The Challenge

American Express Interactive
Strategy & Transformation Group
Vasudha Ramachandran, Project Manager

Sixteen American Express staffers arrived at Cooking by the Book on February 8 ready to cook. The event coordinator, Vasudha Ramachandran, had heard about culinary teambuilding events from other American Express departments, which prompted her to search “Culinary Corporate Events” online, where Cooking by the Book was prominently listed.

In talking with Suzi O’Rourke, she quickly determined that the competitive and engaged nature of the Challenge was exactly the motivational environment that her group needed for a successful teambuilding exercise. As their primary job function is to develop and implement new ideas, the Challenge – taking a protein option and market basket of produce and creating a winning recipe – seemed ideal.

The larger group divided into three teams; each was assigned a Cooking by the Book culinary advisor. The culinary advisors – all highly experienced professional chefs - not only provided a safety net to prevent disaster, but were extremely helpful in resolving technique issues and answering ingredient questions without taking the lead.

“Only one of our group knew something about cooking, so he was able to convince the rest to follow his ideas”, Vasudha explained. “We didn’t win the competition, but our fish rolled in bread crumbs and baked in the oven, was pretty tasty”.

It was difficult to get everyone to participate in the decision-making, especially because some were vegetarian and also vegan. That was a good lesson back in the workplace for doing research, especially if you are working in an environment that is totally new or unfamiliar.

The cozy kitchen atmosphere, shelves of cookbooks in the dining area, and friendly staff made the whole experience very pleasant and inviting, as well as challenging. “We would absolutely do it again,” Vasudha concluded.