AdventHealth Chicago Rolls Up Their Sleeves for an Italian Cooking Class
- Manager Talon
- May 14
- 2 min read
When the team from AdventHealth here in Chicago reached out about bringing 40 of their team members in for a proper cooking class, we were thrilled to roll out the red carpet — or in this case, the rolling pins. What unfolded was one of our favorite team building events of the season: hands-on, full of laughter, and packed with seriously good food.
A Private Space, All to Themselves
To give a group of this size the room to truly cook, socialize, and connect, we split the team across two of our kitchen spaces. That meant AdventHealth had a private space all to themselves for the evening — room to mingle, move freely between kitchens, and make the night their own. There's something special about handing a team a beautiful space and watching them settle in. No other groups, no shared hallways — just their crew, our kitchens, and a menu waiting to come together.
On the Menu: A True Italian Spread
We built out a classic Italian menu that gave everyone something hands-on at every course:
Wilted Dandelion Greens with Macerated Orange Salad — a bright, slightly bitter, slightly sweet starter that got the conversation going.
Tortellini with Parmesan & Pesto Cream — pillowy, comforting, and exactly the kind of dish that makes a room fall quiet for the first bite.
Herbed Ricotta Ravioli — made from scratch, filled by hand, and a genuine moment of pride for everyone who pinched their first pasta of the night.
The Grand Finale: Make-Your-Own Cannolis
No Italian night is complete without cannolis — so we sent the AdventHealth team home with a cannoli station of their own. Filling shells, finishing them with a caramel drizzle, and boxing up extras to take home meant everyone left with full bellies and a sweet treat for later. (More than a few people mentioned tomorrow's coworkers were going to be jealous.)
Why a Hands-On Cooking Class Works for Corporate Teams
A group of 40 can feel unwieldy in the wrong space. Splitting the team across two kitchens — while still giving them the whole space to themselves — meant everyone had elbow room at the counter, a real role in the meal, and plenty of natural moments to bump into colleagues from the other room. That's where the connection happens: not in a forced icebreaker, but over a shared cutting board and a glass of wine.
The AdventHealth team enjoyed every minute of it, and we're already looking forward to having them back.
Plan Your Team's Night With Us
Looking for a team building event that goes beyond the standard happy hour? Whether you want a hands-on cooking class like AdventHealth's or a head-to-head Cooking Skills Challenge — one of our most popular formats — we'll build it around your team. Groups from 10 to 40+ welcome, with the DesignFirst showroom configurable as a private space for your crew. Reach out and let's start building a night your team won't stop talking about.
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