Team-Building with Taste: Eight Culinary Team Building Activities

Here’s food for thought: Learning a new skill together is a great way to promote collaboration, heighten creativity and build better teams. And there’s no better place to take your group out of day-to-day roles—and comfort zones—than the kitchen. To whet your appetite and inspire your own ideas, here is just a sampling of the memorable culinary-themed activities the Turning Stone Resort Casino experts have concocted for groups meeting at the resort.

Culinary Team Building Activities

1.) Roll out the sushi mat.

Mastering the basics of sushi-making is a hands-on experience in this workshop led by chef de cuisine Adam Burten. Guests learn to create the perfect California roll, then enjoy the fruits of their labor.

2.) Fire up the grill.

Pitmaster John Stotts of the resort’s Tin Rooster dons his Stetson hat before revealing his secrets to epic-level Memphis, Texas and Carolina barbecue. A demonstration of various barbecue rubs is followed by an informal Q&A and tasting.

3.) Build your own burger.

The novel outdoor grills at Turning Stone—a series of barrels topped with heated planks—are the perfect setting for an interactive, build-your-own-burger event with chef de cuisine Dustin Tuthill. Guests can mix and mingle at stations stocked with options for topping and stuffing their burgers, which are then cooked to order by Turning Stone chefs.

4.) Bring out your inner ice artist.

Ice sculptures make an impressive centerpiece for an F&B event, but for a more lasting impression, let your guests sharpen their own carving skills with help from the resort’s own Wei-Sen, one of the world’s top-rated ice sculptors. Heighten the fun and excitement by ending the workshop with a team competition.

5.) Shake it up with a cocktail class.

Take inspiration from the cocktail test kitchen at Turning Stone to turn your meeting into a mixology mixer. Guests can learn the secrets of building the perfect classic cocktail (be sure to include a few mocktail options) or craft their own signature drink.

6.) Weave in wellness.

Capitalize on the self-care trend by giving your cooking class a wellness spin. This could be anything from a demonstration of healthy cooking tips and techniques to an herbal tea workshop that educates guests on the benefits of various botanicals and the ceremonial aspects of tea. Your attendees can use their newly found knowledge to create their own custom tea blends based on their individual wellness goals.

7.) Create the perfect pairing.

For an event that’s both interactive and elegant, incorporate a wine and chocolate pairing into an evening reception. Your guests will taste their way through a series of wine and chocolate combinations as they learn the answers to burning questions like “What chocolate pairs best with pinot?” and “Does dark chocolate go well with port?”

8.) Feed their souls.

For a great way to combine team-building and community action, host a healthy cooking class, then arrange for the meals your group has prepared to be delivered to the needy via a local food bank or soup kitchen.

Group Cooking Lesssons is Great Team Building

The expert meetings specialists at Turning Stone Resort Casino is always cooking up new ideas to make your meetings stand out. Email our meeting specialists at GroupSalesSupport@turningstone.com or call 315.361.7910, and be sure to follow us @TURNINGSTONE!