Hands On Cooking Parties & Teambuilding in NYC

Virtual Cooking Classes & Private Events

We're happy to announce the launch of our Team Building Virtual Cooking Classes!

Virtual cooking classes are an ideal way to bond with colleagues and to host summer associate events.

Menus include a main course, one or two sides, and a dessert. Class duration can be 60 to 90 minutes depending on your preference.

A shopping list will be emailed to the organizer a week prior to class. We suggest you use an online grocer such as Fresh Direct that will deliver to your office or to participants' homes. We can set up the shopping list for you to serve the whole team if you are all cooking together, or to serve each individual participant if you are cooking separately.

We will also email the organizer a detailed equipment list a week prior to class along with a screen shot showing how the ingredients and equipment should be set up ahead of time so no time is wasted when class begins.

Participants will receive class recipes plus 3 free pdf recipe booklets (Summer Salads; Summer Grilling; and Summer Desserts, featuring 55 additional recipes with color photographs).

Our instructors will be filmed using multiple cameras to allow participants to better see what is happening at the stove, on the cutting board, etc. Participants can ask our instructors questions via a live chat.

We can customize menus to suit dietary restrictions or preferences such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, Kosher, etc. Below you are can see a few sample menus; more are available upon request.

Please email micol@rusticocooking.com to inquire about pricing, availability, and other booking details. We look forward to cooking with you and your team!

VIRTUAL: ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD

Chicken in Cacciatora Sauce (with Tomatoes and Rosemary)
Roasted String Beans with Sundried Tomatoes and Thyme
Ricotta Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce
Chocolate Chunk Brioche Bread Pudding

VIRTUAL: LIGHT & EASY VEGETARIAN FAVORITES

Tuscan Bread and Tomato Salad with Basil
Potato Gnocchi with Arugula-Olive Pesto
Macerated Summer Berries over Vanilla Ice Cream

VIRTUAL: A TUSCAN FEAST

Wine-Poached Sea Bass with Warm Chickpea-Rosemary Sauce
Roasted String Beans with Sundried Tomatoes and Thyme
Ricotta Cheesecake with Berry Coulis

Cooking Parties & Teambuilding Events in NYC

For corporations looking for a team-building activity, a cooking party is an effective and fun way to bond with colleagues. And to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party etc... It doesn't get any better than cooking with friends and family all around... Smaller group? Consider joining a cooking class!

Request a private event

"Thank you so much for orchestrating a wonderful evening!! We were having so much fun that the night flew by so quickly. The food was absolutely delicious and I can't wait to try my hand at some of those recipes at home. Thank you again for a fantastic and very memorable party." - Pam, NYC
Read all reviews

About our Events

We bring 16 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.

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!

Customize your menu with 5 dishes: Classic 5

The Classic 5 is our most popular option: Select one appetizer, one main course, two sides, and one dessert to create your own tailor-made menu! The cost is $165 per person plus NYS tax and 20% gratuity. A $150 adminitrative fee will be added to your final bill.

APPETIZER (choose one):

Tagliatelle with Savory Meat Ragu (groups of 20 or less)
Tagliatelle with Peas, Prosciutto, & Cream (groups of 20 or less)
Cavatelli Pasta with Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus, & Parmigiano
Cavatelli Pasta with Arugula, Grape Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata
Cavatelli Pasta with Roasted Broccoli, Garlic, Chili, & Toasted Bread Crumbs
Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Peppers, Olives, & Tomatoes
Roasted Wild Mushroom Risotto (groups of 20 or less)
Five-Herb Risotto (groups of 20 or less)
Risotto with Butternut Squash & Leeks (groups of 20 or less)

Click on image for gallery

Tagliatelle with Peas, Prosciutto, & Cream

MAIN COURSE (choose one):

Chicken Cacciatora (With Garlic, Rosemary, & Tomato)
Braised Chicken with Olives, Lemon, & Pine Nuts
Roasted Chicken in Balsamic-Honey Glaze
Tender Chicken Morsels in Wild Mushroom-Cream Sauce
Filet Mignon with Leek & Red Wine Sauce ($10 per person supplement)
Sicilian-Style Mediterranean Sea Bass with Pine Nuts, Olives, & Raisins
Stuffed & Rolled Mediterranean Sea Bass with Fragrant Three-Herb Pesto

Stuffed & Rolled Mediterranean Sea Bass with Fragrant Three-Herb Pesto

SIDE 1: VEGETABLE (choose one):

Fennel Gratin with Shaved Parmigiano
Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini, & Peppers in Tarragon-Infused Oil
Roasted Tomatoes Stuffed with Herbed Ricotta Mousse
Cauliflower Gratin with Smoked Mozzarella & Bacon
Roasted Asparagus with Parmigiano
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic & Chili
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Lemon & Garlic
Roasted Sweet Pepper Medley with Basil, Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata
Roasted String Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Garlic & Thyme

SIDE 2: STARCH (choose one):

Chive-Scented Ricotta Gnocchi in Aromatic Herb Butter
Braised Chickpeas with Spinach & Garlic
Roasted Wild Mushroom, Sage, & Parmigiano Bread Pudding
Broccoli Raab & Parmigiano Bread Pudding
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
"Smashed" Red-Skinned Baby Potatoes with Chives & Paprika
Tuscan Bread, Tomato, & Basil Salad

DESSERT (choose one):

Almond-Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Dark Chocolate Sauce
Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream & Dark Chocolate Sauce
The Ultimate Tiramisu
Double Chocolate-Chunk Brioche Bread Pudding with Warm Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Whipped Cream
Light as Air Limoncello & Berry Mousse

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

TEAM-BUILDING

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 & Dark Chocolate Sauce (choose one)

Click on image for gallery

Cavatelli Pasta with Arugula, Grape Tomatoes, &Ricotta Salata

Popular Classic 5 Menus

Harvest Feast

Tagliatelle with Peas, Prosciutto, & Cream (groups of 20 or less)
Chicken Cacciatora (With Garlic, Rosemary, & Tomato)
Roasted Asparagus with Parmigiano
Chive-Scented Ricotta Gnocchi in Aromatic Herb Butter
Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream & Dark Chocolate Sauce

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
Almond-Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Dark Chocolate Sauce

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 Warm Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Whipped Cream

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

Chive-Scented Ricotta Gnocchi in Aromatic Herb Butter

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)
Almond-Chocolate Cakes with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce

Chicken Cacciatora (With Garlic, Rosemary, & Tomato)

Pizza Parties

This is a great party idea for groups who really want to be hands-on in the kitchen and who prefer small teams for the entire cooking process. You'll learn to make pizza dough, top and bake off a variety of pizzas, then sit down to enjoy your pizzas with a green salad and roasted seasonal vegetables, and finish up with a homemade dessert and espresso. The cost is $135 per person plus NYS tax and 20% gratuity. A $150 administrative fee will be added to your final bill.

PIZZA PARTY MENU

Assorted Pizzas - you choose the toppings!

Mixed greens in balsamic vinaigrette

Roasted seasonal vegetables

Homemade dessert

Espresso

Pasta Parties

You'll prepare two of Italy's most delectable pastas from scratch, each with their ideal sauce. Next, you'll sit down to enjoy your freshly made pastas along with a green salad and roasted seasonal vegetables, and finish up with a homemade dessert and espresso. The cost is $135 per person plus NYS tax and 20% gratuity. A $150 administrative fee will be added to your final bill.

PASTA PARTY MENU (choose 2 pastas)

Cavatelli Pasta with Roasted Broccoli, Garlic, Chili, & Toasted Bread Crumbs

Cavatelli Pasta with Savory Meat Ragu

Cavatelli Pasta with Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus, & Parmigiano

Cavatelli Pasta with Arugula, Grape Tomatoes, & Ricotta Salata

Cavatelli with Broccoli Raab & Sausage

Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Peppers, Olives, & Tomatoes

Ricotta Gnocchi in Aromatic Herb Butter

Ricotta Gnocchi with Arugula-Basil Pesto

Ricotta Gnocchi in Basil-Scented Tomato Sauce

Tagliatelle with Savory Meat Ragu (groups of 20 or less)

Tagliatelle with Peas, Prosciutto, & Cream (groups of 20 or less)

Mixed greens in balsamic vinaigrette

Roasted seasonal vegetables

Homemade dessert

Espresso

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!

Premium Finger Foods + Prosecco Reception	Premium Finger Foods Only	Prosecco Reception Only
$12.50 plus tax & gratuity per person	$7.50 plus tax & gratuity per person	$7.50 plus tax & gratuity per person

Aprons

Purchase handsome embroidered RUSTICO COOKING aprons as a souvenir for $15 per apron. Or splurge and order custom aprons with your logo or message for $22.50 per apron; 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.