Overview
Sushi - the fashionable Japanese fast food - has taken Britain by storm, and now you and your team can get creative in the kitchen with a sushi making master class! Until recently the thought of snacking on raw fish and cold rice would have been laughable, but now it's all the rage and sushi restaurants are popping up all over the place.  This master class will get everyone working together and learning a new skill.

Format
Under the expert tuition of professional sushi chef(s), the group will be split into small teams and must work together to create different types of sushi. The team tasks will enhance communication within the group and help develop creativity.  The session starts with an introduction to sushi, the chef will then teach the group how to prepare the fish and vegetables before giving demonstrations of rolling techniques where they will make Maki, Futomaki and Californian rolls. Each participant will have their own rolling set, complete with sushi rolling mats and chopsticks - everything they need to become a specialist!  The rice comes pre-prepared (cooked, cooled and sticky) so teams can focus on the actual making of the sushi.  This makes the experience more enjoyable.  The chef will then guide the group through the process of hand moulding, where teams will produce Nigiri, Temari and Inari sushi.  To finish the process, teams will decorate their delicious delights to give them a touch of style and individuality.
Teams will be judged on how well they have made their sushi and prizes will be awarded to the winning team.

Included
- Fresh ingredients 
- All equipment
- Safety equipment
- Public liability insurance 
- Experienced chef
- Full event management
- Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams


Duration
2/3 hours - this activity is flexible. 

Overview:
A culinary workshop where the whole group will learn a new skill and have fun together creating a selection of tasty Spanish 'Tapas'.

With an expert Chef on hand with tips and techniques your group will enjoy this challenge however good (or bad) they are on the kitchen. Food always brings people together and this culinary activity creates an environment that promotes creativity, communication and co-operation among participants.

Format:
The event starts with demonstrations from our chef on how to make a selection of stylish and tasty Spanish Tapas. Then he will hand over to the group to have a try for themselves. Groups will need to copy the chef's examples and create a new Tapas of their own creation. This can be a competition style event if required with our chef and catering assistants being the judges.

Generally the Tapas will be a hot and cold selection as mobile equipment will be provided for the group to cook hot options. This is a great activity with lots of scope for learning and being creative.

The event concludes with guests enjoying their tasty Spanish tapas creations.

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· All equipment
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance
· Experienced chef
· Full event management
· Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams

Duration:
1.5 - 2 hours

Feedback on cookery events from our clients:
“Suzy was really helpful and was always either available to speak to or called me straight back which made organising an event at short notice really easy - and the event was excellent!”
- Topman

“We all had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed the cooking. The Chef was brilliant and we had a bit of fun along the way and every one was able to eat their own food. We will definitely look into doing this again”
- British Gas

“Many thanks for helping arrange this for the Oncology team. We had a very productive meeting and the team building events were excellent. Everyone had a great time”
- Bristol- Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited

Overview:
Get your taste buds tingling with our gastronomic experience that will challenge everybody, no matter how good (or bad) you are in the kitchen. Food is a great way to bring people together and this event is all about having fun and interacting with colleagues, learning new skills (and showing off hidden talents) while cooking and eating a selection of scrumptious dishes.

Our expert chefs will be on hand offering advice, tips and techniques to ensure that you make the tastiest food possible. This is a great activity with lots of scope for learning and being creative.

Format:
The event starts with our experienced chef instructing and demonstrating how to make a selection of dishes. Then it's up to the teams to prepare and cook a two course meal. This can either be a starter and main, or main and pudding. All equipment and fresh ingredients are provided for each team to use. Once teams have finished cooking, teams can ‘break bread' and enjoy their creations at the end of the session.

Sample Dishes:
Groups can choose the two courses that they would like to create from the menu below:

Starters
Salad of bacon lardons, chevere, oven dried tomatoes and grapes with avocado, creme fraiche, tarragon dressing.
Fresh pasta filled with wild mushrooms and ricotta (v)
Pepper and tomato soup with crab cocktail

Mains
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Legs
Rump of lamb with lentils
Mushroom Strudel (v)

Pudding
Banana tarte tatin with vanilla cream
Chocolate Tart with raspberries
Apricot and frangipane tart

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· All equipment
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance
· Experienced chef
· Full event management
· Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams

Duration:
Available as a half day (3 hours) or full day (6 hours) event

Please note:
We supply food, utensils, and aprons for the session and generally two people to run the event. This event can take place in a hotel conference room using our mobile mini ovens, or in a fully equipped kitchen. We can liaise with the venue to check suitability.

· All electrical goods are tested and we follow all health and safety regulations.
· Ingredients can be tailored to fit in with times of the year or cultural themes.
· We hold current food and hygiene certificates

Feedback on this event from our clients:
“Thanks for fixing a tremendous event- the attendees were so happy with the whole day it was unbelievable, and the Gourmet Challenge was a huge part of that. Your team did a super job, despite the disparate skills and personalities on display from our group. They were courteous, funny, service-minded, capable and patient beyond belief. I look forward to being asked to put together another such event in the future- and when I am, you will be the first person I call. Please make sure to pass this e-mail on to your managers, and the team on the day to ensure you all get the credit that you deserve for this fantastic event”
- Thomson Reuters

“We all had a fantastic time, thank you so so much for your help! The service from Hoops and the girls was perfect, always willing to help (despite how needy we can be, as you know!) The atmosphere was brilliant and the team really enjoyed the surprise. I special thank you to you though, I could not have organised any of it with out you! Please look out for a little thank you in the post”
- Cadbury

“Thank you so much for all your help in organising yesterday's very successful event. The feedback I've received so far was extremely positive. The event met all of our expectations and we really had fun. The chefs were excellent and really made it an enjoyable yet informative experience. Please reiterate our thanks to them. Their expertise, lively personalities and words of encouragement really made the event work. We were all nicely surprised that the food tasted incredible at the end too. So that was a real bonus. Thanks to Danny for managing and introducing the event and explaining the values and benefits to the team”
- BSkyB

Overview:
French ‘patisseries' is a culinary workshop where the group will learn a new skill and have fun together, creating a selection of French cakes & patisseries for afternoon tea.

With our expert chef on hand with tips and techniques your group will enjoy this challenge however good (or bad) they are in the kitchen.

Format:
Our professional chef will demonstrate how to make a selection of stylish and tasty French cakes & patisseries. Then he will hand over to the group to have a try for themselves. Groups will need to copy the chefs' examples and make a selection of cakes.

Each team must prepare and cook. This is a great activity with lots of scope for learning and being creative. At the end of the session teams can ‘break bread' and enjoy their cooking.

Included:
· Activities and equipment
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance
· Experienced chef
· Full event management
· Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams

Duration:
1 - 2 hours

Feedback on cookery events from our clients:
“Suzy was really helpful and was always either available to speak to or called me straight back which made organising an event at short notice really easy - and the event was excellent!”
- Topman

“We all had a fantastic time, thank you so so much for your help! The service from Hoops and the girls was perfect, always willing to help (despite how needy we can be, as you know!) The atmosphere was brilliant and the team really enjoyed the surprise. I special thank you to you though, I could not have organised any of it with out you! Please look out for a little thank you in the post”
- Cadbury

“We all had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed the cooking. The Chef was brilliant and we had a bit of fun along the way and every one was able to eat their own food. We will definitely look into doing this again”
- British Gas

“Thank you so much for all your help in organising yesterday's very successful event. The feedback I've received so far was extremely positive. The event met all of our expectations and we really had fun. The chefs were excellent and really made it an enjoyable yet informative experience. Please reiterate our thanks to them. Their expertise, lively personalities and words of encouragement really made the event work. We were all nicely surprised that the food tasted incredible at the end too. So that was a real bonus. Thanks to Danny for managing and introducing the event and explaining the values and benefits to the team”
- BSkyB

Overview:
Food is a great way to bring people together, making this a good option for teams to bond.

This event is all about having fun, encouraging creativity and interacting with colleagues and friends while learning new skills (and showing off hidden talents).

During this culinary workshop teams create tasty canapés and nibbles using a large variety of fresh ingredients.

There will be an expert chef on hand with tips and techniques so that your group will enjoy this challenge however good (or bad) they are on the kitchen.

Format:
The event starts with our experienced chef instructing and demonstrating how to make a selection of stylish and tasty canapés. Then it's up to the teams to have a try for themselves.

Everyone will be encouraged to be creative through experimenting with different flavours and ingredients to develop the perfect canapés.

Once everyone has stopped cooking, our head chef will judge each team's canapés by how well they worked together (too many cooks or a smooth operation), the canapés appearance and most importantly how they taste.

Once the cooking and judging is over teams can ‘break bread' and enjoy their creations at the end of the session.

Included:
• Fresh ingredients
• All equipment
• Safety equipment
• Public liability insurance
• Experienced chef
• Full event management
• Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams

Duration:
2 hours

Feedback on this event from our clients:
“Many thanks to you and your team, Hoops in particular for providing such an enjoyable event. The set up was good and with plenty of ingredients and the odd steer from your team the Canapé Challenge went really well. All of our people had a good time and it certainly got the evening off to a good start, plus we ate most of what we prepared so it lead nicely into the meal and further catch ups, networking and discussions etc. Please do pass on my thanks to the team. I will recommend Chillisauce to others and they got a good mention at our conference the next day”
- Logica

“The feedback from the day has been really positive – please pass on a huge well done and thanks to your teams. Thanks again, and I look forward to working with you again at some point in the future”
- Lloyds TSB

Overview:
A culinary workshop where the whole group will learn a new skill and have fun together, creating a selection of fresh pasta and fresh bread. 

With an experienced chef on hand with tips and techniques your group will enjoy this challenge however good (or bad) they are in the kitchen.

Format:
After a demostration from our chef on how to make fresh pasta and tasty fresh bread, it'll be over to the group to have a go.  Groups will need to copy the chefs' examples and make their own. This can be a competition style event if required with our chef and catering assistants being the judges.

The final Pasta creations can be served at dinner or as a final snack before guests depart.  Food always brings people together and culinary activities create an environment that promotes creativity, communication and cooperation among participants.

The fresh pasta and bread made will also be cooked as mobile equipment will be provided for the group to cook hot options.

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· All equipment
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance
· Experienced chef
· Full event management
· Presentation and fun prizes for the winning teams

Duration:
1.5 - 2 hours

Feedback on cookery events from our clients:
“Suzy was really helpful and was always either available to speak to or called me straight back which made organising an event at short notice really easy - and the event was excellent!”
- Topman

“We all had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed the cooking. The Chef was brilliant and we had a bit of fun along the way and every one was able to eat their own food. We will definitely look into doing this again”
- British Gas

“Many thanks for helping arrange this for the Oncology team. We had a very productive meeting and the team building events were excellent. Everyone had a great time”
- Bristol- Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited

Overview:
This is the ultimate cookery experience, where teams spend the first part of the event exploring London's heritage markets and food halls, sourcing tasty ingredients to use. The second part of the day is spent being creative making scrumptious dishes to enjoy.

This is a fun culinary experience is a great way to bring people together by learning new skills (and showing off hidden talents). There will be the right balance and pace so that your guests aren’t rushing around in a panic and are able to really enjoy all the sights and learn along the way. 

Format:
With a list of ingredients, a cash budget and a strict time limit, each team heads off into the hustle and bustle of London’s heritage food markets, where their bargaining skills can be put to the test, then to an elegant food hall to experience London finest food hotspots.

Using their purchases, each team cooks a ‘culinary delight’, against the clock and under the expert eyes of an experienced chef. Each team prepares and cooks two courses. This can be a starter, main or dessert. This is a great activity with lots of scope for learning and being creative. 

Teams can ‘break bread’ and enjoy their cooking at the end of the session. Culinary activities create an environment that promotes creativity, communication and co-operation among participants.

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· All equipment
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance
· Experienced chef
· Full event management

Duration:
Half to full day event

Overview:
Teams have to create a new and unique pie brand from concept to producing the actual gourmet dish. There is something for everyone in this hands-on ‘cooking’ challenge.

Pie Factory is an exciting and challenging event that compels participants to combine their culinary skills with their entrepreneurial flair. The objective is for teams to concoct a completely original pie creation within a limited time scale and budget. They must also create the packaging and design a marketing strategy to sell their new pie sensation to their target market.

Format:
Teams need to plan their time carefully and watch their budget to ensure they can meet the requirements to:

· Create and make a unique pie using the ingredients provided
· Design a marketing strategy that takes into account the sector, pricing, promotion, profit and brand
· Present ideas to the judges

Results:
The end product will be scored on taste, quality, profitability, originality, teamwork, variety and effectiveness of the marketing plan. Presentations at the end of the session prove to be a hilarious and great end to a perfect team challenge.

Please note: Events will be run using either sweet OR savoury ingredients

Included:
· Professional Chef
· Experienced event manager and assistants
· Full Event Management 
· Certificates in food & hygiene
· Disposable aprons & hats for all guests
· Shop area with ingredients and equipment
· Fun prizes
· Public liability insurance 

Duration:
2 - 3 hours

Feedback on this event from our clients:
“A quick note to say thanks very much to you & the team for an excellently executed event. The teams really enjoyed the event, were engaged with the pie making activity and had a great time. The team were attentive to the different team dynamics & ensured that everyone was involved, kept to time & delivered the task. Overall a great success, so please can you pass on my thanks & appreciation to everybody”
- United Biscuits 

Overview
Based on Raymond Blanc's TV series 'The Restaurant', this culinary activity gives teams the chance to work together and prove they have what it takes to set up a successful restaurant business. This event will require good communication, co-operation and creativity among participants.

Format
This is event is run by professional chefs and puts a business slant on a cookery workshop. Participants will be divided into teams, each of which will be opening a different themed restaurant; Chinese, Indian, Italian etc. Teams must use the ingredients provided to devise a menu for their restaurant and then cook all the dishes on it. Teams must also design a business plan, produce a cash flow diagram and create a marketing strategy for their new culinary venture. At the end of the allotted time the team will give a presentation on their restaurant to the rest of the group. The presentation must include tasters from the menu that they have prepared themselves. Participants get to eat what they have cooked and then present extra dishes for judging. Judging will be based on taste and the how successful the chefs perceive the business would be if were real. Once the judging is over there will be a fun prize giving ceremony to reward your efforts!

Included
- Professional staff
- Full event management
- Travel
- Equipment
- All ingredients
- Public Liability Insurance

Duration
3 hours. Usually 10am - 1pm.

Overview
Don’t be late for this very important date, or it will be “off with your head!” Welcome to an extraordinary event, full of magic and wonder! Led by a host of familiar Alice in Wonderland characters your team will fall down the rabbit hole into this strange and seemingly crazy wonderland. For an event that will appeal to everyone’s taste buds, this Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is full of fun activities and has something for everyone.

Format
Planning
This event can be as fun or as team building focused as you want. Depending on the size of the group we can either divide you into smaller teams, or you can complete the session as one big group, whichever you prefer. It begins with a preparation session where you plan everything from deciding what party food you will have, how to hand-make invitations and naming the name places.

Eat Me
Now for cupcake making! Your teams will unleash their creativity as they decorate their cupcakes with a range of coloured frosting, sugar strands, silver balls...and much more. How you decorate them will be up to you but each teams’ cupcakes will be judged in our final competition, so the more colourful the better.

Drink Me?
Each guest at the tea party will be given their very own tea cup to decorate. As is as with the cupcakes, it is a competition to design the best tea cup so let the creative juices flow. With paints, glitter and pens at the ready, your personalised tea cups will add the final touch to your tea party! 

Party Time 
The accompanying games to your tea party can be a whacky or as tame as you wish. Keep it simple with a few Queen of Hearts cards games, or go all out and hold your own Flamingo Croquet tournament?

• Queen of Heart’s card game
• Wonderland party games and musical chairs
• Flamingo croquet
• Giant chess and garden games
• Rounders
• Archery**

Included
- Alice in Wonderland themed host and staff
- All ingredients and equipment
-All decorating equipment
-Selection of games
-Full event management
-Public liability insurance

Duration
3 hours.
**premium activity at an extra cost.**

Overview:
Get your team's taste buds tingling with a fun filled, interactive cookery workshop that will challenge everybody, no matter how good (or bad) they are in the kitchen.

Food is a great way to bring people together and this event is all about having fun and interacting with colleagues, learning new skills (and showing off hidden talents) while cooking and eating a selection of scrumptious dishes. Challenging techniques (e.g. soufflés, bread, sauces) are usually incorporated into the activity so that participants leave feeling they have really achieved something.

Teams prepare a series of different recipes under the guidance of friendly teaching staff who have a wealth of practical catering and teaching experience, on hand offering advice, tips and techniques to ensure that you make the tastiest food possible.

This is a great event with lots of scope for learning and being creative.

About the Cookery School:
This event takes place at a cookery school with state-of-the-art facilities, located in West London. This cookery school has two kitchens of different sizes suitable for both large and small group sizes.

Format:
Before the event the organiser can choose from a range of menus from around the world, from classic French cuisine to exotic dishes. You can mix and match between the menus so don’t feel you have to choose a whole menu from one section. You could have a Thai first course, a Japanese main course and a classic Summer pudding, there is plenty of choice.

The session begins with a glass of wine (evenings) or coffee (mornings). After a detailed explanation by a Leiths teacher, who will guide you and your group through the session, groups are divided into teams of four.  Under the guidance of the chef it's up to the teams to prepare and cook a three course meal - each team making three courses, usually one person makes the first course, two people the main course and one person the pudding.

All equipment and fresh ingredients are provided for each team to use. Once teams have finished cooking, teams can ‘break bread' and enjoy their creations at the end of the session. 

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· Experienced Chef(s) and event staff
· Full event management
· Use of the venue and facilities
· Refreshments (tea and coffee)
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance

Duration:
3/4 hours, evening sessions times are usually 6.30pm – 9.30 pm

Sample Menus:
Feel free to mix and match between menus, however the whole group must cook the same – except for those requiring alternatives for dietary reasons. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or if you would like advice.

Option 1.  
Spinach and bacon salad with red chilli and mango
Rack of lamb with mustard and breadcrumbs
Tomato and mint salsa
Chocolate roulade with hot chocolate sauce

Option 2.  
Spinach soufflés
Glazed duck breast with apricot and apple sauce
Ruby red fruit parcels and lime fork biscuits

Option 3.  
Goat’s cheese wrapped in filo with prunes and Armagnac
Griddled chicken breasts with Mediterranean vegetables and aioli
Syllabub with orange shortbread

Option 4. 
Cream of celery soup with Stilton croutes
Salmon fillets with saffron noodles, crème fraîche and pesto
Individual chocolate mousse with orange biscuits

Option 5. 
Caramelised pear and blue cheese salad
Chicken tagine with herbed cous cous
Bread and butter pudding

Option 6. 
Rocket salsa bruschettas
Individual toad in the hole with red onion gravy
Roast pears with butterscotch sauce

Notes:
There is a minimum number of 8 and maximum number of 32. Participants are asked to bring their own aprons (or they can be purchased at £12 each).

To make the event competitive, fun prizes can be included at an additional cost.

Overview:
Get your team's taste buds tingling with a fun filled, interactive cookery workshop that will challenge everybody, no matter how good (or bad) they are in the kitchen.

Food is a great way to bring people together and this event is all about having fun and interacting with colleagues, learning new skills (and showing off hidden talents) while cooking and eating a selection of scrumptious dishes. Challenging techniques (e.g. soufflés, bread, sauces) are usually incorporated into the activity so that participants leave feeling they have really achieved something.

Teams prepare a series of different recipes under the guidance of Professional Chefs, who will be on hand offering advice, tips and techniques to ensure that you make the tastiest food possible.

This is a great event with lots of scope for learning and being creative.

About the Cookery School:
This event takes place at a cookery school with state-of-the-art facilities, located in Central London. This cookery school has two kitchens, the largest with a capacity of up to 30, and a dining room for up to 60 people, so everybody can eat together.

Format:
On arrival, guests will be greeted by the chef and a glass of wine.  Under the guidance of the chef it's up to the teams to prepare and cook a three course meal - each team taking on one of the courses. All equipment and fresh ingredients are provided for each team to use. Once teams have finished cooking, teams can ‘break bread' and enjoy their creations at the end of the session.

Included:
· Fresh ingredients
· Experienced Chef(s) and event staff
· Full event management
· Use of the venue and facilities
· Refreshments (tea and coffee)
· Safety equipment
· Public liability insurance

Duration:
3 hours

Sample Menus:
Here are some example menus to give an idea of the food that is produced and served at this event. Factors such as the size of the group impact on the menu choice to ensure that everybody is involved:

Butternut tortelloni with sage butter
Grilled lamb fillets with a red wine reduction and celeriac puree
Hazelnut torte with a chocolate ganache topping and mascarpone
Coffee/teas with homemade petits fours

Small twice baked stilton souffles with a chicory and pear salad served with a glass of port
Pot roast guinea fowl with herbed basmati and wild rice served with a mulled wine cabbage
Homemade ice cream with brandy marinaded fruit
Coffee/teas with homemade petits fours

Winter salad of Jerusalem artichokes and wild mushrooms with a sherry vinegar dressing and homemade rolls
Beef braised in red wine or chicken cacciatore with celeriac or potato mash
Vin Santo and olive oil cake with caramelised oranges
Coffee/teas with homemade petits fours

Baked butternut squash soup with pumpkin seed rolls
Wild mushroom risotto with a salad of winter leaves
Vanilla poached pears with a chestnut cream and hot chocolate sauce
Coffee/teas with homemade petits four

Cream of carrot soup with caramelized onion rolls
Fishcakes with a green salsa and crispy oven chips
Chocolate fondants
Coffee/teas and homemade petits four 

Notes:
This event is suitable for up to 45 people

Feedback on this event from our clients:
"I can say that we all had a really good time and found the event well organised/structured, informative and good fun! The ingredients used for the cooking was very tasty and the cookery team were always at hand ready to help us. When it came to serving us our food at the end they made a real effort to make sure we were relaxed and gave us some lovely champagne and wine. All in all an excellent day! A big thank you from me for helping me book this event. Can you also thank the team for all their assistance and effort to make our day thoroughly enjoyable"
- Eisai