilled Corn Cakes

Seasoned Lamb Meatballs Tzatziki Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Chicken and Chorizo Skewers with Basil Puree

Roasted Garlic Bruschetta with Fresh Basil Puree (V)

Fava Bean and Crispy Pancetta Salad with Pea, Pecorino and Mint Dressing

Shallot, Tarragon and Grape Salad with Roasted Almonds and Goat Cheese Champagne Vinaigrette (V)

Fried Oysters with Trio of Dipping Sauces (Roasted Pepper, Creamed Leek, and Cocktail)

Panzanella Salad (V)

Scallop Spoons with Mango, Orange and Scallion

Thai Rare Beef Salad with Cilantro, Serrano, Red Onion and Palm Sugar Lime Vinaigrette

Shrimp with Coconut Sauce and Lime Zest

Crab and Apple Salad with Curry Mayo

Asian Noodle Salad with Shrimp, Chilies and Cilantro

Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche with Cilantro Lime and Mango Salsa

Pan Seared Tuna with Sesame Wontons Served with Mango, Red Onion Salsa and Lime Oil and Citrus Soy

Classic Deviled Eggs, Crab Cocktail Deviled Eggs, Manchego Deviled Eggs, Roasted Red Pepper Deviled Eggs, or Deviled Eggs with Crispy Parma Ham

Sweet Tapas

(Pick 2 of the following items)

Pan Seared Basil Pears with Orange and Candied Pecans

Grilled Pineapple Carpaccio with Ice Cream and Orange Sauce

Mini Blueberry &Port Cream Cheese Tart, Balsamic Strawberry & Goat Cheese Tart, or Blackberry Sage Mascarpone Tart

Chocolate Hazelnut Tartlette with Fresh Berries

Menu 2: Spanish Feast

Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)

Roasted Pear, Manchego, and Toasted Walnuts Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette

Paella Valencia

Almond Cake

Menu 3: Taste of Italy

Classic Tuscan Vegetable & Bread Soup (Ribolitta Soup)

Tuscan Lamb dressed with Fig Balsamic Vinegar, Lemon, and Rosemary

Tiramisu

Menu 4: Taste of Thailand

Chicken or Shrimp and Lemon Grass Soup

Thai Red or Green Pork/Beef/Chicken/Shrimp Curry

Spicy Green Papaya Salad

Mango and Sticky Rice

Menu 5: Vietnamese-French Fusion

Simmered Porkbelly finished Crisp with Shiitake & Scallion served with Jasmine Rice
Grilled Catfish & Dill over Rice Vermicelli & Fresh Greens with Vietnamese Sauce “Nuoc Cham”
Mango Custard with Coconut Sauce & Candied Ginger

Menu 6: Flavors from the Gulf Coast

Pan Fried Fresh Fish with Cole Slaw and Cheese Grits

Hush Puppies with Dipping Sauce

Shrimp & Okra with Tomatoes

Florida Orange Cake

Menu 7: French/Belgian Bistro Nite

Moules Frites (Mussels and Chips)

Chicken Breast with Cherry Beer and Dried Cherries

Creamy Cauliflower Purée

Tarte Tartin

Menu 8: Handmade Italian Pasta

Italian Sausage and Spinach Lasagna with Mushrooms and Ricotta

Yukon Gold Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic, Grilled Summer Asparagus and Heirloom Tomatoes

Arugula, Frisée Baby Green Salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano Balsamic Vinegar

Menu 9: Southern Brunch

Beignets

Eggs Sardou (Poached Eggs with Sautéed Artichokes and Hollandaise Sauce)

Shrimp and Grits

Banana Whiskey Bread Pudding

Menu 10: Peruvian Paradise

Shellfish Ceviche with Cilantro Lime & Mango Salsa

Chupe de Camarones (Shrimp Bisque)

Lomo Saltado (Marinated Steak with Fries)

Mil Hojas (Dulce de Leche Napoleon)

Menu 11: Gourmet Backyard BBQ

Marinated Artichoke & Red Pepper Dip

Grilled Chicken Roulade with Prosciutto, Spinach & Fontina with White Wine BBQ Sauce

Roasted Corn with Smoky Blue Cheese Butter

Grilled Cinnamon Sugar Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream

Menu 12: Adult Cupcakes

Guinness Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Chocolate Port Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cupcakes with Candied Orange Peel

Blueberry-Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Chardonnay Frosting