Bon appétit! – a fun, team activity

There is no better way to bond with your colleagues than to cook together.

Great for:

  • businesses and teams looking for a fun, team challenge
  • team building
  • exploring team dynamics and collaboration

Activity overview

Under the supervision of a team of extremely experienced and friendly chefs and teachers, this activity involves you working in small teams on a number of different aspects of a planned three course meal. Collaboration, timing and staying focused on the task ahead is the key to success. You will learn new practical skills about food preparation and cooking, yes, but also about each other.

Challenge complete, the kitchen is transformed from a commercial workspace to a dining room. With the lighting dimmed and music set, it’s time to celebrate your achievements, toast your success and take a seat while the fruits of your labour are served to you.

There are few better feelings than sharing a delicious meal that every single person in at the table has been involved in making.

A number of variations of this activity are possible including a bake-off style competition, a Christmas party and a more intense training session to explore collaboration, communication and team dynamics, using the kitchen as a metaphor for the workplace.

These sessions are all very relaxed, but also highly structured and well-planned – just like in a real kitchen. They run like clockwork and delivery always happens on time. The staff-to-participant ratio is high, and everyone is supervised and supported throughout, receiving all necessary training and hands-on guidance.

The activity can take place over a half or full day.

Example timings for the half day option:

1.00pm:           Colleagues arrive. Welcome drink and nibbles

1.30pm:           Food preparation begins

3.30pm:           Dinner service – accompanied by specially selected organic wines

4.45pm:           Activity draws to a close, with tea/coffee and petit fours (also made by the group)

Indicative costs:

  • Allow £225 + VAT per person
  • Participant numbers from 6 and 40

To include:

  • Use of commercial kitchen in central London location (near Oxford Circus)
  • Carefully designed three course menu
  • All ingredients required – sustainable and organic produce used
  • Kitchen staff, qualified chefs and teachers
  • Washing-up / turnaround staff
  • Arrival drinks and snacks
  • Wines to accompany your meal
  • Post-meal tea and coffee
  • Pre event liaison, logistics and management
  • Oliver Myles Event Management throughout

The bake-off

The bake-off version of Bon Appetit introduces a little friendly competition. The group is divided into teams to bake, again under the watchful eye of experienced teachers. The results are judged against strict criteria (still fun!) with prizes are awarded for the best efforts.

The group can take home anything that they do not devour after the competition, to be shared and eaten in the office next day with colleagues or at home with friends and family.