TASTING NETWORKING
Dare to share each course with a co-worker
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Overview
Tasting menus are the latest type of eating experience. With a multitude of small portion courses on offer, diners can be more daring with their palate. At our Tasting Networking events, you can wine and dine your colleagues in five star gourmet style. This gastronomic journey involves participants sharing each course with a different person.
Expect a night of taste bud tickling decadence. Participants will enjoy champagne upon arrival before moving to the private dining room where they’ll indulge in a course of food or wine with each co-worker. Specially selected wines are matched with the food and it's all topped of with a scrumptiously decadent dessert - the perfect finale to a mouth-watering meal.
Participants spend 12 minutes with each co-worker, getting to know each other outside of a work environment. The event will have all the drama of a speed dating event, with a trained host sounding the gong every 12 minutes, combined with the class and sophistication of a meal in a top-notch restaurant.
Group number: This event is suitable for groups between 10-40.
Available Cities: Tasting networking is available in Toronto and Vancouver.
Cost: From $129 per person, depending on group number and requirements.
Package costs and inclusions
$129 per person which includes:
- Professional host/s from FastLife facilitating the event.
- Wines and non-alcoholic drinks as described by menu
- 8 course tasting menu
- Hire of private area in an exclusive restaurant
- 1-hour phone consultation with client to tailor the event to client requirements. This includes finalising the format.
- Use of all FastLife tools at events, including personalized voting cards.
- Sourcing of prizes for best speed daters (if elected by client – cost of prizes to be covered by client).
- Venue hire
- Tailored hosting script
Objectives
Tasting networking is great for company inductions, client entertainment, Christmas parties, farewells and other special events.
Characteristics:
- Team building
- Communication
- Rewarding
- Motivational
- Ice Breaking
Event format
The exact format of the event in terms of the rotation system, duration of each speed meeting, and content during each speed meeting depends on a number of factors:
- number of participants
- objective(s) of the client
- whether all participants meet each other during the event or half the participants meet the other half
- the time allowance for the event
A format will be recommended upon further discussion of your requirements.
Rotation System:
In terms of the rotation system, there are two options:
1. If the event involves two different teams/departments/areas meeting each other, then the format can be structured in such a way that participants meet half the people during the event (i.e. those that they do not already know), achieved through splitting the group into two. Here, half the participants will remain seated and the other half will move each time the gong is sounded.
2. If the event involves a group of people who all need to get to know each other better, the format can be structured in such a way that participants meet everyone at the event. With this system, all participants move to the next table placing every time the gong is sounded. There is a specific system in place to ensure efficiency and that everyone meets each other.
Please note: In cases where the number of meetings exceeds the number of courses there is the option of either serving courses of food or wine every second meeting or including additional courses at the client’s expense.
Optional extras:
The meetings may be structured around set themes/challenges or discussion of fine food to break the ice.
At the start of each speed meeting, our host will announce the activity, theme or challenge. The topic will also be enclosed in an envelope or on an info sheet on each table. Our host will inform participants to open the envelope corresponding to the number of the date and the theme or challenges will be in the envelope.
Discussion of fine food:
Participants will be served a new course of food every meeting or second meeting and be given a theme or activity to guide the conversation with their “date” about the food.
Example: If you were a dessert, what type of dessert would you be and why?
Upon confirmation of this event, a full list of discussion themes/activities will be provided.
Themes:
The themes are designed to be fun and thought provoking with the intention that participants have fun together. In discussing the theme, participants will be required to use their imagination and share their experiences with their “date”. The themes are designed in such a way that people can either give examples from their personal or working lives, depending on their comfort level. The objective of the themes is to get to know each other or become better acquainted.
Example: Would you prefer to spill a glass of red wine right down the front of your sister’s wedding dress before the ceremony OR wet your pants in the middle of an important board meeting?
Challenges:
The challenges are designed so that participants can work together to produce the desired output. The challenges are fun and interactive, requiring participants to think on their feet and draw upon their creativity, thereby introducing participants to one another’s problem solving and project management skills. The objective of the challenges is to build rapport with the person through undertaking a fast and fun activity.
Example: Draw a picture of the typical person who drinks a $3 bottle of pink champagne. Paper and coloured pencils will be provided.
Prizes can be arranged for the best responses to challenges. Our host will announce this and a nominated person at your company who is present at the activity (usually senior management) will select a winner. The winners will be announced in the awards ceremony.
There are approx 20 theme and challenge packages to choose from. A full list will be provided upon confirmation of the event. Themes and challenges can be tailored to meet your requirements.
Voting System:
To add some light-hearted competition to the event a voting system can be implemented with prizes awarded to the official “King” or “Queen” speed daters. As this is a corporate event, the voting system is adapted to allow everyone only 3 votes, according to three different criteria:
1. Most Shameless Date (Hint: This person is probably the most memorable and was quite happy to share and no doubt embellish their experiences to impress you!)
2. Most Intriguing Date (Hint: Who was a wolf in sheep’s clothing?)
3. Wittiest Date (Hint: This person kept you entertained and in stitches throughout the date).
The criteria can be adapted to suit your requirements. At the end of the speed meetings, participants complete a voting card where they indicate their 3 picks for the criteria above. The forms are handed in to the hosts and votes tallied to arrive at 3 people to crown. An interactive awards ceremony then takes place, with 3 people crowned the best speed daters of your company. We also call upon those who voted for these people to share why they voted for the person.
Venues
Tasting networking is available in the following top class restaurants:
Yorkville, Toronto Empire Restaurant
Empire Restaurant
In the heart of the city and synonymous with style, Empire Bar & Dining exudes chic. Mix and mingle with fabulous wines and irresistible food at Empire Tasting events. Empire's stylish bar exudes sophisticated cool with sleek furnishings, elaborate chandeliers, ostrich feathers and zebra prints.
Empire has a reputation for ‘artful food’ and ‘doing it with verve’ and following a successful first year of operation welcomes new chef to the scene.
Combining all of his culinary experiences, the chef has a unique modern style and sexy edge. His natural flair and passion for food is now headlined in the latest menu at Empire where his aim is to provide endless innovate food.
The evening will be topped off with a decadent dessert cocktail from the famous Empire Bar, paired with a mouth watering dessert.
Contact us/Request form
For further information, please contact Annabelle Gale, Corporate Account Manager : Email annabelle@fastlife.ca or call 1800 406 0832.