Cooking Team Building Simulations

Facilitated Business Team Building with Interactive Cooking

IMPORTANT Please note: We do not specialize in
STRICTLY recreational cooking events.

We offer FACILITATED BUSINESS TEAM BUILDING
to improve business performance and team effectiveness.

From cooking s'mores over an open campfire to barbecuing meat for dinner and preparing breakfast under the desert sky, team cooking challenges have long been a popular feature of our race events and survival team building retreats.

By popular demand, we have teamed up with chefs and cooking schools at featured destinations. We are pleased to bring you a number of business simulations involving cooking challenges for your next executive retreat, business team building session or luxury cooking event.

Available in Canada (Toronto - GTA, Niagara-on-the Lake, Muskokas, Montreal), Dubai, Oman, France, Paris, Italy, Jamaica

IMPORTANT

Please note: We are not a cooking school.

We are a business consulting firm that offers facilitated business simulations that include:

• a briefing drawing parallels between working as a team to create a great meal and team effectiveness in a business environment
• an interactive cooking challenge that involves competing in teams to prepare a full gourmet meal
• debriefing to uncover how the skills that lead to your success in the kitchen can be used to boost performance at work
• an upbeat interactive keynote over dessert to highlight best practices

We don't specialize in strictly recreational cooking class for small teams.

We do organize and offer luxury cooking escapades for teams of all sizes and recreational cooking for groups of 75 or more.

For other business simulations available globally,
please also see "International Team Building" (on the side menu).

Outline

• Overview of Our Approach
  
  
• What is Unique
  About Our Approach
  
  
• What we Don't Offer
  
  
• What we Offer
  
  
  1. For All Group Sizes
     
     
  2. For Large Groups
     
     
  3. For Small Groups
     
     

• A Rough Idea of Pricing
  
  
• Payment Terms

Luxury Gourmet Cooking Escapade

Business Simulations

Restaurant Inc. Simulation

Next Great Chefs Simulation

Inspired by Iron Chef

Demo and Dine

2 - 3 Night Niagara-on-the-Lake
Gourmet Cooking Escapade & Meeting Package

Overview of Our Typical Cooking Team Building Simulation

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples!

We are a business consulting firm with expertise in the design and facilitation of business simulations.

We offer facilitated team building simulations that involve cooking.

By contrast, cooking schools offer recreational cooking
that includes only Phases 2 - 4.

Recreational Cooking

• Pre-Event Planning
• Phase 2: Interactive Gourmet Cooking Challenge
• Phase 3: Relaxing and Dining
• Phase 4: Judging & Prizes
• Optional Business Meeting (Not facilitated)

Team Building Simulation

• Pre-Event Planning & Styles Survey to Form Teams
• Phase 1: Pre-Briefing to Link Cooking Simulation to Business
• Menu Design (Optional)
• Shopping Challenge (Optional)
• Restaurant Decor Challenge (Optional)
• Phase 2: Interactive Gourmet Cooking Challenge
• Phase 3: Relaxing and Dining
• Phase 4: Judging, Feedback & Prizes
• Phase 5: Debriefing
• Phase 6: Business Application Exercises
• Optional Business Meeting (Can be facilitated)

Alcoholic beverages and prizes are not included in our pricing

Partial Client List

• Rogers Communication (Fido)
• EMD Serono
• Mayhew and Associates
• Novo Nordisk Canada

"The facilitator was very interesting. Her comments were helpful to improve way to better work as a team. It was a lot of fun."

Jeannette Heeralal, EMD Serono Canada

"The event was a blast. I enjoyed it very much. Great job."

Dwight Pessin, Mayhew and Associates

"The ambiance was great and the facilitator was helpful and her comments were positive yet constructive."

Julie Morgan, EMD Serono Canada

For Serious Inquiries Only

We would be pleased to handle your inquiry, check availability of dates and venues and send a proposal if:

• For groups of less than 75: You are looking for business team building with a facilitator & not just recreation
• a budget has been allocated
• you have a rough idea of how many people will be attending
• you are DEFINITELY ready to select and book a service provider within 5 business days of receiving our quote

We will get back to you with a quote within 48 hours to 5 business days of receiving your request.

We require a $500 retainer before detailed, customized agendas are developed and any hotels or other venues are contacted on your behalf. [Why?] This will be deducted from your fees if you book your session with us.

If you aren't in a position to select a service provider and book your retreat, team building session or event within 5 - 10 business days of receiving our quote, we invite you to explore our website. We have full information about our services and a rough idea of pricing. Please contact us only when your inquiry is serious and you are in a position to make a decision.

Review Terms & Conditions Before Requesting Quote

Request Quote by E-mail or On-Line Form

What is Unique About Our Approach

While some of our competitors provide appetizers or light snacks that you "nibble as you go", participants in our sessions sit down, relax, and enjoy a FULL 3 or 4 course meal at the end of their session.

We offer a unique experience with:

• gourmet food
• award winning chefs who have worked at some of the finest establishments WORLDWIDE
• STUNNING locations
• observers to record team dynamics and give you feedback
• a business facilitator to debrief your experience and link it to the realities of your business

Make sure you know what you
are getting for your investment!

We offer a luxury team building experience,
not your standard fare.

Accordingly, we are NOT the lowest cost provider.

What we Offer

We offer the following business simulations that involve interactive cooking challenges in teams:

• Next Great Chefs Inspired
• Restaurant Inc.
• Iron Chef Inspired
• Demo and Dine

We bundle our expert business facilitation with the skills of professional chefs to flawlessly execute business simulations that involve cooking. We provide the business facilitation and event planning services. The chefs provide the instruction and coaching about cooking.

No matter which business simulation you select, your facilitator will guide you through a structured process to discover how your experience in the kitchen applies to business. At the end of the session, you'll have a chance to relax and bond with your team over an exquisite gourmet meal catered by or prepared by your team under the supervision of award-winning chefs.

Our programmes are available as:

• A facilitated business team building simulation with observers and feedback re: team dynamics and links to your business
• An add-on to an executive or corporate retreat that we are planning and facilitating for you
• An add-on to a larger corporate event that we are planning and organizing for you

We also offer:

• luxury, gourmet cooking escapades for teams of all sizes
• recreational cooking for groups of 75 or more.

Until the economy fully recovers, we will offer a few:

Toronto Special Recreational Packages for Groups of 20 - 40

For Groups of All Sizes:

• any of our facilitated business simulations
  that use cooking as a vehicle for team building (facilitated by a professional facilitator)
• a cooking challenge that is part of an executive retreat or team building retreat that we organize and facilitate for you
• a cooking challenge as part of a larger corporate event that we organize for you
• luxury gourmet cooking escapades

For Large Groups:

• All of the above plus recreational cooking

For Small Groups (fewer than 75):

• We would be pleased to offer cooking team building as an add-on to a retreat or other corporate event that you book with us.
• 2 - 3 Night Niagara-on-the-Lake Meeting Package & Gourmet Cooking Team Building
• Luxury Gourmet Cooking Escapade

Special Recession Packages for Small Groups

Stand alone, recreational Cooking For Small Groups
is available only at select locations. To qualify for these packages, special conditions apply.

GTA Locations: Downtown Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Oakville

• Special Pricing: $150 P.P. (Recreational Cooking Only)

Small Group Special - Group Size = 20 - 40

Limited Menu Options

For New Clients Only

For small groups, please don't request a quote for recreational cooking if your budget or group size falls below the folowing ranges.

Conditions:

• A deductible retainer of $500 is required before we contact any venues on your behalf.
• Your event must be booked and paid in full within 5 business days of your inquiry

For all small groups, 100% payment
required at time of booking

Regular Rates for Small Groups

20 person minimum

• Recreational Cooking

• York Region: $210 - $265 per person based on a minimum group size of 20
• Peel Region: $175 - $200 per person for groups of 20 - 25

• Facilitated Cooking Team Building Simulation

            $275 - $460 per person (20 person minimum)

• 2 - 3 Night Niagara-on-the-Lake
  Gourmet Cooking Escapade & Meeting Package

Pleased Participants

"Expert cooking instruction. Great Team building event."

Pat DiFrancesco, Novo Nordisk Canada

"Enjoyed the participation that was encouraged. Very knowledgeable chefs. Did a great job teaching and explaining. They involved everyone."

Glen Marsh, Mayhew and Associates

"I could not thing of a better way to work with my teammates! I couldn’t see us being happier and having more fun at work! Plus the food was great!"

Mirella Caporafe, EMD Serono Canada

Highlights

Available:

Group Size:

All Year

• Business Simulation: 10 - 200+
• Recreational Events: Minimum Group Size of 75 Except at Select Locations

We have done sessions
with over 225 participants

Time Required:

Locations:

• Restaurant Inc. (1 1/2 Days)
• Other Sessions (1/2 Day)

Canada (Toronto, Niagara-on-the Lake, York Region), Jamaica, Dubai, Oman, Saudi Arabia

Jamaica: Gourmet Cooking Challenge on the Beach

Dubai: We use a 3 story restaurant overlooking the Palm Islands.

Oman: Kitchen Olympics - 6 teams, 6 challenges, 1 winner in 2 1/2 hours

Saudi Arabia: We can organize strictly recreational events

Skills/Competencies:

• Time Management
• Executing Projects in Short Timeframes
• Marketing Strategy (Restaurant Inc. Only)
• Creativity
• Communication

Programme Details

Please contact us and let us check
availability before you lock in your dates.

Gourmet Culinary Team Building sells out fast.

At times we can book cooking team building sessions on short notice. We will do our best, however, these team building simulations are popular. We highly recommend that you:

• book cooking team building at least 6 weeks in advance (8 - 12 weeks in advance for Christmas season bookings)
• let us check availability of venues BEFORE you lock in your dates
• Provide a few options for dates.

Book Early to Avoid Disappointment.

Request Quote by E-mail or On-Line Form

Upgrades Available

We can upgrade these team building simulations by:

• transporting you and your team to the winery, resort or 5 star restaurant by helicopter, private plane or limousine
• upgrading the decor using chair covers, crystal, china, and fine linen

We are based in Toronto, Canada. We regularly travel to other parts of Canada to deliver team building sessions.

We require 1 night's accomodation prior to your retreat so that we can finalize all logistics with the venue and set-up for your arrival. If we are driving to destinations more than 2 hours from Toronto, we require round trip transportation or an additional night of accommodation after your retreat is over so that we can avoid night and winter driving after a full day of facilitation. Round trip transportation will also be required if winter driving conditions are poor.

More Pleased Participants

"It was a really great team building event. Worked and collaborated together. Fun."

Avril Murray, Nordisk Canada

"It was excellent and very relaxing. I enjoyed the team building."

Claudia Paez, Generalist, EMD Serono Canada

"Good experience for meeting people when you are new at a company. Lots of fun. Great job."

Sunaina Mann, Mayhew and Associates

What we Don't Offer

We are not a cooking school.

Other than a few packages at select locations, we don't offer stand alone, strictly recreational cooking class for small teams (74 participants or less).

If our options do not meet your needs and if you don't require a business simulation or event planning services, we suggest that you contact a community college or cooking school directly for options that are likely to be in line with your budget.

A Rough Idea
of Pricing

The following pricing information is for Ontario only.
Please contact us directly for a quote for other locations.

These prices exclude soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, taxes or gratuities. Beverages are usually billed based on consumption. Wine can be served during the dining portion when all cooking has finished.

Your group will be using fire and VERY sharp knives. To ensure the safety of all participants:

• we do not serve alcohol prior to or during cooking team building
• we reserve the right to refuse participation by any individual who is intoxicated

Business Facilitation

Business facilitation fees for the simulation cover the costs of event planning, location selection, logistics before and during the simulation, a business facilitator to debrief the session and link it to your business realities, handouts, and trained observers to record team dynamics so that we can provide feedback.

Team Cooking Challenges

We hire professional chefs to work with us to deliver these simulations. Pricing will vary depending on location. Due to higher real estate costs, some downtown Toronto locations charge a MUCH higher price just for the cooking component than you would pay in other areas of the GTA. If you must have your session down town, be prepared to have a high budget.

In addition to our facilitation and event planning fees, for the cooking component, per person, you can expect to pay:

Downtown Toronto:

Recreational Cooking

$150 - $350 P.P.

Simulation:

• 75 People or More = $220 - $440 P.P.
• 50 People = $265 - $475 P.P.
• 25 People = $310 - 520 P.P.

NEW: Downtown Cooking Specials

Minimum Group Size = 75

• $120 P.P. (Recreation)
• $170 P.P. (Facilitated Business Simulation)

Small Group Special - Minimum Group Size = 20

Your company has the option option of purchasing a minimum of 85 tickets to be used over 6 month period in groups of 20 - 25:

• $130 P.P. (Recreation Cooking)

Location: Downtown, York Region, Peel Region, Oakville

Limited Menu for All Specials

For New Clients Only

York & Peel Region:

Recreational Cooking

• 25 People = $120 - $160 P.P.
• 50 People = $190 P.P.
• 75 People = $175 P.P.

Niagara on the Lake:

Recreational Cooking

• 25 People = $250 * - $425 P.P.
• 50 People = $180 * - $325 P.P.
• 75 People = $150 * - $325 P.P.

Simulation:

• 25 People = $285 * - $460 P.P.
• 50 People = $190 * - $365 P.P.
• 75 People or More = $180 * = $355 P.P.

* = Saturday & Summer Only

For an additional fee, we can arrange transportation to and from the cooking studio by limousine or luxury shuttle bus.

Payment Terms

• $500 retainer required before availability of venues checked
• 60% due within 5 – 7 business days of booking
• Balance due 1 calendar month prior to your session

Small Groups (30 or less)

• $500 retainer required before availability of venues checked
• 100% payment due at time of booking (within 5 business days of your inquiry)

Due to the logistics involved in pulling together these simulations, a 10% surcharge will be levied for all cooking events paid for less than one calendar month prior to the session.