Team Building Challenge

Team Building Challenge

Fun • Competitive • Hands-On Cooking Experience

Looking for a fun and engaging corporate team building activity in Melbourne?
Our Team Building Challenge at Otao Kitchen is one of our most popular cooking experiences.

Inspired by the excitement of "MasterChef" competition, this high-energy culinary competition brings your team together in a relaxed social setting before turning up the heat with a structured cooking challenge.

Perfect for corporate team building, end-of-year celebrations, leadership groups and company offsites.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Encourages creative thinking
• Builds communication and trust
• Strengthens collaboration
• Fun, interactive and engaging
• Suitable for all skill levels
• Learn global cuisines in a professional kitchen

TIMELINE

Stage One – Social Cooking & Connection

Your experience begins with a guided social cooking session.

Guests work together in a relaxed environment, preparing dishes side by side with support from our professional chefs. This warm-up session helps everyone feel comfortable in the kitchen while building natural connection and conversation.

Teams that connect early communicate better during the challenge. When people share ideas, support each other and recognise individual strengths, problem-solving improves and collaboration becomes stronger. This stage allows participants to identify who naturally leads, who organises, who creates and who supports — all before the competition begins.

Guests enjoy the dishes they prepare before moving into the competitive round.

Stage Two – The Team Cooking Challenge

Now the pressure begins. Teams are divided into groups of 3–10 participants and given a competitive brief. We can host 3-8 teams in out venue setting for upto 60 people. Each team must create a standout dish from a chosen cuisine using fresh ingredients from our pantry — plus a surprise “Magic Ingredient.”

We already prepare your recipes. Creativity encouraged. Internet research allowed.

Contestants are tested on:

• Time management
• Plating and presentation
• Flavour balance and innovation
• Team coordination under pressure

Each team must cook one plate/portion per team member plus one plate/portion for the chef judge within 1 hour.

Teams are required to:

• Execute a strong classic foundation
• Integrate the Magic Ingredient creatively
• Present and justify their flavour decisions

There is a role for everyone — Head Chef, Sous Chef, Prep Cook, Stylist, Presenter or Strategist. Even guests with little cooking experience can contribute meaningfully.

This makes it an ideal corporate team building activity where everyone participates.

Stage 3 Judging & Celebration

Dishes are judged by our professional chefs (or a guest judge chosen by you) based on: Innovation • Flavour balance • Integration of the Magic Ingredient • Presentation • Teamwork

Our master of ceremonies may introduce surprise twists to keep energy levels high and create memorable moments of friendly rivalry.

The event concludes with a shared meal, complimentary wine and beer, and a formal award presentation for the winning team.

MENU OPTIONS

Inspired by dishes from our most popular masterclasses, each experience combines social cooking, practical learning, and friendly competition. Guided by professional chefs, guests prepare authentic dishes while learning useful techniques in a fun, structured environment in stage 1 then they will compete with special dish designed for a MasterChef-style challenge, giving teams the chance to collaborate, create, and compete in stage 2.

• Australian Cooking with Australian Ingredients Masterclass

• North Asia Dumplings Party | Chinese Cooking Masterclass | Japanese Cooking Masterclass | Korean Cooking Masterclass

• Southeast Asia Thai Cooking Masterclass | Vietnamese Cooking Masterclass | Street Food of Asia | Malaysian Cooking Masterclass | Mooncake Making Class South AsiaIndian Cooking Masterclass

• Europe  Pizza Making Party | Italian Cooking Masterclass | Spanish Cooking Masterclass | Greek Cooking Masterclass

• Middle EastMiddle Eastern Lebanese Cooking Masterclass

• Latin AmericaMexican Cooking Masterclass | Flavors of Latin America Masterclass | Latin Desserts Masterclass

• More Classes Here 

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

• We’re pleased to accommodate most dietary requirements, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and Halal options. 
• Simply let us know when booking or provide at least 10 days’ notice so our team can prepare everything properly and ensure a seamless experience for your guests.

BOOKING TERMS

• A minimum charge of $2,450 is applied to all group and venue bookings. If your group number falls below the minimum spend, the minimum spend is applied. 
• A 50% deposit confirms your date; the balance is due 14 days before the event. For events between 1 November and 24 December, full payment is required at booking.
• Final guest numbers and dietary requirements are due 14 days before the event. You are invoiced for the confirmed number or the number attending, whichever is greater.
• Cancellation fees (% of total booking value, by written notice): more than 28 days – 30%; 15 to 28 days – 50%; 8 to 14 days – 75%; 7 days or less – 100%. For events 1 November to 24 December: within 28 days – 75%; within 7 days – 100%.
• One postponement at no charge with more than 28 days’ written notice, to a date within 6 months, subject to availability.
• All changes must be requested by email to [email protected] and are effective once we confirm them.
• Read our full Terms & Conditions and FAQs.

TRUST BY LEADING ORGANISATION 

We have hosted team building cooking events for:

SEEK • Cricket Australia • Ernst & Young • Bunnings • NBN Co • CBRE • Transurban • Australian Red Cross • Colonial First State • VicRoads • Care Super • Cargill • Yarra Ranges Council … and many more.

For enquiries, contact: [email protected]