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 Partnerships with Clients

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

The essential elements of teamwork in the workplace 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!

Host an Iron Chef Competition at Open Kitchen Stadium!

Open Kitchen is a unique and fabulous place to host an “Iron Chef” competition for a team building event, family reunion, birthday party, or simply a fun and out of the ordinary get-together with friends.

  • Gather your teams together: Minimum of 3 teams; maximum 5 teams; 2-4 members per team.  From these teams, decide which team is to be given the title of “Iron Chef Team” (that is, “the team to beat”).  OR, Open Kitchen can make this team selection on the day of the event.
  • Open Kitchen will reserve and set up our entire Bistro space, provide kitchen equipment and all accessories such as aprons, arrange for staffing (including our Executive Chef), and supply the “Secret Market Basket” with ingredients from which “Iron Chef” and “Challenger Chef” Teams will create a 3-course menu.
  • After the judging is complete you will all sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Viget Labs recently held an Iron Chef Team Building at Open Kitchen

25 participants, 3 team coaches, a Secret Market Basket, 3 judges, and “Let the Cooking Begin”!

Take a look at all the fun they had!

    A Selection of Testimonials from Past Culinary Team Building Events

July 21, 2021 - Viget Labs - Iron Chef Team Building

    Hue-Chan, Chef Bernard and Company,

    Thank you so much for having us at Open Kitchen and for putting on an Iron Chef competition for us.  With a group of 25 people it’s often difficult to find an activity that everyone enjoys. This event, however, proved that it isn’t impossible.  Even people who never cook enjoyed working together with their team to create gourmet dishes.

    Hue-Chan, you were very helpful in the planning stages, making sure all our requirements were met.  Chef Bernard, sous chefs, and kitchen staff, you all made the event run so smoothly.  This event would not have been possible without each and every one of you.

    Khanh Stenberg
    Office Manager, Viget Labs

April 21, 2021 – Fairfax County Public School System Principals Team Building

Lots of fun was had by all.  Following the event I received nothing but positive praise for bringing the team together to cook.  The tasks required interdependency from team members.  Keep in mind that we are all in charge of our individual buildings.  We never had to produce on the spot like that before. The team came together in a way that only cooking and eating could accomplish. Jay Pearson Principal, Marshall High School

    January 26, 2022 – Exxon Mobil Tapas and Tango – Team Building Event

    “Thanks so much for a wonderful experience! The Tapas theme was a truly winner, we took a trip to Spain without leaving town. The cooking class was educational and a tremendous amount of fun. I really liked how the class was structured, as it gave us the opportunity to interact as a team and learn at the same time. So, thank you and Chef Bernard for great techniques, great tastes, and great times.”

    Fabiana Gaitan

    December 16, 2021 – Neustar  Team Building

    “Everyone raved about it.  We’ll definitely book again next year if not before.”

    Dawn Combs


    October 20, 2021 – Bozzuto Management Company Iron Chef Competition/Team Building Event

    “Thank You again for such a fantastic event. Everyone had a wonderful time and thought it was one of the best events we have done as a team.”

    Noelle Sharbaugh