In-Person Cooking Parties & Teambuilding Events in NYC

For corporations looking for a hands-on team-building activity in New York City, a Rustico cooking party is an effective and fun way to bond with colleagues. And to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or bachelorette party, it doesn't get any better than cooking with friends and family all around!!!

For those outside the NYC metro area we offer virtual events

We bring 18 years of experience to creating memorable culinary team building offsite events, corporate parties, and personal celebrations to NYC.

Our private events are held at Degustibus Cooking School at Macy's Herald Square, 8th Floor, at 151 West 34th Street, New York City.

Events can be hosted in the daytime or evening and last 3 hours. We'll happily accommodate vegetarians and anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions at no extra charge; we even offer an entirely gluten-free menu. All dietary restrictions need to be indicated at least 48 hours prior to events so we can plan on suitable alternatives.

Event Flow

When you arrive, you'll enjoy a selection of freshly prepared finger foods with wine. Next, you'll cook for about 1 hour, then sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor with specially selected wines. You'll receive recipes so you can recreate the delicious menu at home.

Private cooking events include:

• wine and finger foods reception (30 minutes)
• hands-on cooking (1 hour)
• seated three-course meal paired with wines (1 hour and 30 minutes)
• espresso
• recipes
• fun for everyone!

Safety protocols:

• Proof of vaccination will be required for entry
• Masks required for all guests when entering the school and cooking (not in dining room)
• Staff required to wear masks throughout the class
• Tables and chairs are sanitized prior to arrival
• Bathrooms are sanitized every 30 minutes
• In compliance with NYC regulations, we will check that all attendees have a valid CDC vaccination card upon arrival

Customize Your NYC Menu with 5 dishes: Classic 5

Select one appetizer, one main course, two sides, and one dessert to create your own tailor-made menu! Groups from 12 to 30 people. The cost is $185 per person plus NYS tax and 20% gratuity. A $150 adminitrative fee will be added to your final bill. (Group size can be less than 12 as long as the minimum payment for 12 is met)

Optional Caesar Salad Add-On

NEW: You can add on a delicious, refreshing homemade Caesar Salad prepared by our chefs for your event. The salad will be served family-style with the main course and the cost is $7.50 per person plus NYS tax and 20% gratuity.

Team Building Menu

• Cavatelli Pasta with Arugula, Grape Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata OR Roasted Wild Mushroom, Sage, & Parmigiano Bread Pudding (choose one)
• Stuffed & Rolled Mediterranean Sea Bass with Fragrant Three-Herb Pesto OR Roasted Chicken in Balsamic-Honey Glaze (choose one)
• Roasted String Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Garlic & Thyme OR Roasted Broccoli with Garlic & Chili (choose one)
• "Smashed" Red-Skinned Baby Potatoes with Chives & Paprika OR Chive-Scented Ricotta Gnocchi in Aromatic Herb Butter (choose one)
• The Ultimate Tiramisu OR Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla-Scented Whipped Cream (choose one)

See pictures of these dishes here

Popular Classic 5 Menus

Comfort Food

• Cavatelli Pasta with Arugula, Grape Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata
• Roasted Chicken in Balsamic-Honey Glaze
• Roasted Broccoli with Garlic & Chili
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Flourless Almond-Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream (Gluten Free)

See photos of these dishes here

Fireplace Dinner

• Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Peppers, Olives, & Tomatoes
• Filet Mignon with Leek & Red Wine Sauce ($10 per person supplement)
• Roasted String Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Garlic & Thyme
• Roasted Wild Mushroom, Sage, & Parmigiano Bread Pudding
• Double Chocolate-Chunk Brioche Bread Pudding with Vanilla Whipped Cream

See pictures of these dishes here

Rustic Favorites

• Cavatelli Pasta with Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus, & Parmigiano
• Stuffed & Rolled Mediterranean Sea Bass with Fragrant Three-Herb Pesto
• Roasted Fennel Gratin with Shaved Parmigiano
• "Smashed" Red-Skinned Baby Potatoes with Chives & Paprika
• The Ultimate Tiramisu

See pictures of these dishes here

Gluten-Free Menu

• Roasted Wild Mushroom Risotto OR Five-Herb Risotto (groups of 20 or less)
• Chicken Cacciatora (With Garlic, Rosemary, & Tomato) OR Sicilian-Style Mediterranean Sea Bass with Pine Nuts, Olives, & Raisins (choose one)
• Roasted Sweet Pepper Medley with Basil, Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata OR Roasted Asparagus with Parmigiano (choose one)
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes OR "Smashed" Red-Skinned Baby Potatoes with Chives & Paprika (choose one)
• Flourless Almond-Chocolate Cakes with Vanilla Whipped Cream

See pictures of these dishes here

Premium Finger Foods and Prosecco Reception

To elevate your private cooking event to an unparalleled level of luxury, consider adding on our Premium Finger Foods & Prosecco Reception: instead of house wine, we'll pour everyone a glass of bubbly Prosecco upon arrival, kicking off the festivities in high style, and we'll serve five delicious finger foods (instead of three).

Finger foods vary from phyllo rolls, crispy ravioli, skewered shrimp, vegetable frittata, bruschetta, homemade focaccia, herbed filet mignon skewers, crunchy polenta coins, and more... Our chefs let their imaginations go wild and come up with delectable bites! You can see some examples by clicking on the pictures below!

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  shrimp finger foods
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  wonton triangles finger foods
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  crostini finger foods
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  fritatta finger foods
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  polenta finger foods

Premium Finger Foods + Prosecco Reception	Premium Finger Foods Only	Prosecco Reception Only
$17.50 plus tax & gratuity per person	$10 plus tax & gratuity per person	$10 plus tax & gratuity per person

Aprons

Purchase handsome embroidered RUSTICO COOKING aprons as a souvenir for $20 per apron. Or splurge and order custom aprons with your logo or message for $30 per apron plus tax and shipping; please allow 3 weeks for customization.

The Best Pasta Sauces Cookbook

Order Signed Copies of Rustico Cooking founder Micol Negrin's cookbook, The Best Pasta Sauces: $25 plus tax for bulk orders (10 or more) or $30 plus tax for smaller orders.

Virtual Cooking Events

Unlike our New York City Hands-on cooking parties, virtual cooking classes are an ideal way to bond with colleagues, to host client events, and to connect with family and friends who live far away. We've had people across time zones participate in the same virtual class - as far as Austria!

Menus include a main course, a side dish, and a dessert. If you prefer a theme class, we can focus on pasta-making, pizza, or desserts. We can customize menus to suit dietary preferences such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, Kosher, etc.

Please email micol@rusticocooking.com to inquire about availability for your virtual event.

We look forward to cooking with you and your team!

Virtual Event Menus

Below see photos of the recipes you can choose to cook during your virtual event. Check suggested menus here

Virtual Event Pasta & Risotto

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  Five Herb Risotto
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Virtual Event Main Courses

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Virtual Event Sides

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Virtual Event Dessert

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  Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream
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  Biscotti
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Virtual Event Suggested Menus

Feel free to mix and match up to 3 menu items to create your own custom menu from the choices below.

VIRTUAL: ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD

• Chicken cacciatora with tomatoes and rosemary
• Ricotta gnocchi with sage butter sauce
• Chocolate chunk brioche bread pudding

VIRTUAL: SEASIDE FLAVORS

• Sea bass with artichokes and lemon
• Tuscan bread, tomato, and basil salad
• Crushed berry and Mascarpone mousse

VIRTUAL: ITALIAN COUNTRY COOKING

• Herb & cheese stuffed zucchini
• Ricotta gnocchi with herb-scented tomato sauce
• Chocolate and amaretto semifreddo

VIRTUAL: A TUSCAN FEAST

• Braised chicken with chickpeas, lemon, and herbs
• Roasted string beans with sundried tomatoes and thyme
• Ricotta cheesecake with berry coulis

VIRTUAL: ELEGANT ENTERTAINING

• Ricotta gnocchi with roasted squash
• Stuffed and rolled sea bass in light herb infused olive oil
• Molten chocolate cake with vanilla-scented whipped cream

VIRTUAL: PERFECT RICOTTA GNOCCHI & MORE

• Ricotta gnocchi with sausage and greens
• Roasted eggplant, zucchini, and pepper medley
• Fresh summer berry, Limoncello, and mascarpone mousse

VIRTUAL: CLASSIC ITALIAN DESSERTS

• The ultimate tiramisu
• Crispy Tuscan almond biscotti

VIRTUAL: GLUTEN-FREE MENU

• Risotto with chopping block pesto
• Roasted eggplant, zucchini, and peppers with ricotta salata
• The ultimate panna cotta

Virtual Event Reviews

Hi Micol, Thank you so much for the [virtual] class tonight. You and Dino were wonderful! I loved your anecdotes and special tips, and especially the pace of the evening. You waited for thumbs up, I doubt anyone felt rushed, and it was fun and not stressful. And the food (at least the gnocchi so far) is delicious! Can't wait to try the tiramisu later! It was perfect! Thank you both again so very much! LeighAnne, Pfizer

I got a lovely email from Daniel last night with beautiful photos of his food and a note that the group had a blast. Many thanks for a lovely event. The team had a GREAT time! The video looks perfect-thank you for arranging this. Cleo, Cravath

Micol, Thank you so much for the most amazing class last Tuesday! I took it with my mom and sisters from our family beach vacation in the OBX and it was a highlight of our time together! We've all taken in-person classes with you before throughout the years, and we weren't sure how the virtual class would go, but it was so much better than we could have hoped for. Thank you for thinking creatively and providing opportunities like this. My mom and sisters live in NJ, and I live in NC, and we hadn't seen each other in 8 months. This was seriously a wonderful way to spend our time...and the meal was incredible. Thank you again. Tara, NC

My family gathered for a virtual cooking class and birthday celebration... it was hosted by Rustico Cooking , Micol Negrin and her husband Dino De Angelis who made cooking so easy. 12 couples all worked on line to making a most amazing meal of ricotta gnocchi with sage sauce, sweet and sour fish with olives and tomatoes Sicilian style, eggplant with mint and chocolate bread pudding with whipped cream. We did it all in a mere 90 minutes. Every dish was well thought through and delicious. It was fun to cook together, eat together and celebrate together in a fun social distancing way. Bravo to Micol and Dino!Judie, Brooklyn

Thank you for an amazing and delicious evening! Everything was delicious and we so appreciate everything you did to make the experience so fantastic! I’m so excited to make this all again! I never thought I could cook Branzino! As a family who is so spread out and especially during Covid, this was a real special treat! Laine, NYC

Thank you and Dino for a wonderful evening! We have already received great feedback on our virtual cooking class!Anastasia, Kelley Drye

Thank you so much, we had a blast!Kurt, Voya