Tag parties that cook

Stay Classy with our Chef’s Table Corporate Dining Experience

Chef's TableMarketing Intern Erin checking in, here. I’m really looking forward to this Friday, when I’ll get to work my first Chef’s Table event. Though this is mainly an opportunity for me to experience another event type first-hand, I’m intrigued as to how our more formal gatherings work.

First of all, it’s important to note that Chef’s Table isn’t solely a corporate team building event. Rather, we encourage groups of coworkers, clients, family and friends to utilize this event to strengthen bonds. Parties That Cook events are rather ingenious because they cover such a wide variety of corporate and private event needs.

At Parties That Cook, we’re about building community, providing excellent service, and initiating fun interaction. How will this translate in a more formal setting, you say? Let’s see how we differentiate Chef’s Table from Sumptuous Small Plates while maintaining Parties That Cook’s core values!

Upon arrival, attendees grab a name tag and mingle for a bit. Once the guests have settled in with a glass of wine and a bite from our antipasti platters, the lead chef begins a lively cooking demonstration. This is no boring lecture in a room of fidgeting people. Guests are immersed in culinary tips and tricks, and even invited to drop some knowledge on the group, themselves. Bet you didn’t expect Bob from accounting to know how to the difference between a bulb and clove of garlic! Now that everyone’s all warmed up, the chef divides the group into teams to prepare different recipes from the themed, four-course Chef’s Table menu.

Cooking pictureEach delicious seasonal menu distinctly features a particular region of the world, and the exotic flavors that can be found there. Current menus feature recipes reminiscent of Italy, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. I, for one, think it’s impressive to know how to make authentic tortillas rather than grabbing some off supermarket shelves. And after sitting in on yesterday’s staff meeting, I know Chef Tanya is already working on next season’s menus. Don’t mind me as I drool in anticipation.

Back to the event: As everyone cooks, chefs are right there with them to provide all the guidance teams might need. And I’m not talking about taking-over-the-kitchen “help”; think more along the lines of providing insider chopping techniques or genius fix-my-blunder hacks. The experience is YOURS, and our chefs are there to ensure that it’s a great one. How often do you get to interact with a professional chef, anyway?! Too cool.

High Five!

Now that the meal has been prepared, it’s time for my favorite part: Eating. No passing platters for you — all guests are invited to sit down and relax while PTC staff takes care of the rest. Our team buzzes around each table, filling glasses and serving the dishes of each course. Enjoy your masterpiece, reflect on the culinary journey that got you here, and bond with your fellow diners. Seems to me like you can have bake your cake, and eat it too!

Parties That Cook Introduces a New Corporate Event Format: Taste & Technique

Taste & Technique

It’s been an exciting few weeks at Parties That Cook, and the San Francisco office has been humming with activity. Ever since our super successful customer appreciation events in San Francisco and Chicago, we’ve been on a mission to create something similar — and spectacular! Now, we’re happy to introduce a BRAND NEW corporate event format called Taste and Technique! This event is unique in that it’s geared towards large groups and allows each individual guest to mold their own event experience. You may be asking how such independence is even possible for a corporate cooking party. Well, let us break it down for you.

Taste & TechniqueIt all begins with our lovely event managers and you! As the event host, you decide which food stations and recipes you want to work with. This means that rather than sticking with a particular themed menu, you can be as culturally diverse or technique driven as you want to be!Taste & Technique

Each cooking station will be prepped with all the necessary ingredients and manned by professional chef! No, our chefs won’t do all the work, of course, but they’ll be able to help your group create culinary masterpieces. In addition to cooking stations, you’ll also have your choice of our interactive exploration stations. Activities like food trivia, spice blending, or skills tests offer a break from the hands-on cooking. Oh yea, and if you want something a little more out-of-the-box like wine tasting (not boxed wine) or latte art, we’ll make it happen. Once the details have been determined, we take care of the rest!

Taste & TechniqueJump to the big day: your team is excited and ready to go. For the next 2.5 hours, the only thing you have to worry about is having fun. Upon arrival, we hand everyone a passport for collecting stamps at all the stations. Fun Fact: Those who collect a stamp from every station are eligible to enter to win a raffle prize!

Each guest designs their own route through the cooking and exploration stations – at their own pace. Participants are invited to taste the dish prepared at each cooking station before moving on to the next one. (Passersby are encouraged  to snag a bite, too!) Tastes are constantly being created by new groups, so there is plenty of food to enjoy. As the cooking draws to a close, guests are free to relax, chat with co-workers, and enjoy the remaining appetizers being passed, reception-style.

Taste & TechniqueSound like fun? Contact us and start planning your event today! Taste & Technique is perfect for large groups, networkers, early adopters, and groups looking to blaze their own trails!